How to apply
You apply directly to the sponsor. Here is how.
Thank a Teacher does not collect applications and never asks you for personal information. We find and verify scholarships that exist only for current and former foster youth, then send you straight to the organization that runs each one.
Find scholarships you qualify for
Search the directory by your state, your school, the award amount, or the deadline. Every scholarship listed is exclusively for young people with foster care experience, so you are not competing with the whole student body.
Read the eligibility carefully
Each listing shows who can apply and what the sponsor requires. Some are open to students at any school; others are tied to one campus. Where a sponsor does not publish an amount or deadline, the listing says so — call their financial aid or program office to confirm.
Gather what you will need
Most sponsors ask for the same handful of things. Having them ready in one folder means you can apply to several scholarships in an afternoon instead of a month.
Apply on the sponsor's own site
Every listing has an "Apply on the sponsor's site" button that takes you straight to that sponsor's official application. You submit directly to them — no account here, and nothing about you is stored on this site.
Follow up and keep track
Note the date you applied and who you sent it to. If you have not heard back by the date the sponsor gives, it is completely appropriate to email and ask politely about the timeline.
What sponsors usually ask for
Requirements vary by sponsor, so always follow their instructions. This is simply what comes up most often.
- Proof of your foster care experience — often a letter from a caseworker, a court order, or a ward-of-the-court verification
- Your high school or college transcript
- Proof of enrollment or an acceptance letter
- Your FAFSA submission summary, if the sponsor asks for financial information
- One or two people who will write you a recommendation, and their email addresses
- A short personal essay you can adapt — your story, your goals, and what the money would make possible
- A résumé or simple list of jobs, volunteering, and activities
Your privacy
There is no student account on this site and no application form. We do not ask for, collect, or store any information about you. When you click through to a sponsor, you are on their site under their own privacy policy — read it, and never pay a fee to apply for a scholarship.
Ready to start?
Search by your school or your state and apply to everything you qualify for.