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

General Resources

Financial Planning for College

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 Grants to Individuals Online
An online database of more than 6,000 foundation and public charity programs that fund students. Low monthly, three-month, and yearly subscription rates.
Take a guided tour!

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

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.

Scholarship Experts
This is a free online scholarship search service that provides updates for users who register their profiles.

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’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.

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.

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

Bonner Scholarship
The Bonner Scholarship is a $12,000/year scholarship for entering students who have a passion for service and social justice, and who require financial assistance in order to attend Rhodes College. Bonner Scholars work in the community, gain enhanced leadership skills, develop social commitment, study social issues and develop a strong sense of self.

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.

Discover Card Tribute Award Scholarship
Current high school juniors who are enrolled in accredited high schools, have demonstrated accomplishments in leadership and community service, and have faced significant roadblocks or challenges, are eligible for this annual award. (Homeschooled students and students attending high school on a U.S. military base are also eligible.)

The Do Something Awards
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 Grants
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.

Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes
The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes seeks nominations for its 2006 awards. The Barron Prize honors young people ages 8 to 18 who have shown leadership and courage in public service to people and our planet. Each year, ten national winners each receive $2,000 to support their service work or higher education. This year's nomination deadline is April 30. For more information and to nominate, visit www.barronprize.org.

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.

Make A Difference Scholarships
Community-minded students can win 4 years of full tuition, room and board at Green Mountain College, a private, 4-year college in Vermont that integrates modern environmental thought into a traditional liberal arts or pre-professional course of study.

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.

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.

Arts

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Young artists and writers currently enrolled in grades 7–12 and who attend a public, private, parochial or home-school in the United States, Canada, U.S. Territories or U.S.-sponsored schools abroad can apply for this annual program that gives scholarships and/or regional and national recognition for students' creative works.

Associated Male Choruses of America Music Scholarships
Male high school seniors or college freshmen who plan to major in vocal music are eligible for awards ranging from $200 to $1200. Read about the recipients...

NFAA Awards
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.

Coca-Cola Refreshing Filmmaker’s Award Program
Supporting tomorrow’s award-winning directors and writers, the Coca-Cola Refreshing Filmmaker's Award gives young artists a chance to see their films come to life.

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...

Health

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.

Junior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program
The U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) Junior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program (JRCOSTEP) allows students to gain valuable professional experience with the PHS early in their education.

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.

National Osteoporosis Foundation Student Fellowship Grants
NOF will award five summer student fellowship grants. Qualifications: Applicants will have a high school or undergraduate degree and have an interest in pursuing a career leading to a Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent degree in the area of osteoporosis.

Nutrition, Physical Education, and Culinary Arts Students
Undergraduate and graduate scholarships are available for African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian American, Pacific Islander or Latino/Hispanic students expressing financial need to study nutrition, physical education, or culinary arts in the state of California. Checks will be mailed to the educational institution and are to be used toward tuition and fees.

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

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.

Study Abroad

Financial Aid for Intl Students Traveling Abroad
This site lists organizations that may be able to provide some information about financial aid for international students.

Financial Aid for Study Abroad
Listing of study abroad scholarships.

International Student Education Loans
Student loan programs specifically for US students studying abroad or enrolled in approved foreign colleges or universities.

Student Scholarship Programs for Education Abroad
For many students, a study abroad experience is only possible with financial assistance. Each year CIEE awards scholarships and grants to students who plan to study overseas.

Taking it Global Financial Opps
The TakingITGlobal Scholarships, Fellowships, and Grants directory, arranged by deadline date or type.

Youth for Understanding USA
This organization awards scholarships to US students who wish to participate in its international exchange programs.

Other Scholarships/Awards

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
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.

Casey Family Scholarships for Foster Care Youth
The scholarship aims to help decrease the financial barriers to higher education faced by foster youth in need, and to support their success through the provision of mentoring. To this end, the Casey Family Programs teamed up with Orphan Foundation of America and launched a new scholarship effort that provides scholarships of up to $10,000 to young people, under the age of 25, who have spent at least 12 months in foster care and were not subsequently adopted. The scholarships are awarded for the pursuit of post-secondary education, including vocational or technical training.

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

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.

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation's Young Scholars Program
High-achieving youth with financial need and who attend U.S. high schools (U.S. citizenship is not required) are selected to receive individualized educational services throughout high school that will enable them to develop their talents and abilities. The Foundation also awards scholarships for college and graduate school.

Kyoto Scholarships
The Inamori Foundation has created the Kyoto Scholarships in honor of the laureates of its 20th Annual Kyoto Prizes. The Kyoto Prize is awarded each year in three categories: Advanced Technology, Basic Sciences, and Arts and Philosophy to people who have contributed significantly to mankind's betterment in the categories of Advanced Technology, Basic Sciences, and Arts and Philosophy. The Inamori Foundation of Kyoto, Japan, and the San Diego Foundation have invited all high schools in the City and County of San Diego (public, private and parochial), as well as Tijuana-area high schools, to participate in the 2005-2006 Kyoto Scholarships. Six students will be awarded scholarships up to $10,000 each. The program is limited to high school seniors.

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.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholars Program
The Martin Luther King, Jr., Scholars Program is a unique summer internship experience at the U.S. Department of Education, established in commemoration of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his contributions to civil and human rights in America.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Scholars Program is open to continuing juniors, seniors and graduate students who are enrolled on a full-time basis in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program at the time of their application, as well as in the academic semester following the summer internship. Students from any field of study are welcome to apply. Up to 10 outstanding undergraduate or graduate students with an interest in education policy or public policy and administration will be selected to participate in the program in summer 2005.

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.

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.

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.