We are committed to promoting excellence within UJA-Federation of New York's network of agencies, as well as synagogues and day schools in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, by offering a full range of educational, scholarship, and professional development opportunities for graduate students. Through our scholarship programs, we help prepare graduate students for careers in the Jewish communal sector by providing enrichment experiences, which will in turn enrich our entire community.

The Wiener Educational Center offers scholarships for students considering a career at UJA-Federation of New York, as well as students interested in a career in UJA-Federation's network of agencies or the broader Jewish communal sector. We consider applicants who are pursuing the following graduate degrees:

• Social work

• Public administration

• Business Administration (non-profit)

• Nonprofit management

• Jewish Education

• Clinical psychology

• Rabbinic ordination

Scholarship recipients participate in a number of educational seminars throughout the year to grapple with some of the key challenges facing the organized Jewish community. They are also required to intern within UJA-Federation's network of agencies, which includes human-service and behavioral-health agencies, Jewish community centers, nursing homes, hospitals, camps, and a variety of Jewish educational settings, or within area synagogues and day schools.

The deadline for applications for the 2010–2011 academic year is Monday, March 1, 2010. To receive an application, please contact Rebecca Russo at russor@ujafedny.org. By filling out our application, you will automaticaly be considered for all scholarships for which you are qualified, with the exception of the Ernest W. Michel fellowship (see details below).

Learn more about our scholarships:

• UJA-Federation Wiener Scholarship
• Ernest W. Michel FEREP Fellowship
• Professional Education Network Scholarship (PENS)
• The Dressler Scholarship
• Rabbi Seymour Siegel Scholarship
• Employee Scholarships

UJA-Federation Wiener Scholarship

The Wiener Scholarship is available to graduate students preparing for a career in Jewish federation work. It is open to students at Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work and Columbia University - Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) social work students majoring in community organization, social administration, and advanced generalist practice, as well as students studying toward an M.P.A. in the dual-degree program between New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and the Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies. This is a partial scholarship of up to $10,000 per year for a maximum of two years.

Wurzweiler and Wagner-Skirball students must complete two years of field placement at UJA-Federation – one year in a fundraising department, and one year in a planning and program development department. Columbia - JTS students must complete one year of field placement in a network agency and the second year of field placement at UJA-Federation, divided between fundraising and program planning. The scholarship requires a two-year work commitment to UJA-Federation of New York following graduation. Applicants must be committed to macro-level practice.

If you are studying toward an M.P.A. or M.S.W. at another program, please inquire to determine whether your program is eligible for consideration.

Ernest W. Michel FEREP Fellowship

This fellowship was established in honor of Ernest W. Michel, UJA-Federation of New York executive vice president emeritus, to fund professional training for exceptionally promising graduate students preparing for a career in Jewish federation work. The Michel Fellowship is a designated UJA-Federation of New York Federation Executive Recruitment and Education Program (FEREP) scholarship granted in conjunction with the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) FEREP Scholarship Program.

The Michel Fellowship provides tuition for study at participating nonprofit-management and social-work schools that offer degrees leading to work in Jewish communal service. Applicants must be referred by the JFNA FEREP committee and must have a two-year employment commitment following graduation. For more information about FEREP, visit: www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=42090.

Professional Education Network Scholarship (PENS)

The Professional Education Network Scholarship (PENS) provides needs-based financial assistance for Jewish graduate students interested in Jewish communal service, nonprofit management, social work, Jewish education, public administration, or rabbinic ordination. This is a partial scholarship ranging from $4,000 to $5,000 per year for a maximum of two years.

The scholarship requires that student internships take place within UJA-Federation’s network of agencies, area synagogues, or day schools. Second-year students applying for the scholarship must complete a one-year internship within UJA-Federation’s network. All recipients must also commit to working within UJA-Federation's network of agencies, area synagogues, or day schools for two years after graduation. Students must demonstrate financial need to be eligible for PENS. Applicants are required to submit copies of their most recent tax returns or a FAFSA application.

The Dressler Scholarship

The Dressler Scholarship provides financial assistance for M.S.W. and Clinical Psychology students interested in clinical work within Jewish communal service This is a partial scholarship ranging from $2000 to $4000 per year for a maximum of two years.

The scholarship requires that both years of the student’s internship take place within UJA-Federation's network of agencies, area synagogues, or day schools. Second-year students applying for the scholarship must complete a one-year internship within UJA-Federation's network. All recipients must also commit to working in the field of clinical social work or psychology within UJA-Federation's network of agencies, area synagogues, or day schools for two years after graduation.

Rabbi Seymour Siegel Scholarship

UJA-Federation offers the Rabbi Seymour Siegel Scholarship to select graduate students interested specifically in the field of Jewish education or synagogue life within our network of agencies, area synagogues, or day schools. This is a partial scholarship ranging from $4,000 to $6,000 per year for a maximum of two years. Additional Educational Resources scholarships are also available for students meeting these qualifications.

The scholarship requires that students intern within UJA-Federation's network of agencies, area synagogues, or day schools. All recipients must also commit to working within UJA-Federation's network of agencies, area synagogues, or day schools for two years after graduation.

Employee Scholarship

Employees of UJA-Federation of New York who are college graduates and have been employed in a professional position for more than a year at UJA-Federation may qualify for partial scholarships to attend either the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, the master's program in nonprofit management at the New School's Nonprofit Management Program, New York University's Wagner School of Public Service, or Baruch College's Master of Public Administration program.