Current Scholarship Opportunities
Seattle Foundation’s scholarship program has changed.
As of Fall 2022, we scaled back our scholarship program. There are several factors that went into this decision:
Mission alignment: We aim to align funds with Seattle Foundation’s Blueprint for Impact. This guiding framework is our “North Star” for advancing racial equity, shared prosperity, and belonging in our region.
Though our scholarship program is evolving, we recognize the transformative power of education and will continue to explore ways that quality education can be made more accessible to all people in King County. Seattle Foundation will continue to support several scholarship opportunities that align with our efforts to advance racial equity and justice; these funds will remain hosted by the Foundation. Additionally, we partnered with Scholarship America to provide better service for donors and students while bringing more visibility to our funds. You will find many of our scholarships now hosted on the Scholarship America website.
Staffing and implementation: Seattle Foundation strives to provide excellent service to our partners, donors, and community members. Unfortunately, the scholarship program has been challenging to staff and execute, resulting in decreased donor satisfaction and an inconsistent experience for scholarship recipients. We have invested in a full-time project manager who will oversee relationships with our partners and provide stability for our existing programs.
Budget: We seek to be a responsible steward of donor dollars. However, most scholarship funds do not cover the cost of administration. Furthermore, the scholarship funds administered by Seattle Foundation do not generate enough revenue to sustain the program. For this reason, some of our scholarship funds have transitioned to community foundations in Washington state that are a better fit.
Please note that the scholarship cycle generally launches in November with deadlines in March of the following year. We encourage you to read the descriptions for our current Seattle Foundation and Scholarship America scholarships in detail as they each have their own deadlines and eligibility requirements. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we move through this transition. Have additional questions? Read our FAQs.
Seattle Foundation Scholarship Opportunities
The following scholarship opportunities are hosted by the Seattle Foundation.
Atsuhiko Tateuchi Memorial Scholarship
This $5,000-$15,000 renewable scholarship is available to students from the Pacific Rim states of California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii; preference will be given to students of Japanese or other Asian ancestry, including multi-ethnic Asians. Note there are two application programs – one for students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees and one for vocational/trade programs.
- Students pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees, application portal will open in November 2023.
- Students pursuing a vocational or trade program, application portal will open in November 2023.
Bernie Minsk Scholarship
This scholarship honors Garfield High School graduate, local businessman and community leader Bernie Minsk. Preference is given to Garfield High School seniors, but any senior working with Rainier Scholars may apply for this renewable scholarship of $2,000 to $15,000. Application portal will open December 15, 2023.
Greater Seattle (WA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated Scholarship
The Greater Seattle (WA) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated was established in 1955 with a commitment to enriching, sustaining, and ensuring the identities, culture, and economic survival of African-Americans and persons of African descent. Scholarships will be awarded to qualified high school seniors of African American descent who reside in King, Snohomish, Kitsap, Clallum and Jefferson counties, are U.S. citizens and demonstrate exemplary leadership in their family, school and the African American Community. Scholarship awards up to $15,000. This scholarship is currently open and closes March 1, 2024. Learn more and apply
Greater Seattle (WA) Chapter of The Links, Supplemental Scholarship
The Greater Seattle (WA) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated was established in 1955 with a commitment to enriching, sustaining, and ensuring the identities, culture, and economic survival of African-Americans and persons of African descent. The Supplemental Support Scholarship is for college students in need of tuition assistance or who have basic or urgent need for financial support. This scholarship is currently open and closes November 1, 2023. Learn more and apply
Nora Stone Smith Scholarship
The Nora Stone Smith Scholarship honors and gives financial support to deserving immigrant high school seniors and students who have graduated in the past year and have participated in an ESL/ELL program at some point in their lives. This scholarship is available for all ESL/ELL students, regardless of their citizenship status. Undocumented students are encouraged to apply. This scholarship is $2,000 and renewable for 2 or 4 years. The scholarship opens on November 18, 2023 and closes on March 15, 2024. Learn more and apply
Seahawks Players’ Equality & Justice For All Scholarship
Seahawks players, the Seahawks Players’ Equality & Justice for All Scholarship Fund aims to build a more compassionate and inclusive society by supporting career opportunities for students who have overcome significant adversary. Preference will be given to students of color and first-generation college students. This fund will not be hosting an application cycle in 2024.
Scholarship America Scholarships
The scholarship funds below are currently available, but the application process is now hosted by Scholarship America.
C. E. Boucher Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship was established to honor and support engineering students studying at University of Washington, Washington State University, University of Oregon, and Oregon State University. This is a one-time scholarship for $3,000. Apply through Scholarship America
Doug Struthers Memorial Scholarship
Doug Struthers taught at Alexander Graham Bell Elementary in the Lake Washington School District for more than two decades. His hard work, commitment and perseverance made a difference in the school and the community. This scholarship fund was created in his memory to help young people learn skills to serve their communities. Four Lake Washington School District students every year are chosen to receive this $5,000 renewable scholarship. Apply through Scholarship America
Doyne M. Green Scholarship (Graduate Studies)
Supporting female graduate students of medicine, law, social service, or public service, this scholarship assists current graduate students who study at public universities in the State of Washington with a renewable $4,000 scholarship. Apply through Scholarship America
Lambeth Family Scholarship
This scholarship, designed to honor and financially support students pursuing a degree in engineering, natural sciences, mathematics, computer science or business, supports high school seniors in Washington State who will study at a public university, community college or technical school. This scholarship varies from $1,000 to $3,000 and is renewable for up to 4 years. Apply through Scholarship America
Anne D. Maloof Scholarship (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies)
This is a one-time scholarship for $3,000 dollars to honor and financially assist graduate, professional or undergraduate students in Island, Kitsap, Jefferson, and Thurston counties. Apply through Scholarship America
Walter H. Meyer — Garry L. White Memorial Scholarship (Undergraduate or Graduate Studies)
This $5,000 scholarship is available to non-traditional students working towards an undergraduate (must be over 24 years old) or graduate (must be over 30 years old) degree. Apply through Scholarship America
Microsoft Scholarships
Blacks at Microsoft Scholarship
This scholarship supports high school seniors who self-identify as Black or African American and plan to study in Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, Business Administration, Finance, or Marketing at an accredited four-year college or university. This scholarship varies from $2,500 to $5,000 with up to 50 awards granted. Apply through Scholarship America (link to apply coming soon).
HOLA at Microsoft Scholarship
This scholarship supports high school seniors who self-identify as Hispanic/Latino decent and is a U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident or be an individual granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program. Eligible applicants must plan to study Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, Business Administration, Finance or Marketing at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational school. This scholarship is a $5,000 award with up to five (5) scholarships granted. Apply through Scholarship America (link to apply coming soon).
Microsoft Disabilities Scholarship
This scholarship supports high school seniors living with a disability defined by WHO (World Health Organization — an impairment in a person’s body structure or function, or mental functioning (visual, hearing, mobility, cognitive, speech, or other disability). Eligible applicants must plan to study Engineering, Computer Sciences, Computer Information Systems, Law, Business (including Paralegal, Pre-Law, Finance, Business Administration, or Marketing) at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school. This scholarship is a $5,000 award with up to eight (8) scholarships granted. Apply through Scholarship America (link to apply coming soon).
Women at Microsoft Scholarship
This scholarship supports high school seniors or graduates or current college undergraduates who self-identify as female or as non-binary (a spectrum of gender identities that are not exclusively masculine or feminine). Eligible applicants must plan to enroll in a STEAM related degree (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school. This scholarship is a $5,000 award with up to seven (7) scholarships granted. Apply through Scholarship America (link to apply coming soon).
The Stanley Ann Dunham Scholarship
These $5,000 college scholarships are awarded annually to female-identifying students in the graduating senior class at Mercer Island High School (MIHS), Chief Sealth International High School (CSIHS), and Rainier Beach High School (RBHS). Students should demonstrate commitment to the values and goals embodied in the life and work of Dr. Stanley Ann Dunham, a 1960 Mercer Island High School graduate, anthropologist, and mother of the 44th President of the United States, Barack H. Obama, and Dr. Maya Soetoro-Ng. Apply through Scholarship America (link to apply coming soon).
Patricia Fisher Endowed Scholarship
The Seattle Association of Black Journalists (SABJ) established this scholarship in honor of Patricia Fisher, a Puget Sound native, journalist, educator and role model for her support of young people and her community. Scholarships up to $3,500 help students of African descent who are from or attending college in Washington and who are pursuing college careers in communications, such as print, photo, broadcast journalism or multimedia and online journalism. Scholarships are awarded based on scholastic achievement, financial need, community service and a serious interest in communications. Recipient(s) will be matched with a mentor who is a SABJ member. Apply through Scholarship America (link to apply coming soon).
Questions about scholarships?
Review our frequently asked questions or email [email protected].