Post-Secondary Scholarships
AFFCF’s Post-Secondary Scholarship program funds tuition and fees for young people who age out of foster care in Arizona and wish to attend a university or community college.
“As a foster youth with no stable place, I have found purpose, meaning and fulfillment through education.“
– Rico
SCHOLARSHIP GUIDELINES
Each of our student-applicants has a unique history that is considered in the scholarship process.
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- AFFCF’s primary criterion is that the student-applicant was a ward of the State of Arizona or in tribal foster care when they turned 18 years of age, that is, student was not adopted, awarded guardianship or reunited with his/her biological parents prior to aging out of the Department of Child Safety’s care. Prospective applicants who have signed a voluntary with DCS past their 18th birthday are also eligible.
- AFFCF will not consider first-time applicants older than 24 years of age.
- In order to be accepted into the program and remain eligible for a renewal each semester, students must be enrolled in at least six credit hours in a degree-seeking program (Associate or Bachelor) per semester and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
- Scholarships are awarded for two semesters. Scholarships are eligible to be renewed for an additional two semesters after the first two semesters, however renewal is not guaranteed. The maximum number of semesters that a student may receive the scholarship, if consistently selected for renewal, is 10 semesters.
- Four-year college/university applicants are eligible to receive awards up to $5,000 per calendar year ($2,500 per semester). To be eligible for the maximum four-year college/university award ($2,500 per semester), students must have and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. Four-year college/university applicants with cumulative GPAs between 2.0 and 2.5 are eligible to receive $2,000 per calendar year ($1,000 per semester).
- Community college applicants are eligible to receive awards up to $2,000 per calendar year ($1,000 per semester).
- Eligibility for scholarships is for two semesters. Students must provide specific documents each semester before AFFCF will renew and disburse their academic scholarship award. After two semesters, students can submit renewal documents to continue in the scholarship program, however renewal is not guaranteed.
- AFFCF will not fund retakes of failed or withdrawn coursework.
- Students who have a chronic history of failing or withdrawing from courses will be put on a probationary status for a period of no more than two semesters. Scholarship eligibility will be reviewed at the beginning of each semester. A student who does not meet the minimum cumulative GPA requirement of 2.0 more than two consecutive semesters will be automatically dropped from eligibility and will need to complete the full scholarship application to be considered for re-admittance into the program.
- Submitting an application is not a guarantee of approval.
FIRST-TIME APPLICANTS
Complete the Post-Secondary Scholarship Application and include the following:
- One letter of recommendation: personal or academic. An academic letter of recommendation (from a teacher/professor who had the student in class or a tutor who worked with the student) is preferred.
- Student’s most recent transcript (A GED certificate is acceptable instead of a transcript for a student who passed the GED.)
- Student’s FAFSA Summary Aid Report (SAR)
- Student’s upcoming class schedule (minimum enrollment of six credit hours required)
Fall 2023 Semester Application Period:
June 1 – June 30, 2023
RENEWAL STUDENTS
Each semester, renewal students (who have already been accepted into the AFFCF Scholarship program) must provide AFFCF with the following to be eligible to renew their scholarship.
- Student’s unofficial transcript displaying grades and cumulative GPA from most recent semester
- Student’s upcoming class schedule (minimum enrollment of six credit hours required)
Fall 2023 Semester Renewal Period:
May 15 – May 31, 2023
DREAM IT. LEARN IT. DO IT.
Whether you are currently in foster care, were in foster care, have aged out of foster care, or are someone who works with youth in foster care, this education guide will provide information about the resources that are available to help young adults reach their educational goals. Click on the image to the left or the button below to access our Post-Secondary Education Resource Guide!
SUBMISSION DEADLINES
The application and renewal periods for the Fall 2023 semester are as follows:
FIRST-TIME APPLICANTS: June 1 – June 30, 2023
Click here to apply. The last day for submission is June 30, 2023.
RENEWAL STUDENTS: May 15 – May 31, 2023
Renewal documentation to submit must include a copy of the student’s transcript showing your Spring 2023 grades and the student’s cumulative GPA and the student’s class registration for the Fall 2023 semester (minimum enrollment of six credit hours required). Click here to renew. The last day for submission is May 31, 2023.
“Failure isn’t fixed into our destiny. We are driven and talented, and we are capable of making smart decisions and taking the right path in life. We have goals and are ambitious. We have dreams and want to be successful.”
– Cheyenne
SCHOLARSHIP FAQs
Who is eligible for the AFFCF Scholarship program?
The scholarship program is open to those who meet the following requirements:
- Have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher (or proof of having passed the GED)
- Reached (or will reach) age 18 in foster care as a ward of the state of Arizona
- Will enroll in at least six credit hours in college for the upcoming semester
- Not yet turned 25 years old.
When should I complete the AFFCF Scholarship application?
AFFCF accepts new scholarship applications two times per year. Our scholarship application is open every June 1 to June 30 for applicants who will take classes in the fall semester (August – December) and every November 15 to December 15 for new applications who will take classes in the spring semester (January – May).
Examples:
A student who will graduate high school in the spring and plans to start college in the fall would apply for the AFFCF scholarship between June 1 and June 30 for the fall semester.
A student who will start or continue classes in the fall would apply between June 1 and June 30 for the fall semester.
A student who will start or continue classes in the spring would apply between November 15 and December 15 for the spring semester.
What Will I Need to Complete My Application?
It will be easiest to complete the application on a computer because you will need to upload documents.
- You will need to have your class schedule for the upcoming semester (showing enrollment in at least six credit hours).
- You will need to have your most recent transcript (unofficial is fine) or proof of having passed the GED.
- You will need to have your FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR).
- You will need to write three short personal essays about your goals in pursuing post-secondary education and to provide a little more information about yourself (minimum 250 words each).
- You will need to have a letter of recommendation from a personal or academic reference. You can either upload the letter to your application or request it via email from your reference directly from the AFFCF scholarship application.
- If you would like to include a photo that you feel best represents yourself, you should have one picked out.
WHAT IF I PASSED THE GED, BUT IT DOESN'T SHOW A CUMULATIVE GPA?
Please answer “Yes” to the question about having a cumulative GPA of 2.0 on the application and upload proof of having passed the GED.
Do I have to complete the application in one sitting?
No, you can sign in and out of your account as many times as you need to during the application period. The system automatically saves your work.
Do I need to have my letters of recommendation to begin the application?
No. You can start the application and add in your letters of recommendation once you receive them. You will need to attach them and submit your application prior to the application deadline.
OR
You can also choose to email your references through the application itself. AFFCF recommends that you speak to your references about providing letters of recommendation before emailing them the request through the application. When you email your references through the application, they receive an email with instructions on how to upload their letter of recommendation directly to your application. You still need to submit your application prior to the application deadline.
If your references do not provide your letters of recommendation through the system, your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.
Where do I make my account and apply for the AFFCF Scholarship program?
Where do I get more information about financial aid and other resources?
The AFFCF Post-Secondary Education Resource Guide is very useful and contains a lot of valuable information. An online version (with clickable links) is available here.
What if I have a question that's not listed here?
Please contact AFFCF’s Post-Secondary program coordinator, Erika Klotz, at eklotz@affcf.org or 602.775.5786.
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Address: 360 E Coronado Rd Suite 190, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Phone: 602.693.1866
Email: grants@affcf.org