College Scholarship Program
Funding Amount
$2,500 renewable ($10,000 total per recipient)
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Grant Type
foundation
Overview
College Scholarship Program
Funder: Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness
Geographic Scope: Chicago and suburban Illinois schools; nationwide for DREAMers and CCH participants
Award Amount: $2,500 per year (renewable), totaling $10,000 to complete bachelor's degree
Focus Areas: Educational support for students experiencing homelessness
- Graduating seniors from Chicago and suburban schools
- DREAMers
- CCH youth leaders
- Former CCH legal aid clients
- Must be younger than age 24 as of application deadline
- Must have succeeded in school despite coping with homelessness
- Must verify homelessness status
Eligibility
- Five new winners selected annually
- Recipients may attend colleges/universities in Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, and HBCUs
- $500 book awards available for scholarship recipients pursuing graduate study
- Established in 2004 by CCH Law Project
- 20 scholarship recipients have graduated with bachelor's degrees as of 2020 (43% graduation rate)
- National comparison: Only 11% of students from lowest income bracket earned bachelor's by age 24
Program Details
- Associated Bank
- Jill L. Meinzer Scholarship Fund
- The Osa Foundation and Robin Lavin
- Susan W. Pearson Memorial Fund
- Sisters of Charity, BVM
- Private donors
Funding Sources
Contact: Christy Savellano, Intake Specialist
How to Apply
Application Process
1. Submission Method: Online or paper application
2. Primary Deadline: Submit application with brief personal essays by Monday, April 27 at 5 p.m.
3. Supplemental Materials Deadline: All required materials must be submitted by Friday, May 1 at 5 p.m.
- Completed application (online or paper)
- Personal essays answering specified questions (must follow exact word limits—cannot be shorter or longer)
- Official transcript
- Two letters of recommendation
- Homeless verification form
Required Materials
- Well-written answers to essay questions
- Applicants may draft essays in another document and copy/paste into online application
- Essay questions and word limits provided in application materials
Essay Requirements
- Annual scholarship awards ceremony (June 23 in 2020)
- Location varies by year
- Evening reception followed by awards presentation
Awards Event
- Contact Christy Savellano to discuss extenuating circumstances related to school closures or other issues
Special Considerations
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
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