15 Scholarships for Entrepreneurs

Whether you currently run your own business or you’re pursuing an education to become an entrepreneur, the good news is that there are plenty of opportunities for support.

To get you started, here’s a list of companies and organizations that provide financial grants and scholarships to help grow your business idea and become a future business leader.

1. 1 Hotels Fellowship at E2

What you’ll receive: $25,000 plus support for your project, which includes:

• Training in advocacy, communications, and media relations;
• Mentoring from seasoned executives and entrepreneurs across the country in the fields of sustainability, clean energy and other areas;
• Inclusion in E2 advocacy trips to meet with lawmakers and policymakers in state capitals and in Washington DC;
• Media exposure and press opportunities;
• Inclusion in special E2 Emerging Leaders programs at E2’s nine chapters nationwide;
• Invitations to monthly Webinars with business leaders, environmental experts and lawmakers;
• Connections with E2’s network of business leaders, investors and others in sustainability, clean energy and other fields;
• Inclusion in special 1 Hotels programs and events.

Eligibility: Early to mid-career professionals who are U.S. residents and currently work in sustainability, clean energy, water, infrastructure or related fields

How to apply: Submit a project that addresses an environmental issue

Next deadline: TBA

2. BlueVine Young Entrepreneurs Scholarship

What you’ll receive: $5,000 for the fall or spring semester

Eligibility: High school seniors going to college, full-time undergraduate or graduate students with a 3.3 GPA or higher

How to apply: 600-800 word essay that answers the question, “How will education prepare me for the challenges of being a small-business owner?”

Next deadline: TBA in the fall

3. Cancer for College Leonard Family Entrepreneurial Spirit Scholarship

What you’ll receive: $5,000

Eligibility: Any cancer survivor currently enrolled in a U.S. university or college, pursuing a major in business or a related field with a desire to pursue a career in food service and potentially own or operate a restaurant

How to apply: Submit your personal and/or your parents’ tax returns, plus cancer diagnosis

Next deadline: January 31, 2018

4. The FormSwift Startup Scholarship Program

What you’ll receive: $1,000

Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors or current college students, including international students

How to apply: Submit an infographic outlining your business plan in one of the five following industries:

• Startup
• Restaurant
• Non-profit
• Transportation
• Clothing

Next deadline: September 15, 2017 & December 15, 2017

5. Global Good Fund Fellowship for Social Entrepreneurs

Open to young social entrepreneurs across the globe, this fellowship focuses on leadership development. Fellows will interact with professional mentors throughout a 12-month program, and participate in an annual summit.

What you’ll receive: Grant of up to $10,000 and participation in a 12-month program for leadership development

Eligibility: Candidates under 40 years of age who lead an enterprise that is at least one-year old with at least one full-time employee other than the candidate

• Demonstrated leadership and growth potential;
• Candidate is committed to social impact and is driving significant change;
• The enterprise that the candidate leads is at least one year old;
• The enterprise must have at least one full-time employee in addition to the candidate;
• Candidate is coachable – embraces honest feedback and desires to improve;
• Candidate actively mentors and invests in team members or other individuals;
• The enterprise is or will be financially sustainable (50% or more of the budget is generated revenue);
• Under 40 years of age (if older, explain rationale for Fellowship).

How to apply: Candidates will go through a four-part application process

Part 1: Preliminary questionnaire

Part 2: Video recording

Part 3: Written assessment

Part 4: 2-hour virtual site visit

Next deadline: TBA

6. Grasshopper Entrepreneur Scholarship

What you’ll receive: $5,000

Eligibility: Any current or incoming students enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at an accredited U.S. college, university or trade school

How to apply: 500-700 word essay on a given topic each year

Next deadline: April 30, 2018

7. GreenPal Scholarship for Tomorrow’s Entrepreneur

What you’ll receive: $2,000 paid out over 4 semesters

Eligibility: Incoming freshmen or current students with a minimum 3.5 GPA who are enrolled in a school of business in the U.S., with a demonstrated interest in business and entrepreneurship

How to apply: 500-1,000 word essay

Next deadline: October 15, 2017

8. Halstead Grant

The Halstead Grant is an annual list of awards that go to current or aspiring jewelry designers. Winners will be invited to Prescott, Arizona for an all-expenses-paid trip to the company’s HQ, and be featured in their printed catalog.

What you’ll receive: $7,500 in cash, plus $1,000 in supplies

Eligibility: Students or professional jewelry designers intending to pursue a full-time career in metal jewelry design

• Must be a student or professional jewelry designer
• Must intend to pursue a full-time career in metal jewelry design
• Must have a cohesive collection of metal jewelry for resale
• Must have a line that includes significant sterling or fine silver elements
• Must intend to sell at a national level
• Must have started selling jewelry after January 1, 2014
• Must not have ever been convicted of a felony
• Must be a U.S. citizen

How to apply: Answer the listed short and long answer questions in the application and submit jewelry designs and details

Next deadline: TBA

9. HostGator Website Scholarship

What you’ll receive: $1,500 awarded to three recipients

Eligibility: Students enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program

How to apply: 500 word essay answering the question, “How has the internet impacted your education?”

Next deadline: November 30, 2017

10. Insureon Small Business Scholarship

What you’ll receive: $2,500 awarded to two recipients each semester

Eligibility: High school seniors or current undergraduate students

How to apply: 500-750 word essay about your favorite small business and why

Next deadline: April 30, 2018

11. Kitchen Cabinet Kings Entrepreneur Scholarship

What you’ll receive: $5,000

Eligibility: U.S. citizens enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university

How to apply: Maximum 1,500 word essay on a given topic each year

Next deadline: TBA for 2018

12. Lily Pabilona Emerging Entrepreneur Scholarship

What you’ll receive: $5,000 awarded to two recipients

Eligibility: Current high school seniors or full-time college students of at least 50% Asian/Pacific Islander ethnicity, with a minimum 3.0 GPA

Additional requirements: Must own and operate a business for at least one year with revenue for the past six consecutive months

How to apply: 750 word essay on a given topic and a business plan

Next deadline: TBA

13. The Mortage Reports Business Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship

What you’ll receive: $1,000 awarded in the spring of 2018

Eligibility: Students with a minimum 3.0 GPA who are enrolled or about to enroll in an education program related to business or finance

How to apply: 600-1,000 word essay explaining what you hope to accomplish in your education and career

Next deadline: January 29, 2018

14. Thiel Fellowship

Targeting young entrepreneurs who want to receive a more practical education, the Thiel Fellowship provides support for fellows under the age of 23 over the course of two years, during which they must not be enrolled in a university or college. Fellows in the program will be able to develop their ideas and/or companies and use the funds as they see fit.

What you’ll receive: $100,000 grant spread out over two years

Eligibility: Everyone aged 23 or younger who want to build new things instead of sit in a classroom

How to apply: Maximum 500 words describing your project or company

Next deadline: Rolling applications

15. Yoobly Business Scholarship

What you’ll receive: $2,000

Eligibility: Students enrolled in a high school or college in the U.S. or Canada, who have completed at least one year of study at their institute and demonstrate high interest in business

How to apply: Maximum 500 word essay explaining why you should win the scholarship

Next deadline: December 31, 2017

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