Under the terms of the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund Declaration, students may attend any accredited postsecondary school (four-year college, two-year college, vocational-technical school, or trade school) they choose that is located in the United States. Education assistance is typically paid in two installments each year.

• Families of Freedom Scholarships are available for postsecondary study only. The Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund does not provide scholarships for elementary or secondary school.
• Families of Freedom Scholarship recipients may receive scholarship awards for up to four years, or the equivalent if attendance is part-time, depending on total funding available.
• Grades are not considered in determining initial eligibility for Families of Freedom scholarships or the value of scholarship awards. However, students must demonstrate satisfactory academic performance in order to continue receiving scholarships.
• Spouses and domestic partners (1)who applied before the end of 2011 may receive scholarship awards for up to four years, or the equivalent if attendance is part-time, depending on total funding available. The application period for spouses and domestic partners ended as of January 31, 2011.
• Students must apply each year for awards from the Fund in order to determine continued eligibility and award amount. Eligibility for scholarship assistance is always based on financial need. Award amounts for eligible students may change yearly, based on changes in family finances, changes in tuition rates, and current actuarial projections for the Fund.
• Parents and siblings of victims are not eligible for Families of Freedom Scholarships unless they can provide documentation of financial dependence on the victim.
• At this time, students who show no financial need may receive a modest award for up to four years, or the part-time equivalent, from one of various Families of Freedom subfunds. These awards may be used for education-related expenses.
• Families of Freedom Scholarships are not provided to repay past student loans.
• Although conditions may change over time, including the percentage of financial need covered, retroactive payments will not be made from the Fund to past recipients.

If you think you or someone you know may be eligible to receive a Families of Freedom Scholarship, or if you have questions about eligibility, please call toll-free 1-877-862-0136 or email info@familiesoffreedom.org.

Families of Freedom Subfund Eligibility

Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund subfunds are operated in conjunction with the main Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund, but are governed by separate, independent agreements between Scholarship America and the donor which detail the specific terms and conditions of each subfund. (2)

Several of these subfunds provide scholarship awards for graduate study and study outside of the United States. At this time, there are also subfunds that provide modest scholarship awards for Fund registrants who do not have financial need. Please see the General Subfunds and Designated Subfunds pages for more information.

1. Domestic partner scholarships are provided through the Benjamin Moore & Co. Heroes of America Fund, a subfund of the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund. (Return to Eligibility Guidelines)

2. The Peoplesoft/Oracle Scholarship Fund and the PGA TOUR 9-11 Scholarship Fund are governed by the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund Declaration.