New Endowment Funds Will Help Students & Professionals Achieve Goals

The following is a reprint of the JCF's Money Matters column, published in the December 24, 2025 issue of the Jewish Community Voice, titled, "New Endowment Funds Will Help Students & Professionals Achieve Goals":

Our Southern New Jersey Jewish community thrives for many generations when philanthropic donors utilize the Jewish Community Foundation to establish endowment funds, which spinoff annual income for the causes that fund donors choose.

Looking back over the past year, it’s notable that three new endowment funds have been launched by generous community members who were inspired to grow the JCF Scholarship Awards portfolio. While each award’s requirements vary, collectively the awards help residents of Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties afford post-high school education or experiential travel.

The 2026 JCF Scholarship Awards cycle is scheduled to open on or about December 31 for qualified individuals to begin submitting applications via the JCF’s online portal. An estimated $50,000 will be provided to deserving applicants, via more than 15 separate scholarship award opportunities. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 6 at 4 p.m. Full details can be found at jcfsnj.org/scholarships

The JCF’s Scholarship Committee, which is chaired by Carol Roth, reviews all applications and finalizes all awards for the JCF. For 2026, the committee is pleased to welcome three new endowed awards that have been established within the past year. We thank the foresighted donors who have created the following awards that will assist local residents in affording educational or experiential travel expenses now and for many decades hence:

Stuart & Marylee Alperin Jewish Communal Service Professional Development Award: Both Stuart and Marylee enjoyed extensive, successful, and impactful careers with local Jewish organizations. Having worked in this field, they recognize the importance of Jewish communal professionals obtaining formal education to enhance their skillsets and, in turn, accomplishing even more for the Jewish community and themselves. The Alperins’ award is available to individuals who have five years or less experience in the field, and awardees will earn funding towards college, graduate school, or professional development in the Jewish communal field. Preference will be given to Cong. Kol Ami members.

Branfman Family Scholarship Award: This award aims to provide financial assistance for local residents of all backgrounds who are pursuing post-high school education. When Lynn Branfman met JCF Scholarship Award recipients for the first time, she became aware of how crucial this support is in helping students afford college, and this endowment fund will ensure this financial assistance will continue.

Ed & Stacey Rivkin Aspiration Award: From 2022-2024, Ed Rivkin served as president of the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey, and his wife, Stacey graciously supported his efforts. Recently installed as a JCF Board member, Ed’s term as Federation president overlapped with the October 7th attacks on Israel, and his leadership helped our community get through this challenging time. The goal of this fund is to help Jewish community members who actively give back to others and who are facing financial need defray the cost of post-high school education.

Thank you to the Alperins, the Branfman family, and the Rivkins, as well as all previous scholarship award endowment fund donors for their contributions that give the gift of education to deserving SNJ residents, lasting many years into the future.

If the gift of education is important to you, I welcome the chance to discuss how you can launch a scholarship award endowment fund with the JCF to help reduce the cost of post-high school education for some of the best and brightest leaders throughout SNJ, while creating your philanthropic legacy.

Please contact me at (856) 673-2571 or dsnyder@jfedsnj.org to talk in more detail.

From the JCF Board, Scholarship Committee, and staff, we wish you a happy, healthy New Year ahead, and we express our best regards to all who are engaged in their desired educational pursuits.