ACUMEN Scholarship Grant

ACUMEN Scholarship Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: East Bay Community Foundation
Amount: US $5,000 - US $8,000
Last Updated: November 19, 2025

Summary

The ACUMEN Scholarship, provided by the East Bay Community Foundation, aims to support financially challenged students from Youth Spirit Artworks, Oakland Tech High School, and McClymonds High School. Each year, up to three scholarships are awarded, with amounts of $5,000 for 2-year colleges and $8,000 for 4-year colleges. This initiative is designed to assist students with educational costs, encouraging their commitment to higher education.

Overview

About Us East Bay Community Foundation is helping build a community that is worthy of the people who call this amazing place home. Founded in 1928, EBCF was one of the nation’s first community foundations, now serving people across Alameda and Contra Costa counties. We partner with donors, fund advisors, social movements, and the wider community to eliminate structural barriers, advance racial equity, and transform political, social, and economic outcomes for all East Bay residents. Over the past several years, the Foundation has started implementing new ways of partnering with donors, social movements, and the community at large. In addition to our grantmaking, we engage in advocacy within allowable limits to advance racial justice. We work closely with our donors as partners and leaders in this journey. Scholarship Opportunities East Bay Community Foundation’s Scholarships Program allows us to support the success of East Bay children and youth through funds established for any level of study, from preschool to postgraduate. Funds can support any area of educational expenses, including tuition, housing, books, supplies, and other educational fees. Award funds used for expenditures outside of tuition, fees, books, and required supplies may be taxable. Awards are typically paid directly to the institution providing instruction. ACUMEN Scholarship ACUMEN stands for Aspire to College or University: Meet your Education Nexus. The ACUMEN Scholarship seeks to provide scholarships to students from Youth Spirit Artworks (YSA) in Berkeley, Oakland Tech High School, and MyClymonds High School who face serious financial challenges and who are committed to attend college. This scholarship will award up to 3 new scholarships each year. Awards for students attending 2-year colleges will be $5,000 each and awards for students attending 4-year colleges will be $8,000 each. Awards can cover educational costs including tuition, fees, books, and supplies. Current ACUMEN scholars are invited to renew their awards each year of college by demonstrating "good standing."

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligibility requirements for new, first-time applicants: Current participants at Youth Spirit Artworks (YSA) in Berkeley who are graduating from high school; OR Active participants and alumni at YSA who have graduated from high school and (a) not started college or (b) only attended community college (4 year college students are not eligible for first-time applications); ORCurrent, graduating seniors at Oakland Tech High School in Oakland; ORCurrent, graduating seniors at McClymonds High School in OaklandMust be attending either a 2-year or 4-year college or university in the upcoming fall termMust have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higherMust be eligible for federal free and reduced school lunch program