Scholarship Program

Geographic Scope: Nine-county Bay Area (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma)

Focus Areas: Educational assistance for students from low-income families to attend private schools

Program Details

• Award Amount: Up to $2,000 annually per student (average scholarship is $1,800)
• Students Served: Over 250 students at 78 schools
• Grade Levels: K-12th grade (entry grades K-9th)
• Program Model: Partial private voucher educational assistance model establishing collaborative partnership between The Guardsmen, student, school, and parents/guardians

Eligibility Requirements

• Financial Qualification: Students must meet Alaska Reduced School Lunch Program eligibility guidelines, reviewed annually
• Academic Qualification: Minimum 2.7 GPA, reviewed annually
• Residency: Must reside within the nine Bay Area counties
• Grade Entry: K-9th grades
• School Attendance: Must attend a state-accredited private school in the Bay Area (Partner School)
• Exclusions: Students receiving scholarships from BASIC Fund, CEO-Oakland, SMART, Independent Scholarship Fund, or Making Waves are not eligible (school-based financial aid is acceptable)
• Special Provisions: Foster parents, grandparents, and legal guardians are not required to meet income guidelines but must submit TANIF or Social Security documents

Continuation

Existing recipients automatically receive scholarships through 12th grade if they reapply each year, maintain a minimum GPA, and continue to meet financial requirements.

Current Application Status

IMPORTANT: The Guardsmen is currently accepting only Renewal Applications from students already enrolled in the Scholarship Program. New enrollment applications are no longer available to the public at this time. The Guardsmen may solicit qualified applicants from partnering schools as funding allows.

Partner Schools (78 schools including)

Archbishop Riordan High School, Bishop O'Dowd High School, De Marillac Academy, ICA Cristo Rey Academy, Kolbe Academy and Trinity Prep, Mission Dolores Academy, Northern Light School, Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, Salesian College Preparatory, St. Brigid School, St. Finn Barr Catholic School, St. Ignatius College Preparatory, St. James School, St. John Elementary School, St. Joseph Notre Dame High School, St. Peter's School, St. Raphael School, and others

Application Process

Current Status: Only Renewal Applications accepted from currently enrolled students

Required Documentation for Financial Verification

Families must submit one or more of the following:

• Federal income tax returns
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANIF) documents
• Social Security or Foster Care Benefits documentation
• Unemployment/Disability or Retirement Benefits documentation
• Workers Compensation Benefits documentation

Note: Foster parents, grandparents, and legal guardians must submit TANIF or Social Security documents (not required to meet income guidelines)

Selection Process

• Prior year recipients are annually enrolled if they reapply and continue to meet academic and financial eligibility requirements
• New qualified recipients selected on annual basis based on funding availability through The Guardsmen's solicitation of Partner Schools

Payment Method

• Tuition payments are made directly by The Guardsmen to the schools