Teens and Aging Out –

Scholarships for current and former foster youth

Casey Family Scholarships – The Casey Family and their Foster Care to Success program provide three different annual scholarships which you can apply for using one application. These include:

• Foster Care To Success Scholarship. Offers $2,500-$5,000 for college students under 25.Reward
  is renewable for up to five years.
• Continuing Education and Job Training Program. A need-based scholarship for Casey Family Program alums from Louisiana, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota or Wyoming.Reward
  is renewable for up to six years for undergraduate students and four years for graduate students.
• Casey Family Services Alumni Scholarship. Provides up to $10,000 over a Casey Family Service alum’s technical school, college, or graduate career. Only alums from Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island or Vermont and the program is available for students 16-49.

Education and Training Vouchers (ETV) – ETVs are grants funded by the federal John H. Chafee Independence Act and administered by state and tribal governments. They provide an annual voucher for up to $5,000 for students who are aging out of foster care and pursuing a college education or vocational training which can be renewed annually until the recipient turns 23. Apply on the Foster 2 Success website here.

Family Fellowship – A program from Together We Rise, the Family Fellowship is a $90,000 scholarship offered to eight current and former foster youth annually. In addition to financing your college education, the Family Fellowship offers a monthly housing stipend, personal and career mentoring, and emotional support services intended to provide familial support to each fellow.

Foster Care Alumni of America (FCAA)- Since most scholarships for foster youth and alums target folks who are under 25, FCAA created a fund for folks over 25 who are pursuing further education. They award two scholarships of $2,000 annually to people over 25 who spent at least one year in foster care. 

Guide to Completing FAFSA for Foster Youth –   Although this isn’t exactly a scholarship, this pamphlet gives you instructions for filling out FAFSA, the application that qualifies you for federal grants and loans to use towards your education. If you’ve been in foster care at any time since age 13, you’ll be considered an independent on the FAFSA forms which means you’re likely to get more funding.

Horatio Alger Scholarship – A scholarship program for low-income youth and those who have overcome adversity, the Horatio Alger Association awards state, national, targeted, and career and technical training scholarships. Awards range all the way up to $25,000 and are given to a large number of students annually.

National Foster Parent Association – Offers five annual scholarships to high school students pursuing further education. Students’ parents or guardians must be members of the NFPA.