Interest-free loans up to $6,000/year for undergraduates; up to $10,000/year for graduate or vocational students
Interest-free student loans to help with higher education costs for students from low and moderate income homes in Northern California. Students do not need to be Jewish, but must be referred by one of Hebrew Free Loan’s partner programs. Loans are available for college, university, vocational school, or graduate school.
Check our list of partners and reach out to your contact at that program to ask for a referral. If you’ve participated in a college success program or received a merit scholarship from a local organization that’s not listed, feel free to email Shari Tishman, Loan Officer & Program Manager, or call her at (628) 236-3349 to see if you might be eligible.
Check out our FAQ here to learn more about how the loans work, who is eligible, and how to apply. Depending on their need, undergraduate students may borrow up to $6,000 per academic year and graduate students may borrow up to $10,000 per year. Loans may be used for tuition, fees, books, or living expenses, including computer purchase, transportation needs, summer housing, and uncovered health care costs.
Hebrew Free Loan’s Model
Hebrew Free Loan is based on principles found in the Torah, in which we are commanded not to derive personal benefit — i.e. not to charge interest — when we lend money to assist those in need. Click here to watch a short video about Parashat Mishpatim, the Torah section that contains these teachings.
We’ve proven the success of our model with a repayment rate of over 99.5%. That’s the beauty of interest-free lending. As loans are repaid, funds are recycled to make new loans. Many loan recipients also participate in our Full Circle Club, in which former borrowers pay forward the help they received by donating to Hebrew Free Loan to help the next person in need.
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