Reisher Graduate Scholarship

The Reisher Graduate Scholarship supports alumni of the Reisher Scholars Program in pursuing PhD’s, doctoral programs, master’s degrees, and certificates/licensure in their field in Colorado.

Eligibility:

  • Received funding from the Reisher Scholars Program.
  • Completed undergraduate degree.
  • Enrolled in a PhD/doctorate/master’s/certificate/licensure program in the fall of 2026.
  • Attending a school or program in the state of Colorado.

Selection

Award decisions will be based on the costs of the program outlined, the number of applications received, and the funds available. If the number of requests exceeds the dollars available in a given application window, The Denver Foundation staff may give preference to requests made early in the application cycle and/or evaluate the quality of the essay submitted and the applicability of the degree/program to the applicant’s chosen field as presented.

Additional Information

Scholarship awards can be used toward tuition, fees, required books and supplies, room and board, and other required educational expenses. Funds can be used beginning in the upcoming academic year for part-time or full-time study at an accredited school in Colorado. If you cannot utilize your funds within one year of awarding, contact The Denver Foundation to discuss your situation. All scholarship awards will be paid directly to a recipient’s educational institution. Award disbursement is contingent upon the outside scholarship acceptance policies of a recipient’s college or university or program.

Amount

$5,000-$30,000

Application Windows

The Reisher Graduate Scholarship will have two application windows for funding during the 2026-2027 academic year.

  • The first application window opens from April 2026 to June 2026, and funding will be applied for Fall 2026, Spring 2027, and Summer 2027. Please do not apply for scholarship funding in this window if you do not plan on being enrolled in an eligible, post-graduate program in Fall 2026. If you plan to enroll after Fall 2026, please see the details about the second application window below.
  • The second application window opens from October 2026 to December 2027, and funding will be applied for Spring 2027 and Summer 2027. Please do not apply for scholarship funding in this window if you will be enrolled in your eligible, post-graduate program in Fall 2027 or later.

NOTE: The Reisher Graduate Scholarship funding details for the 2027-2028 academic year will be posted in April 2027. Recipients may reapply at this point.

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At a Glance

  • Status: Open
  • Opening Date: April 20, 2026
  • Closing Date: June 19, 2026
  • Typical Scholarship Range: $5,000-$30,000

How to Apply

Our online portal allows applicants to save and edit their work as well as apply for multiple scholarship opportunities. Click the Apply button below to register on The Denver Foundation’s Scholarship application manager to complete your online application. For support using our online system please email help@denverfoundation.org.

Apply

Please contact Natalie Waddington at nwaddington@denverfoundation.org.

About the donor

The program was established in 2001 by the Reisher family. Roger and Margaret Reisher came from modest means and were the first in their families to attend and graduate from college. Roger Reisher was born in 1928, the fourth of seven children raised on a small farm near the junction of Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska. After serving in the Army during World War II, Roger became the first in his family to attend college.

Thanks to the GI Bill, he graduated in 1950 with an Accounting Degree from the University of Colorado. He met his wife, Margaret, and welcomed the arrival of their daughters, Mary and Nancy, in the following decade while working in the commercial banking sector in Kansas City. The Reisher family moved back to Denver in 1963, where Roger served as the President and Director of FirstBank Holding Company for 20 years.

Appreciating how much their education impacted their lives and success in the banking industry, the Reisher family established the Reisher Scholars Program with The Denver Foundation to help fill a gap in Colorado student financial aid. Roger passed away in 2013, and Margaret passed away in 2019. Their daughters, Mary and Nancy, continue to serve on the Reisher Scholarship Committee.