Scholarships FAQ

Thanks to the generosity of our community, The Denver Foundation stewards more than 70 different scholarship funds created by individuals, families, and businesses, with approximately 30 competitive, application-based opportunities. These include scholarships for high school, college, and graduate students pursuing a variety of fields. Scholarship opportunities can consider merit, financial need, student interests, or background. To find a scholarship for you, review our competitive scholarships listed on the scholarship opportunities page, and then take the required steps to apply.

Yes, we are a separate and different organization from the Denver Scholarship Foundation. We encourage you to apply for scholarships at both organizations.

A universal application is a system that allows individuals to submit a single application to multiple scholarship opportunities. To begin, students will need to complete a one-time series of questions. Responses to those questions will be automatically compared to the eligibility criteria for each scholarship opportunity within the universal application. Finally, students will be presented with a list of all scholarship opportunities they are eligible for and asked to provide additional information for each scholarship opportunity (this often includes, but is not limited to, essay prompts, letters of recommendation, and resumes).

This year, we will be accepting scholarship applications online through our TDF Scholarship Manager starting December 15, 2025, through February 27, 2026. Many of the application questions have been included on our website. The earlier you start your application, the better!

Yes! We have a universal application that will match you with scholarship opportunities that you are eligible for. There are a small handful of scholarship opportunities not included in the universal application, and we encourage you to take a look at those other opportunities that require a separate application.

*Scholarship opportunities available only within the universal application will be noted on the Scholarship Opportunities page with a “(UA)” in the title.

It will vary based on the opportunity, but here is some information to keep in mind as you complete the application.

• Transcripts – Unofficial transcripts are accepted. Please upload your most recent transcript to the portal
• Letters of Recommendation – Ask your recommender in advance of the deadline to complete the form for you. Only enter one email per prompt. Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure that your recommender submits their responses by the application deadline. Letters of recommendation should not come from family or friends, but should still capture who you are as a person.
• FAFSA/CAFSA Information – you will be asked to share your student aid index report number, which can be found on your student aid report. You are not required to complete the FAFSA in order to apply for our scholarships. We do ask other questions to gain a sense of your financial situation.
• Essays – essays should be thorough, clear, and concise, and answer the prompt. The prompts will vary based on the opportunities you are eligible for.
• Activities/Community Engagement – For some scholarships, you may be asked to share brief listings and descriptions of your leadership and extracurricular activities. Please ensure to follow the template.

Please insert your top choice or best guest on the application. If you have been selected to receive a scholarship, you will have another opportunity to confirm which school we will send the check to.

Eligibility requirements vary by scholarship. Opportunities can be based on merit, financial need, or student interests and background. Take a look at the eligibility for each scholarship opportunity and confirm that you check all the boxes. We have also rolled out a universal application that will automatically select the opportunities you are eligible for.

Absolutely! Email us about yourself and your educational goals, and we’ll help you figure out if one of our scholarship funds is a good fit. To take a look at a full listing of our scholarship opportunities, please click here.

Be sure to answer the prompts thoroughly and to include all necessary attachments and information. We encourage you to proofread your essay responses and have someone else proofread them as well. Consider what you will be scored on and try to cater your responses and materials to those scoring categories.

It depends on the scholarship. On the specific scholarship webpage, you will see a header titled “Selection” that will tell you what you will be scored on. Potential scoring categories include, but are not limited to: Academic performance, extracurricular activities and leadership roles, reference(s), scholastic potential, essay responses, financial need, resilience and persistence, commitment to the field/passion for the work, and vision for the future.

If you are a student, graduate, and/or community member who does not plan on applying for our scholarships please complete this form to express your interest in serving a scholarship reviewer and our team will contact you between December – May depending on when we receive your form.

You will likely be notified of your application status in May or June.

No, it is against our practices to pay scholarships directly to students. We will send your award directly to your financial aid office after you submit your follow-up form.

It depends on the scholarship opportunity. Please contact the relationship manager assigned to your awarded scholarship. You can find their contact information on the specific scholarship’s webpage.

Scholarships are usually not taxable. However, any portions of scholarships used for room and board, travel, or miscellaneous expenses can be taxable. The Denver Foundation does not provide legal or tax advice. This communication, including any attachments, is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of avoiding tax-related penalties imposed under the Internal Revenue Code. We advise that you seek your own legal, tax, or other professional advice in connection with gift and planning matters.

It depends on the scholarship. You can learn whether a scholarship is renewable or not by looking at the specific scholarship webpage under the “Additional Information” section to determine if it is renewable. If you are still uncertain, please contact our team.

We typically start disbursing payments in July and wrap up in September. Payment processing takes 2-3 weeks, and your campus also has a processing period. The sooner you complete your follow-up form, the better, to avoid delaying payment disbursement.

Please connect with the relationship manager for your awarded scholarship fund. It depends on the circumstance and opportunity. Our scholarships are awarded for the upcoming academic year. If you receive a notification in May or June that you’re a recipient, the scholarship can only be applied to the next summer term, not the current one.