Black Community Scholarship Fund: Eligibility and Opportunities

Each year, numerous scholarships offer financial assistance to outstanding and qualified students, especially within the Black community. These scholarships, often need-based and merit-based, support students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees as part of initiatives designed to ensure equity in educational opportunity, preparing students for success in school, work, and life. Award amounts, academic interests, and age eligibility can vary, providing opportunities for graduating high school seniors and those further along in their professional careers.

NAACP Inspire Initiatives

The NAACP's Inspire Initiatives offer a variety of funding opportunities to students. Scholarship applications typically open in early March and close in mid-April, with recipients announced in the summer. Membership in the NAACP may be a requirement for some scholarships.

Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship

The Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship honors the late Agnes Jones Jackson, a long-time NAACP member from the San Francisco branch. It is a non-renewable scholarship.

Building Beautiful Futures Scholarship Powered by Dark & Lovely

The Building Beautiful Futures Scholarship, powered by Dark & Lovely, is also a non-renewable opportunity available through NAACP's Inspire Initiatives.

Empowering a Better Tomorrow Scholarship Powered By Walmart

The Empowering a Better Tomorrow Scholarship, powered by Walmart, aims to assist formerly incarcerated or recently convicted individuals who have completed their sentence and desire to further their education. It is open to students who will matriculate full-time at an accredited academic institution in the Fall of 2025 and is a non-renewable scholarship.

Read also: Funding for Black Students

Hubertus W. V. Willems Scholarship

The Hubertus W. V. Willems Scholarship supports male students interested in pursuing careers in engineering, chemistry, physics, and/or mathematical sciences. This is a non-renewable scholarship.

The Ed Dwight Scholarship

The Ed Dwight Scholarship honors Ed Dwight, the first Black astronaut candidate, author, and sculptor. This is a non-renewable scholarship.

The NAACP X Society Awards Scholarship

The NAACP x Society Awards Scholarship is awarded to students pursuing careers in visual/performing arts, including film, theatre, fashion, photography, graphic design, dance, music, journalism, and mass communications. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

The Dearmont-Dyas Scholarship

The Dearmont-Dyas Scholarship aims to positively impact the next generation and is a non-renewable scholarship.

Urban League of Rochester Scholarships

The Urban League of Rochester, through a network of Scholarship Partners, offers scholarships with a broad range of eligibility requirements. These partners assist in increasing the availability of financial assistance.

Read also: The Black List Internship

Individual Scholarship Examples

Several scholarships are available with specific eligibility criteria and deadlines:

Scholarships for Black Female Students

These scholarships are designed for female students of African ancestry who are involved in community and church activities. Recipients must graduate from an accredited high school and attend an accredited college.

Black Scholar Scholarships

These scholarships require applicants to be Black Scholars and submit a Black Scholar Application Form. Potential essay topics include educational goals and contributions to others, as well as personal goals and visions for helping others.

Scholarships for Students in the Rochester City School District

These scholarships require students to be inducted as Black Scholars, maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, and attend a Rochester City School District High School. They must also be accepted to and have paid a deposit to attend St.

SUNY Brockport Scholarships

These scholarships require applicants to apply to and plan to attend SUNY Brockport in the fall as a full-time matriculated freshman.

William E. Scholarship

This scholarship requires applicants to be graduating seniors, honored as Urban League Black Scholars, and live in specific counties (Monroe, Wayne, Livingston, Ontario, Orleans, or Genesee). They must be accepted into an accredited four-year college/university and demonstrate qualities characteristic of William E.

Merit-Based Scholarships

College-bound, high school graduating women seeking full-time or part-time study at a 2-year or 4-year accredited higher education institution are encouraged to apply for this merit-based, nonrenewable award.

Key Factors for Scholarship Eligibility

To get a scholarship, factors such as academic achievement, financial need, and commitment to public service are often considered. Some awards fund full tuition or provide support across multiple academic years.

STEM Scholarships

Scholarships are available for candidates intending to enroll in a college, technical or trade school, or university majoring in a STEM field. While open to all, Black and African American applicants are often prioritized.

Black at Microsoft Scholarship

This scholarship is for Black and African American high school seniors who demonstrate a passion for technology and intend to pursue a bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, computer information systems, or specific business programs.

Brown and Caldwell Minority Scholarship

Black, African American, and other minority students may apply for this scholarship. Students must be undergraduates in their junior or senior year or enrolled in a graduate program in engineering or environmental science.

Development Fund for Black Students in Science and Technology

African American undergraduate students majoring in scientific or technical fields and enrolled at HBCUs may apply. Applicants are evaluated based on their academic achievements, a personal essay, letters of recommendation, and financial need.

Future Women in STEM Scholarship

Women-identifying high school seniors or undergraduates from an underrepresented group studying STEM are eligible for this scholarship.

Scholarships for Graduate Students

George A. Strait Minority Scholarship and Fellowship

This scholarship honors distinguished law librarians and accepts minority applicants intending to pursue a career in law librarianship. Students must be enrolled in law school or an American Library Association-accredited library graduate program.

Spectrum Scholarship Program

The American Library Association (ALA) Spectrum Scholarship offers awards to racially and ethnically diverse populations, including Black and African American students. Applicants must attend an ALA-accredited graduate program in library and information science or an American Association of School Librarians-recognized school library media program.

Other Scholarship Opportunities

American Bus Association Diversity Scholarship

This scholarship focuses on underrepresented groups pursuing careers in the transportation, travel, and tourism industries at the management or operational level. Undergraduate or graduate students may apply.

Congressional Black Caucus Spouses Education Scholarship

Eligible applicants include Black and African American students pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees. High school seniors may also apply. Applicants must live or go to school in a Congressional Black Caucus member’s district.

ETS Presidential Scholarship for HBCU Students

This scholarship is awarded by ETS and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Juniors or seniors enrolled in a historically Black college or university (HBCU) may apply. Students must demonstrate financial need and possess a minimum GPA of 3.5.

Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to minority high school seniors who demonstrate leadership potential and academic excellence. Applicants must plan on attending an approved four-year college. Recipients also receive career guidance and internship placement.

NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Herbert Lehman Scholarship

Candidates must be graduating high school seniors, first-year college students, or transfer students in their first year or sophomore year. citizens with a history of academic excellence and public service experience and whose combined family income does not exceed $70,000.

National Black Nurses Association Scholarship Program

The NBNA offers numerous scholarships for Black and African American students pursuing a career in nursing. citizenship or meet permanent resident requirements. Candidates must also demonstrate financial need, academic excellence, leadership potential, and community service experience.

The Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Scholarship Program

This scholarship is awarded to one female and one male rising senior attending an HBCU.

Scholars Program

Candidates must be first-generation high school seniors from an underrepresented minority group. Applicants must be accepted into an accredited four-year university and intend to major in a qualifying subject such as STEM, pre-med, or psychology.

HBCU Specific Scholarships

Some scholarships require candidates to be accepted at or enrolled in an HBCU as a condition of the award. These scholarships, grants, and fellowships are often funded through partnerships between HBCUs and organizations like UNCF, while other HBCUs offer their own institutional scholarships and awards.

Need-Based vs. Merit-Based Scholarships

Need-based scholarships require students to demonstrate a significant financial need, typically through the FAFSA. Merit-based scholarships are awarded for achievements such as academic performance, leadership potential, or community service experience.

Black Community Fund Scholarship

The Black Community Fund supports African-American students in the greater Kansas City area pursuing higher education or career advancement. This scholarship is open to high school seniors, current college students, and adults enrolled in accredited degree or certification programs at two- or four-year colleges and nonprofit technical schools. Recipients are expected to stay engaged with their communities and actively contribute through time, talent, and service.

UNCF Scholarships

UNCF is the nation’s largest private scholarship provider to minority group members. They offer a variety of scholarships, including the Walt Disney UNCF Scholars Program, which provides both scholarships and internships to high-achieving college students.

Additional Scholarship Examples

Calvin C. Wainright Memorial Foundation Scholarship

This scholarship recognizes a Greater Kansas City high school senior who serves their community, strives for academic excellence, and demonstrates that their service embodies their faith and spiritual belief. Applicants must have a minimum score on the ACT test of 29 in Math and 25 in English.

Steve Pellegrino Emerging Sports Leaders Scholarships

These scholarships provide financial assistance to students whose lives have been impacted by the sport of soccer and are available for all high school seniors with post-secondary plans at a university, college, trade, or vocational school.

NKC-NEA Scholarship

This scholarship is for 2025 high school seniors who will be enrolled full-time at an eligible Missouri public or private higher education institution in the fall of 2025 and who graduate from the North Kansas City School District or St.

Application Process

The application process for many scholarships involves completing a general application, answering additional questions to match you with scholarship opportunities, and providing additional information as required. It is essential to read through each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability.

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