Best Practices for Equitable, Transparent, and Dignified Camp Financial Aid

Every year, thousands of parents sign their children up for Jewish summer camp. And every year, rising tuition costs — driven by real need for camps to hire quality staff, deliver excellent programming, and adapt to our changing world — put camp out of reach for more families. This is a community-wide challenge that requires comprehensive and holistic solutions.

At the same time, families face growing financial pressures from sudden crises like job loss or health emergencies to ongoing realities like housing and childcare costs, or the simple fact that sending a third child to camp may be unaffordable. For those already at a disadvantage, these pressures can make life exponentially harder. The impact is felt across all income brackets, but middle- and low-income families are being hit especially hard.

As camp leaders, you’ve heard their stories firsthand, and you know how real they are. The data echoes them: The 2024 FJC Census shows that both the number of financial aid requests and the total amount requested are increasing.1 According to the 2025 CSI, more than 26% of families receiving financial support, whether it be from their camps, One Happy Camper® grants, and other community partners, describe their financial situation as either just covering basic living expenses or falling short of their basic needs. Nationally, according to new data from JFNA, 29% of American Jewish households struggle to make ends meet. Requests are not an exception — they are the norm. Removing stigma around aid is essential, because asking for help should be seen as a step toward belonging, not a barrier.
Camps are already working hard to help every child and every family find their place at Jewish camp and in Jewish life. While they cannot solve these systemic challenges alone, how they design and implement financial aid can make a meaningful difference. Clear, equitable, and dignified practices help families access camp, build trust, and ensure that the camp community reflects the diversity and vitality of Jewish life.

The practices below, drawn from research on social psychology, behavioral economics, inclusive design, and trust-building, are meant to make financial aid more equitable, accessible, and affirming for all Jewish families. You may already be using some of these strategies, and by adopting them more intentionally, you can set the standard for the field, strengthen you community, and shape the future of Jewish camp itself.