Guidance for Applicants

  •   The Black Friday College Fund aims to improve access to college and support the wellness of students.

  • The scholarship is open to all new or continuing college students from 18-24 that are planning to attend a four-year university, community college, or vocational school.

  • We prioritize students of color and students with financial need in our selection process.

    • Students who self-identify as Black or African American, Latino/Hispanic, Native American and Alaska Native, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, or multi-racial are encouraged to apply.

    • We determine financial need by the applicant’s FAFSA

  • The fund offers recipients a one-time $2000 award towards tuition and access to a reserve fund of $1000 that can be used to reimburse out-of-pocket costs of support services.

    • Expenses covered by the fund include tutoring, health services, and test prep courses. Housing, books, school supplies, and other educational expenses are generally not covered by the fund.

  • We specifically want to encourage students that are transitioning into college to utilize counseling services as the transition to college can be challenging.

  • The application is completed online at our website bfcfund.org/application. To apply, students must do the following:

    • Fill out the application form, which includes three short essays.

    • Submit transcripts and the final summary page of FAFSA application

    • Send one recommendation form to your recommender via email to be submitted directly to the BFCFund. Ask a teacher, employer or mentor for a recommendation. Do not ask a friend or family member. Choose someone who can articulate your strengths and praise your accomplishments.

  • The application portal is open from Black Friday through March 31. References are due by April 15. *

  • Annual scholarship winners will be announced on May 1.*

    • Scholars are chosen by a vote of the BFCFund board based on how compelling their application essays are and the strength of their academic performance and letter of recommendation. With this information, the board chooses applicants who show the most potential to succeed in college.

    *PLEASE CHECK APPLICATION PAGE FOR DEADLINE AND ANNOUNCEMENT EXTENSIONS!