This page provides an introduction to the world of financial aid to attend U.S. schools, with special emphasis placed on scholarships and awards for youth philanthropy and community service. Click on a category below to view selected alphabetical listings of Web-based scholarship resources.

General Resources

Scholarships for Specific Fields

Federal Consumer Information Center
This government site provides links to information on financial planning for college.

FinAid
A free, award-winning collection of financial aid information. Partners with FastWeb.

Finding Foundation Support for Your Education
The Foundation Center's interactive e-learning tutorial will guide students and parents through the process of seeking scholarships from foundations.

Foundation Center's User Aids
Visit our list of print and Internet resources for students seeking financial aid.

Sallie Mae's College Answer
Formerly known as Wiredscholar, this site provides calendars, checklists, charts and interactive tools to plan and organize your college research and to assess your options. Each month, it offers a drawing from among its registered users for a $1,000 scholarship.

Government Funding

Federal and state government are the largest sources of financial aid. Start by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can get hard copies from your high school adviser, at your local public library or by calling 1-800-4-FEDAID.

College Savings Plans Network (1-877-CSPN4YOU)
This network serves as a clearinghouse for information among state college savings programs, also known as 529 Plans. Search by state to view residency requirements, tax incentives and other plan details; most plans allow users to enroll online.

Direct Loans
Learn about the Direct Loan Program, one of the Federal Student Aid (FSA) programs provided by the Department of Education, providing students with a way to borrow money to pay for education after high school.

Fedmoney.org
The most comprehensive free full-text online resource on all U.S. federal government student financial aid programs.

FSA: Federal Student Aid
The US Department of Education’s site outlining programs that are available to students. Also available in Spanish.

The Student Guide: Financial Aid from the US Department of Education
The Student Guide is a comprehensive resource on how to get financial aid from the US Department of Education. Also available in Spanish.


Scholarship Search Sites

FastWeb
This free database of over 600,000 scholarships matches opportunities with your goals, interests and affiliations, based on the personalized profile that you create during your registration at the site.

Foundation Grants to Individuals Online
The Foundation Center's subscription service that allows you to search through detailed descriptions of more than 5,600 foundation programs that fund students, artists, researchers, and other individual grantseekers.

Michigan State University’s Grants Page
Link to funding opportunities of all kinds, listed under helpful categories such as K-12 awards; minority; disabilities; graduate; undergraduate.

Scholarships.com
Scholarships.com is a free college scholarship search & financial aid information resource, connecting students and parents with numerous college funding opportunities.

United Negro College Fund
A searchable listing of thousands of scholarships at the United Negro College Fund Web site.

Scholarships for Elementary and Secondary School

Black Student Fund
Since 1964, the Black Student Fund has provided financial assistance and support services to Washington metropolitan area African-American students, grades pre-kindergarten to 12, and their families.

Children First America: Scholarship Programs
This list of opportunities for funding a child’s elementary/secondary education is part of the site of Children First of America.

Children’s Scholarship Fund
Children's Scholarship Fund provides partial tuition assistance for low-income families from across the United States to send their children to private schools.

Education Freedom Fund (Pre-College)
The Education Freedom Fund's mission is to provide low-income Michigan families with a choice in the schools their children attend by giving tuition assistance through scholarships.

Michigan State University's List of Precollege Scholarships
Link directly to a list of K-12 scholarship sites.

The Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children
The Scholarship Fund for Inner-city Children provides scholarships to students attending Catholic elementary and secondary schools in New Jersey's Essex, Hudson, Bergen and Union Counties.

UCLA Alumni Scholarships
James West Alumni Center
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1397

Washington Scholarship Fund
The Washington Scholarship Fund is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization committed to providing Washington, D.C., children with a quality education.

Scholarships for Specific Fields
*Youth Community Service

Barbara Wiedner and Dorothy Vandercook Memorial Peace Scholarship
Since 1993, Grandmothers for Peace International has awarded $250-$500 scholarships to high school seniors and college freshmen from different countries for their activities relating to peace and social justice, nuclear disarmament and conflict resolution.

Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of America
Dollars for Scholars is a network of community-based, volunteer-operated scholarship foundations in cities, towns, and neighborhoods throughout the United States.

Do Something's BRICK Award
Each year, six outstanding leaders age 18 and under are selected to receive a $5,000 scholarship and a $5,000 community grant; three outstanding leaders ages 19-25 receive a $10,000 community grant.

Do Something Grant
Budding community leaders age 18 and under can apply for a $500 grant to implement their ideas to solve community problems.

Education Research Center of America Community Contribution Scholarship
Education Research Center of America awards student scholarships and provides a minimum of 25 scholarships of $1000 per year for higher education. The scholarship awards recognize and reward high school students who have made an extraordinary contribution to their community and/or high school.

The Heart of America Christopher Reeve Award
The award is presented each year to an extraordinary youth who has demonstrated tremendous courage and compassion in serving his or her community. An awards review committee will select one student each year for the award, which includes a $1000 scholarship.

Hitachi Foundation's Yoshiyama Award for Exemplary Service to the Community
The annual award recognizes ten U.S. high school seniors for exemplary service and community involvement.

Kohl’s Kids Who Care®  Program
Kohl's Kids Who Care® is an annual opportunity for Kohl's to recognize and reward kids who volunteer in their communities.

Presidential Freedom Scholarships
A program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the scholarships are designed to highlight and promote service and citizenship by students and to recognize students for their leadership in those areas.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honor young people in middle level and high school grades for outstanding volunteer service to their communities.

Rotary International
Since 1947, this worldwide organization of business and professional leaders has offered a range of awards and scholarships for youth leaders to serve and study abroad.

Target All-Around Scholarships
Target awards over six hundred All-Around Scholarships each year — including one $25,000 scholarship — to high school seniors and college students age 24 and younger.

YouthActionnet Award
This site is dedicated to encouraging youth leadership in service learning projects.

Youth for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program
The Program provides awards for California youth that have been leaders in their communities by promoting healthy adolescent sexuality and/or teen pregrancy prevention.

Youth For Understanding International Exchange
This organization awards scholarships to US students who wish to participate in its international exchange programs.

Arts

Arts Recognition and Talent Search
ARTS identifies young artists in the disciplines of Dance, Film and Video, Jazz, Music, Photography, Theater, Visual Arts, Voice and Writing for scholarships and financial support toward their continued arts education.

Donna Reed Performing Arts Scholarships
The Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts awards scholarships to individuals who qualify for post secondary education and desire to pursue an education or a career in the performing arts.

The Electronic Document Systems Foundation (EDSF)
EDSF scholarships are awarded to full-time students who are preparing for careers in document preparation, production or distribution; one-to-one marketing; graphic arts and communication; e-commerce; imaging science; printing; web authoring; electronic publishing; computer science; telecommunications or related fields. Read about the recipients...

Vermont Alliance for Arts Education Student Arts Scholarships
The Vermont Alliance for Arts Education offers high school seniors post-secondary school training in the arts.


Health

Association of periOperative Registered Nurses Scholarship
AORN Scholarship Committee has awarded funding for undergraduate and graduate education to AORN members who apply for scholarships and provide funding to nursing students who are enrolled in educational programs leading to initial licensure as registered nurses.

Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Funds basic medical research areas which have direct and immediate relevance to pediatric HIV/AIDS.

Indian Health Service Scholarship Programs
Scholarship programs train professional health personnel to staff Indian Health Service programs serving the Indian people. Both full and part-time student opportunities are available. Eligibility information: Applicant must be an American Indian or Alaska Native.

The National Institutes of Health: Undergraduate Scholarship Program
The NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program offers competitive scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral and social science health-related research.

The Tylenol Scholarship
The makers of TYLENOL® Family of Products will award ten $10,000 scholarships and 150 $1,000 scholarships for higher education to students who demonstrate leadership in community activities and school activities and major or who intend to major in areas that will lead to careers in health-related fields, and are residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia.

Science & Technology

Concrete Research and Education Foundation
Scholarships available for those in fields of study related to the concrete industry. Read about the recipients...

The Electronic Document Systems Foundation (EDSF)
EDSF scholarships are awarded to full-time students who are preparing for careers in document preparation, production or distribution; one-to-one marketing; graphic arts and communication; e-commerce; imaging science; printing; web authoring; electronic publishing; computer science; telecommunications or related fields. Read about the recipients...

The Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society (TMS)
TMs encourages students to apply for up to three of their six scholarships.

Siemens Westinghouse Competition
Open to all high school seniors who would like to submit an original science and math research project. You may enter as an individual if you will be a senior this upcoming school year, or as part of a team of two or three students.


Other Scholarships/Awards

American Academy of Allergy
Associates to the American Academy of Allergy present at least 18 Award of Excellence Asthma Scholarships to graduating high school seniors with asthma. Scholarship monies may be used or applied only to pay for tuition, books and fees for a bona fide course of instruction at an accredited two-year or four-year college or university or accredited technical or vocational college or school.

American Association of School Administrators: Discover Card Tribute Award Scholarships
Sponsored by Discover® Card, in cooperation with the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). Recognizes the achievements of high school juniors in areas beyond academics, and awards scholarships for any type of post-high school education or training.

Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Founded in 1975, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund supports Hispanic higher education through a number of scholarship programs.

Immune Deficiency Foundation Annual Scholarship Program
The Immune Deficiency Foundation has awarded scholarships to undergraduate students living with a primary immune deficiency disease.

International Furnishings and Design Association Educational Foundation
Students who have completed no less than one semester of post-secondary school can apply. Scholarship recipients will be selected based on the applicant's achievements; awards and accomplishments; future plans and goals; and a letter of recommendation from a design educator, a mentor, or a practitioner in the field.

Lilly Reintegration Scholarship
The goal of the Lilly Reintegration Scholarship is to help people with schizophrenia and related schizophrenia-spectrum disorders to acquire the educational and vocational skills necessary to reintegrate into society, secure jobs and regain their lives.

The Magic Johnson Foundation Taylor Michaels Scholarship Fund
The Magic Johnson Foundation Taylor Michaels Scholarship Fund provides financial and mentoring support for deserving inner-city high school students who exemplify a strong potential for academic achievement. Applicants must be current residents of Atlanta, GA, Cleveland, OH, Houston, TX, Los Angeles, CA or New York, NY.

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Scholarships
NCAA strives to maintain intercollegiate athletics as an integral part of the educational program and the athlete as an integral part of the student body.

National Tourism Foundation
National Tourism Foundation awards scholarships to those studying fields related to the travel industry.

Ohio Newspapers Foundation
The Foundation provides a variety of scholarships and internships aimed at achieving the highest standards of excellence and professionalism in all phases of journalism and newspaper publishing.

Polish National Alliance
The Polish National Alliance is pleased to make available scholarship applications to qualified members who are enrolled as full time college or university students.

Sallie Mae Scholarship Programs
The Sallie Mae Fund supports regional programs that provide higher education scholarships, enabling organizations to offer additional financial assistance to those who need it most.

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation College Scholarship Award
College Scholarships of up to $10,000 a year over a four year period for children of a parent who has died of breast cancer.

Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
Founded in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund provides scholarship, programmatic, and capacity building support to public, historically black colleges and universities.

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW): Awards and Scholarships
Annually, the veterans' organization distributes more than $3 million in scholarships and savings bonds to America's youth through the annual Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen contests. 

Student Inventors Scholarships http://www.invent.org/collegiate   http://www.invent.org/collegiate/

Student Video Scholarships http://www.christophers.org/vidcon2k.html

 Holocaust Remembrance Scholarships http://holocaust.hklaw.com/

Ayn Rand Essay Scholarships http://www.aynrand.org/contests/

Brand Essay Competition  http://www.instituteforbrandleadership.org/IBLEssayContest-2002Rules.htm

Sports Scholarships and Internships  http://www.ncaa.org/about/scholarships.html

National Assoc. of Black Journalists Scholarships (NABJ)  http://www.nabj.org/html/studentsvcs.html

Saul T. Wilson Scholarships (Veterinary)  http://www.aphis.usda.gov/mb/mrphr/jobs/stw.html

Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund  http://www.thurgoodmarshallfund.org/sk_v6.cfm

FinAid: The Smart Students Guide to Financial Aid scholarships
http://www.finaid.org/

Presidential Freedom Scholarships  http://www.nationalservice.org/scholarships/

Microsoft Scholarship Program  http://www.microsoft.com/college/scholarships/minority.asp

 WiredScholar Free Scholarship Search  http://www.wiredscholar.com/paying/scholarship_search/pay_scholarship _search.jsp

Hope Scholarships &Lifetime Credits http://www.ed.gov/inits/hope/

 William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship for Minority Students  http://www.apsanet.org/PS/grants/aspen3.cfm

 Multiple List of Minority Scholarships  http://gehon.ir.miami.edu/financial-assistance/Scholarship/black.html

 Guaranteed Scholarships http://www.guaranteed-scholarships.com/

 BOEING scholarships (som e HBCU connects)  http://www.boeing.com/companyoffices/educationrelations/scholarships

 Easley National Scholarship Program http://www.naas.org/senior.htm

 Maryland Artists Scholarships http://www.maef.org/

Jacki Tuckfield Memorial Graduate Business Scholarship (for AA students in South Florida) http://www.jackituckfield.org/

 International Students Scholarships &Aid Help http://www.iefa.org/

 College Board Scholarship Search  http://cbweb10p.collegeboard.org/fundfinder/html/fundfind01.html

 GE and LuLac Scholarship Funds  http://www.lulac.org/Programs/Scholar.html

CollegeNet ' s Scholarship Database  http://mach25.collegenet.com/cgi-bin/M25/index

 Federal Scholarships &Aid Gateways 25 Scholarship Gateways from Black  Excel http://www.blackexcel.org/25scholarships.htm

Scholarship &Financial Aid Help http://www.blackexcel.org/fin-sch.htm

 FAFSA On The Web (Your Key Aid Form &Info) http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Aid &Resources For Re-Entry Students http://www.back2college.com/

 HBCU Packard Sit Abroad Scholarships (for study around the world)  http://www.sit.edu/studyabroad/packard_nomination.html

 Scholarship and Fellowship Opportunities   http://ccmi.uchicago.edu/schl1.html

 NROADS internships http://www.inroads.org/

 Black Alliance for Educational Options Scholarships   http://www.baeo.org/options/privatelyfinanced.jsp

 ScienceNet Scholarship Listing    http://www.sciencenet.emory.edu/undergrad/scholarships.html

 Graduate Fellowships For Minorities Nationwide   http://cuinfo.cornell.edu/Student/GRFN/list.phtml?category=MINORITIES

 RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS AT OXFORD http://www.rhodesscholar.org/info.html

Thanks very much for applying for the StraightForward Media Teacher Scholarships! We've received your application, and it will be reviewed along with those of your colleagues at the end of the application period. In the meantime, we'd like to remind you that we also give many scholarships other than the one you've just applied for, all of which have online applications. They are listed below.

Mesothelioma Memorial Scholarships: Open to all students.

Get out of Debt Scholarships: Open to all students.

SFM Art Scholarships: Open to current or aspiring students of the visual & creative arts.

SFM Nursing Scholarships: Open to current or aspiring nursing students.

SFM Vo-Tech Scholarships: Open to current or aspiring vocational/technical trade students.

SFM Teacher Scholarships: Open to teachers and students who are planning to become teachers.

SFM Minority Scholarships: Open to students of color.

SFM Liberal Arts Scholarships: Open to current or aspiring students of the liberal arts.

SFM Business Scholarships: Open to current or aspiring students in business-related programs of study.

SFM Engineering Scholarships: Open to current or aspiring engineering students.

SFM Law Enforcement Scholarships: Open to current or aspiring law enforcement students.

SFM Law School Scholarships: Open to current or aspiring law students.

SFM Media & Communications Scholarships: Open to current or aspiring students of media & communications.

SFM Medical Professionals Scholarships: Open to current or aspiring medical professionals, including nurses.

Please visit often and forward this email to friends and family members that may want to know about our scholarships. We'd also love your feedback about how we can make our scholarship sites more useful to you, so please email us at suggestions@straightforwardmedia.com with any suggestions on how we can make the site better.

The Foundation Center

California State University, Dominguez Hills, is now offering scholarship money to high school honor students. Information may be obtained by accessing their website.