KuuKuupa In Memoriam Endowed Fund Grant

Native Forward awards are allocated based on the financial aid information provided by the institution’s Financial Aid Office. Awards can vary, ranging from $100 to $30,000 per academic year.
Native Forward Scholars Fund members of federally and state-recognized Tribes as well as first and second-generation descendants. However, Native Forward Scholars Fund scholarship opportunities have different Tribal eligibility requirements and can be determined by submitting a Tribal Eligibility Certificate.
Willie had a huge heart and unconditionally loved his family – those he was given and those he chose. No matter how little he had, he was always willing to lend a hand to family and even a stranger in need. To honor him and the care and compassion he had for those around him, his family started the Kuukuupa Fund. To celebrate and honor Willie’s spirit and the person he was, his family hopes the Kuukuupa Fund can be a way for others to honor loved ones who have journeyed home by supporting Native students in their educational pursuits to achieve their dreams.
The KuuKuupa In Memoriam Endowed Fund was established to assist Native students who are facing financial hardships and challenges by providing them with a one-time relief award. The fund provides emergency support scholarships directly to students in need of assistance for emergency situations that includes, but is not limited to, food insecurity, emergency housing and utility costs, educational technology or technology-related resources, or other difficult choices that will benefit the student and their families in the hopes that some of those needs can be met.

Eligibility

Degree-seeking students must be attending an accredited institution full-time in the U.S.All applicants must be able to demonstrate Tribal affiliation through a Tribal Eligibility Certificate (TEC).We fund American Indians and Alaska Natives who are enrolled in U.S. federally recognized Tribes or state-recognized Tribes.Individuals who can verify descendants of American Indian or Alaska Native lineage from Tribes are also eligible for funding through Native Forward Scholars Fund.