Articles JELF Responds to Surging Student Demand

The organization aims to grow its donor base in a strategic expansion.

By Compiled by AJT staff
July 30, 2025, 10:52 am

Jewish Educational Loan Fund is expanding its donor base to meet a surging demand from students and their families.

JELF (Jewish Educational Loan Fund) is experiencing its largest year of growth in nearly 150 years, reflecting the mounting financial pressures facing Jewish families across the Southeast. This summer alone, the organization is evaluating nearly 475 applications. Together, these Jewish students represent a total calculated need of more than $3.4 million — a figure that underscores the critical role JELF plays in supporting their educational aspirations.

Addressing this expanding need, JELF is strengthening its capacity and continuing to broaden its donor base. Current Board Chair Emily Sauerteig, who has been involved with the organization since 2014, noted, “We’ve seen firsthand how transformational JELF’s interest-free loans can be — not only for the students who receive them, but also for the donors who feel deeply connected to the next generation of Jewish leaders. I am proud that JELF has launched its next strategic plan and is investing in long-term growth to ensure that we can meet this moment — and the next — with more support than ever.”

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Amy Wait has joined JELF as the South Florida engagement officer.

Meanwhile, JELF CEO Jenna Leopold Shulman, a native of South Florida herself, has led the effort to hire South Florida Engagement Officer Amy Goldrod Wait. Raised and still residing in Boca Raton, Wait is eager to strengthen connections between JELF and the region’s vibrant Jewish community. Together, with the donors and lay-leaders in South Florida, Wait will allow JELF to cultivate relationships with community leaders who understand the unique challenges facing Jewish students in South Florida.

Additionally, JELF welcomed Bonnie Simonoff as its development & program assistant. A graduate of both The Weber School as well as Washington University in St. Louis, Simonoff brings fresh energy within her first few months — tightening internal systems, coordinating logistics, and keeping cross-team communications humming. With close family members who were first-generation college students, she’s personally invested in JELF’s mission and is already proving invaluable to both the loan program and development side.

This year also marks two milestones. Chief Development Officer Josh Schaier is celebrating 10 years of cultivating donor relationships and elevating student stories. During this time, millions of new dollars have been raised to further JELF’s mission. Also, in 2025, Cathy Miller, chief operating officer, reaches 25 years of safeguarding JELF’s finances, systems, and loan repayment process. Along with Shulman, their institutional memory and daytoday dedication anchor JELF’s stability and impact.

The timing of this expansion is particularly crucial given the organization’s impressive growth over the past decade. In 2024, JELF provided $2.1 million to 473 recipients, compared to lending $750,000 to 200 students only 10 years ago — roughly a 40 percent increase. Of equal importance, JELF’s 99 percent loan repayment rate has been sustained for nearly 20 years. The approach to helping students encompasses more than just financial assistance — JELF includes treating borrowers with dignity throughout their educational journey and repayment process. That commitment is paying dividends: alumni engagement has grown steadily, with a 28 percent increase in dollars raised over the past four years. Notably, 20 percent of JELF’s board members are former borrowers, highlighting the deep connection many alumni maintain with its mission.

Bonnie Simonoff will serve as JELF’s development and program assistant.

Many people ask about JELF’s increase in student demand, which reflects a complex landscape of challenges facing Jewish families. Beyond rising tuition costs, inflation, and increased living expenses, many Jewish students are also navigating hostile campus environments, marked by rising antisemitism. This creates a particularly vulnerable time for families who may feel isolated and uncertain about their students’ safety and belonging on campus. For JELF, which serves as the only Jewish free loan agency in the United States focused exclusively on higher education, supporting Jewish families during these challenging times has become more critical than ever.

At a time when the world feels especially turbulent — particularly for Jewish college students — it is deeply moving to witness hundreds of students reach their academic goals. As JELF anticipates increased financial needs going forward, this strategic expansion into South Florida and continued pursuit of new funding opportunities positions JELF to meet the growing demand. At the same time, JELF remains committed to maintaining its personalized, high-impact support that have defined its work since its founding as the Hebrew Orphans’ Home in Atlanta in 1889.

For more information about JELF’s history, how to apply for a loan, or make a donation, please visit jelf.org.