The Jewish Educational Loan Fund, Inc. was originally established in 1876 as the Hebrew Orphan's Asylum and served the geographic B'nai B'rith Fifth District. The home was built in Atlanta and officially changed its name to the Hebrew Orphan's Home in 1901. The facility was home to hundreds of Jewish children from the Southeast between 1876 to 1930 when it closed as a resident facility. In 1948 the name was officially changed to The Jewish Children's Service and provided foster home placement, adoptions and subsidies. In 1988 the name was again changed to more accurately portray the organization's present role of providing interest-free loans to Jewish students whose families live in the Southeast.