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Fee Assistance

Each year our scholarship program helps to serve over 1,000 JCC families in helping children attend Overnight, Day Camp and Early Childhood programming. Through the help of various donors and our Women’s Board, we strive to raise and award over one million dollars in scholarship funding.

Our 2025-2026 Financial Assistance Application will launch on October 15, 2024. Link will be posted for application access by 12pm on that date. For any questions in the meantime, please contact feeassistance@jccchicago.org.

Please note the following -Very Important!

  • You must register for the program first to ensure your spot before applying for assistance.
  • All payments for the program you are registered for must remain as scheduled until a final determination has been made.
  • Applying for assistance does NOT guarantee funds will be awarded.
  • To see if you are eligible for fee assistance, use our calculator >
  • The timeline from application submission to determination can take up to 30-45 days if you complete and submit all requested documents upon submitting your application, failure to do so will result in delays.

For more information regarding the step-by-step process and eligibility factors, please see our Frequently Asked Questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fee Assistance helps offset a portion of JCC Chicago program fees and is made possible through JCC Chicago and Women’s Board funding in addition to the generosity of donors. Fee Assistance is awarded on a first received, first completed basis, and is based on financial need and our available budgeting dollars for assistance. All JCC Chicago families are eligible to apply for Fee Assistance

Step 1:

Register for the program you are inquiring financial assistance for (this is a pre-requisite to be considered for aid).

Step 2:

You will receive a confirmation email with a link to apply through FAST. Link can also be found at the top of this fee assistance webpage once application is live. You will have 10 business days from registration date to apply for assistance. Final deadline to apply is March 1st.

Step 3:

Submit your FAST application including your most recent tax documents including the following: federal, state, W2 for each working parent (1099 if self-employed), and 2 most recent paycheck stubs.

Step 4:

Your application normally takes 7-10 business days to be verified through FAST if you have all your documents uploaded. Once verified, our committee will review your case and make a determination within 2 weeks of verification. During this time, please make your normal scheduled payments until you have been contacted about your financial assistance status.

Step 5:

Once your application has been reviewed by our committee, you will receive an e-mail letter from our financial assistance team member with your notification status. You will have 10 business days from the date of determination letter to either accept or appeal your award by returning your determination letter to our financial assistance team. If you accept your award, your account will be adjusted and an updated account statement or payment plan will be sent to you. If you choose to appeal your award, see Step 6 below. If you do not return your determination letter within the 10 business day timeline, your fee assistance case will be closed and any awarded dollars will be released back into our scholarship fund. Your program registration will be subject to all standard payment and cancellation policies.

Step 6:

If you choose to appeal your award, you will have one week (7 calendar days), from returning your determination letter to submit the appeal information. Appeal steps will be provided at the time of determination.

Step 7:

Once your process has concluded (your award has been accepted or appealed and determined), your case is considered ‘complete’ and standard program policies are in effect – including but not limited to payment and cancellation policies.

All applications must be received within 10 days of program registration. The final deadline to apply with all required documents is March 1st. This deadline guarantees that our team is able to make a determination on your case within 30-45 days before final camp or first Early Childhood payments are due. Applications will still be accepted on a rolling basis after this deadline, but the award amount may be lessened as a result.

Our 2025-2026 Financial Assistance Application will launch on October 15, 2024. Link will be posted for application access by 12pm on that date. For any questions in the meantime, please contact feeassistance@jccchicago.org.

  • Early Childhood Infant/Toddler Care
  • Early Childhood Preschool
  • Camp Chi
  • Apachi Day Camp
  • Maccabi Games

For Camp Chi: Campers registering for multiple sessions, including Full Summer, do not qualify for Financial Assistance. Try Chi programs also do not qualify for Financial Assistance. (Financial Assistance is available for SIT campers as they are required to register for both sessions)

For Apachi Day Camp: Keshet campers should apply for financial assistance through Keshet.

No. Only one Fee Assistance application should be submitted per family per JCC Chicago fiscal year (July 1-June 30) and should be submitted each year. All submitted applications expire on June 30th of every year.

We first review your AGI, current income and family size to determine initial eligibility. From there we assess any outstanding assets or liabilities that impact your income and financial hardship. If there are special circumstances that we cannot see listed in your application, we encourage you to share that in the essay portion of your application.

While we try our best to honor an award percentage that has been granted to your family from the previous year, we cannot always guarantee that the same award will be provided. There are several factors that impact our award determination such as: changes to family income, number of applicants applying for assistance, remaining funds available for assistance, and the time of year you are applying for assistance.

Yes, please continue to make payments as usual until you receive a determination by the financial assistance team.

All questions relating to the Fee Assistance application process, documents needed, application status, and final determinations should be directed to feeassistance@jccchicago.org or 312-775-1848.

 

Illinois Action for Children

Illinois Action for Children is a state-based program that has provided over $350,000 in state funding to help families in need of child care for programs such as Early Childhood, Before & After School, and Day Camp. To learn more about Illinois Action for Children, click here.

Please make sure to review the income guidelines to make sure you qualify before proceeding with the application. Income guidelines only pertain to funding through Illinois Action for Children and are separate from JCC Chicago Financial Assistance guidelines.

Application  Checklist  Application (Spanish)

In order to qualify for Action for Children, you must meet the following requirements:

  • All parents and or/adults living in the household must be working and/or in school during the time the family is requesting the care in need.
  • Parents/Guardians must be Illinois Residents
  • Children receiving care must be under the age of 13 (children can be up to age 18 if there is a documented special need requiring they be supervised)
  • You must meet the income guidelines as listed below (please note the monthly income must be BEFORE taxes)
Family SizeMonthly Gross Income -Before Taxes
2$3,433
3$4,318
4$5,203
5$6,088
6$6,973
7$7,858
8$8,743
9$9,628

 

You would need to complete the following application here and submit to feeassistance@jccchicago.org and include two consecutive pay check stubs within the last 30 days OR a letter from your employer on your company’s letterhead verifying your hourly wage, work schedule, with your employers’ contact information if pay check stubs cannot be provided.

Once your paperwork is received, please allow 3-5 business days to receive an email from one of our fee assistance team members to confirm if you qualify and what your estimated coverage would be.

 

There is no cost to apply for Illinois Action for Children.

Depending on your income, family size, and the program registered for, you can receive anywhere from 25% to 100% off your child care costs.

Savings and Discounts

There are many ways you can save on JCC Chicago programming. See below for a few options. Please reach out to our customer solutions team to see if you are eligible at 844.452.2244 or feeassistance@jccchicago.org.


Camp Discounts

One Happy Camper

One Happy Camper is a grant that can be applied to first time overnight campers attending 19 days of camp or more.

More Information

 

Early Childhood Discounts

Camp/Preschool Combos

New Camp Scholarship starting in 2023-2024!
Starting with the 2023-2024 school year, full-day Early Childhood students who are age-eligible for camp and choose to spend their summers with Apachi will receive a discount equal to the camp fee. The new Camp Scholarship is intended to bring the joys of Apachi to our littlest learners while providing significant financial relief for families against the costs of full day Early Childhood. Half-day students will receive a 20% discount of the camp fee on their final payment.

More Information

JUF Right Start

JUF Right Start was created to increase awareness and access to Jewish early childhood programs for Chicago-area families. Gift Vouchers from $500 to $2,000 are provided to families sending their children to a Jewish early childhood program for the first time. For the 2022–23 school year, JUF Right Start is expanding its existing incentive program to provide additional dollars for families receiving the full Child Tax Credit. Families who qualify could save up to $7,200 on a Jewish early childhood program. This program is funded and administered by the Jewish United Fund.

More Information

Refer a Friend

Receive a $150 credit toward your child’s tuition for each tuition-paying child you refer who completes one year in our program. Your family and your friend’s family must have a child enrolled for the entire school year to take advantage of the Refer a Friend discount.

JUF Right Start

JUF Right Start was created to increase awareness and access to Jewish early childhood programs for Chicago-area families. Gift Vouchers from $500 to $2,000 are provided to families sending their children to a Jewish early childhood program for the first time. For the 2022–23 school year, JUF Right Start is expanding its existing incentive program to provide additional dollars for families receiving the full Child Tax Credit. Families who qualify could save up to $7,200 on a Jewish early childhood program. This program is funded and administered by the Jewish United Fund.

More Information