Carefully review all eligibility requirements. Please only apply if you meet them all.
Complete and submit the application online NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 17, 2025. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
YOU’RE ELIGIBLE FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP IF…
- You are a leader, actively participate in community service, and are committed to the Jewish community of Los Angeles.
- You have a minimum 3.5 GPA.
- You have a demonstrated financial need.
- You are a Jewish graduating senior who will be a freshman at an accredited four-year college/university in 2025-2026.
- You are a legal resident of Los Angeles County for a minimum of three years as of September 2025.
- Your parent(s)/guardian(s) are also permanent residents of Los Angeles.
- Go to https://Jewishla.spectrumportal.net/ to log in or register to create an account
- While registering, select “Scholarship Applicant” in the section labeled “Portal Access” and fill in all the remaining boxes.
- Once registered or logged in, click the “Scholarship Applicant” tab at the top, where you’ll see the “Brawerman Fellowship Application 2025” link.
- Names, dates, hours per week/weeks per year, positions, descriptions of your Extracurricular School Activities, Jewish Communal Activities, Community Activities, Paid Work Experience, and Academic Awards/Honors.
- 2024 income information for you and your parent(s)/guardian(s), including but not limited to:
Annual Gross Income
Social Security
Rental Income
Worker’s Comp/Disability
VA Benefits
Investments
Retirement - The value of all your and your parents’ assets, including but not limited to:
Bank Accounts
Real Estate Equity
Mortgage Balance
Trusts
Investments - A copy of the 2025-2026 Cost of Attendance. You can find this from your school’s Financial Aid office or website. If the 2025-2026 budget is not available, use the 2024-2025 budget. If you are not sure which school you will be attending, submit the information for your first-choice school.
- A list of projected resources, including but not limited to:
Federal Aid (Pell Grant)
State Aid (Cal Grant)
Scholarships
Loans
529 College Savings Plan - A copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR), which you will receive after filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You must fill out a 2025-2026 FAFSA to apply for the fellowship. For more information, go to: www.fafsa.ed.gov. After submitting your FAFSA, download and print a PDF version of your SAR from the FAFSA website. Please make sure that you are downloading a copy of your SAR and not a copy of your application information. In order to complete the Brawerman Fellowship application, you will need your Student Aid Index (SAI), which can be found on the SAR. File your FAFSA as soon as possible. You will be able to work on this application prior to filing your FAFSA. Make sure you return to this application with the required information from your FAFSA prior to the deadline.
- A copy of your financial aid award letter for 2025-2026 (if available).
- We understand that at times you can only provide estimates for certain items on the application and/or action from a school or funding source is still pending. Where this is the case, include estimated figures; do not leave any sections blank.
In addition to filling out your online application, you must download and submit the following supplemental material by FEBRUARY 17, 2025.
- A copy of your academic transcripts
- Your 2024 Income Tax Return (if applicable)
- Your parents’/guardians’ 2024 Income Tax Return(s). If your parents are divorced, income tax forms from both parents are required. If your and your parents’ 2024 tax returns can’t be filed by the February 17 deadline, you may submit your 2023 Federal Tax Return. If you become a Finalist, you will be required to submit your 2024 Federal Tax Return by April 16, 2025.
- A copy of your acceptance letter from the school that you plan to attend in the Fall of 2025 (if available).
- A copy of your School Financial Aid Award Notice (if available).
- A copy of your completed 2025-2026 Student Aid Report (SAR) (all sections).
- A copy of the student’s Anticipated Budget provided by the school that you plan to attend in the fall of 2025. The school’s Financial Aid Office or website has this info. If you are not sure what school you will be attending in the fall, submit the information of your first-choice school. If the 2025-2026 budget is not available, submit the 2024-2025 budget.
- Proof of permanent U.S. residency if born outside the United States (a copy of your green card or U.S. Passport).
If some of the required material is currently unavailable (tax returns and acceptance letters), you will be required to provide them by April 16, 2025, if you are selected as a finalist.
Mistakes happen. If you have submitted incorrect information that you would like to amend, please e-mail Brawerman@JewishLA.org with your full name and the items you’d like to correct.
In addition to the online application, two letters of reference are required from the following sources: one from a current/past school professional (teacher or advisor) and one from a community leader (clergy, supervisor from volunteer/work position, youth group advisor, camp director, etc.).
The letter of reference form can be found here
Please provide the link to those writing your letters of reference. If they have any questions, please have them email Brawerman@jewishla.org or call (323) 761-8116
ANY LETTERS OF REFERENCE SENT AFTER FEBRUARY 17, 2025 WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
Finalists will be notified in the beginning of April. If you advance to this step, you will be required to attend an in-person interview at The Jewish Federation on the evenings of April 21 & April 22, 2025. You will also need to submit your 2024 Federal Tax Returns, financial aid award letters, and acceptance letters by April 16, 2025. Failure to do so may disqualify you.