JewishColumbus is supporting the next generation of leaders through scholarships.
JewishColumbus administers a variety of scholarship funds that are awarded each fiscal year, thanks to the generosity and vision of our donors.
Each scholarship has its own purpose and eligibility criteria, as established by the individual endowment fund. Details for each fund can be found below, along with information about the application and review process.
How It Works
Applications
Applications open in January and close in early May, unless otherwise specified in the scholarship details.
Review
The committee reviews applications in May and makes award decisions at that time.
Notification
Applicants are notified by the end of May, and grant payments are issued directly to schools in early June.
How Our Scholarship Application Process Works
JewishColumbus is honored to help support educational opportunities and community growth through these scholarships. Individuals who meet the eligibility requirements for a specific scholarship fund are encouraged to apply. Each applicant may make one application for each fund they are applicable.
Eligibility
- The applicant lives in Central Ohio, including Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield, Hocking, Licking, Madison, Morrow, Pickaway, and Union counties, or is attending school in Central Ohio.
- The applicant meets the eligibility requirements for the scholarship they are applying for, if applicable.
Review Process
Scholarship applications are thoughtfully reviewed by a committee appointed by JewishColumbus leadership. The committee meets annually to review applications and determine awards. All scholarship decisions are formally recorded and ratified as part of the appropriate board meeting process.
Award Notification
Applicants are notified of scholarship decisions by the end of May. Once awards are finalized, JewishColumbus coordinates payment directly with the appropriate institutions so that funds are distributed in June.
About Our Scholarships
Betty Davis OSU Marion Social Work Scholarship Endowment Fund
Betty L. Davis (May 15, 1928 – April 27, 2004) was a professional Clinical Social Worker for 35 years. She specialized in mental health and served the Marion, Ohio community. Perhaps most impressive, Betty was a socialworker in her personal life, all her life. Her focus on other people was clearly demonstrated through her extensive volunteer work throughout the community. Betty Davis was an intelligent, independent woman of faith and integrity who strongly believed in giving. She was philanthropic with her time and means, hoping to make a difference, and she did.
Eligibility
Anyone is eligible to apply for and receive these loans as long as they meet the following requirements:
- Is a student at OSU Marion in the College of Social Work
- Has a 3.0 GPA or higher
Selected recipients will receive an award of $680 or more.
JewishColumbus is committed to helping individuals and families access meaningful Jewish experiences and educational opportunities. For questions, contact Jake Mitchell, Manager of Foundation Operations.
Zach Zunshine Endowment Fund
In 1987, as the Soviet Union was beginning to unravel, Zach was nearing the end of a three-year prison sentence in Siberia for so called anti-Soviet activity, only to face the threat of an additional term. Through advocacy efforts he was ultimately released and able to leave the USSR.
Arriving to America without any money, unable to legally work, and ineligible for student loans, his dream of continuing his education seemed out of reach. A group of Jewish faculty at The Ohio State University formed a committee to assist Jewish academics from the former Soviet Union, and sought help from the Columbus Jewish Foundation who helped secure a stipend for Zach while Ohio State waived tuition.
Zach established the Zach Zunshine Endowment Fund to provide scholarships for individuals pursuing higher education, calling it “a small token of my appreciation” for the community’s generosity.
Eligibility
- The applicant is a high school graduate or equivalent. Applications from students who are in their final year of high school or secondary education will also be accepted; however, proof of graduation may be requested at a later date.
- The applicant is seeking higher education, including associate, bachelor, master, or doctorate degrees.
Selected recipients of the Zach Zunshine Endowment Fund scholarship will receive awards of $1,000 or more, subject to available funding.
Rachael Coe, center, receives her diploma at Spertus Institute’s 2023 graduation in Chicago, pictured with Spertus President and CEO Dean P. Bell, and Spertus Dean and Chief Academic Officer Keren E. Fraiman.
Carol Kroll Women’s Scholarship Fund
Provides financial support to women, Jewish or non-Jewish, pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees, and may be used for tuition, stipends, living expenses, housing, supplies, food, transportation, and related educational costs.
Carol Kroll attended Columbia University on scholarship, an opportunity that changed the course of her life. While her academic scholarship covered tuition, it did not fully meet her living expenses. During that time, the Jewish Foundation for the Education of Women stepped in to provide critical support when no other resources were available.
Carol was a woman of faith who believed strongly in giving back to others. This scholarship is established in the spirit of gratitude and service, honoring the support she once received and extending similar opportunities to women pursuing their own educational journeys.
Please note: The Carol Kroll Scholarship Fund will be available in 2027.
Laura Ratner Jewish Women’s Education Scholarship Fund
Laura Ratner lived a life defined by resilience, intelligence, and determination. When her husband Abe passed away suddenly at a young age, Laura was left to raise five children amid profound uncertainty. During the height of the Great Depression, she chose to lead the family business herself.
In 2020, her family established the Laura Ratner Jewish Women’s Education Scholarship Fund with JewishColumbus in her memory. The Fund supports Jewish women in pursuing higher education or career training and preparing for meaningful careers that enable them to become self-supporting.
Eligibility
- The applicant is a Jewish woman.
- The applicant is seeking higher education, including associate, bachelor, master, or doctorate degrees, or professional career training, including certification or licenses.
Selected recipients of the Laura Ratner Jewish Women’s Education Scholarship Fund will receive awards of $1,500 or more, subject to available funding.
Yashon Award of the Phi Delta Epsilon Endowment Fund
The Yashon Award of the Phi Delta Epsilon Endowment Fund honors the legacy of the Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity at The Ohio State University, a Jewish medical fraternity dedicated to scholarship, professional development, and service within the medical community.
The fund is named in recognition of Dr. David Yashon, a longtime neurosurgeon and professor at Ohio State. Scholarships will be used for loan relief for students in their final year of medical school at Ohio State.
Eligibility
- The applicant comes from a Jewish background.
- The applicant is a student in their final year of medical school at The Ohio State University.
- The applicant is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.
Selected recipients of the Yashon Award of the Phi Delta Epsilon Endowment Fund will receive awards of $1,000 or more, subject to available funding.
Applications open in mid-March and close on April 17, 2026. The committee reviews applications in April, and applicants are notified with grant payments issued directly to schools at the end of April.
Want to learn about scholarships and grants through JewishColumbus?
Jake Mitchell is the Manager of Foundation Operations at JewishColumbus. He oversees the day-to-day administrative, financial, and programmatic operations of the Foundation, including budgets, grant cycles, donor records, compliance, and reporting.