How do I apply for a scholarship?

To apply for any of the scholarships we administer, you must first register for a GHCF Scholar account. Visit www.GHCFscholar.org and click the blue “Register” button to create an  account if you don’t already have one.

What Name and Email Address should I use when creating an account?

If you are the student who is applying and you are over the age of 16, please create the account in your full name and use a personal email address that you will have access to throughout the year.

Please do not use abbreviates or nicknames when setting up your account, as all communications about your application will be addressed to the name on the account.

Please do not use the following email addresses: a parent's email, an email address connected to your high school, or a junk email account.

If you are the parent/guardian of a student who is over the age of 16, please create an account using your student's full name and email address.

We ask that you do not set up the account in your own name, as this would result in all application and award information being tied to the name of the parent/guardian instead of the student.

If you are the parent/guardian of a student who is 16 years old or younger, please create an account using your personal name and email address, not that of your student. This site requires all account users to be over the age of 16.

You will receive a confirmation email after registering for an account. Be sure to  confirm the registration through the link provided in the confirmation email.

If you need additional help or information, click on the black “Information” button (a lower-case "i") to see a dropdown menu for help options. Note the “Information” button  is always available at the top right of the screen when you are logged in to your account.

For more help navigating the GHCF Scholar website, view our Scholarship Applicant User Guide.

When will applications open?

Greater Houston Community Foundation administers over 60 different scholarship programs, each with differing eligibility requirements. Eligibility for some scholarships may be dependent on employment, course of study, high school, or college. 

Most scholarship applications for the 2025-26 school year will open in January or February. Some individual scholarships will have different open and close dates. See the Full List of Scholarships for exact dates of all applications. Click the individual links to learn more about the criteria for that specific scholarship.

Please note that we are currently updating applications opening in February at this time, so many of our programs will be shown as “offline” over the next few weeks. Eligibility requirements and award information may also be subject to change. Check back on the official application open dates for the updated information and to begin your application. 

Can you tell me if I submit my application correctly?

GHCF Scholarships receives more than 2,000 scholarship applications in a given year. To ensure that your scholarship application was correctly submitted, check for the following:

Confirmation Email – You will receive an email notification from GHCF Scholarships upon submission, confirming that your application was received. We encourage you to check your email and make sure that you receive this confirmation from GHCF Scholarships if you think you have submitted your application. Additionally, it is important that you check your email for any other updates, as we will communicate by email if more information is needed for your application. 

Application Status – You can also check on the status of your application through your GHCF Scholar account online. Log into your account at www.GHCFscholar.org and find your application. If the status shows as “Application In Progress” that means that you have NOT submitted your application to our team and need to complete additional steps online. If the status shows as “Application Submitted” or “Application Under Review” that means that your application has been submitted successfully.

At the end of the process, you will receive an email notification from GHCF Scholarships letting you know whether you were awarded the scholarship or not. All applicants who successfully submit an application will receive an Award Status update. You can also log into your GHCF Scholar account at any time to check your Award Status online.

Can I still apply for a scholarship if I missed the deadline?

No, our application deadlines are firm.

Unfortunately, we cannot make exceptions for late submissions related but not limited to: time zone differences, internet shortages or glitches, delays from references or recommendation forms, or other similar circumstances. 

Do I need to submit an official or unofficial transcript with my application?

You can submit an official or unofficial transcript, but it must include all required information listed within the application: your name, the name of your school, your most recent semester grades, and your cumulative GPA.

Transcripts missing one or more of the requirements may result in your application being denied.

How and when will I be notified if I receive a scholarship?

You will be notified by email whether or not you were selected to receive an award. You confirmation email will advise when award notifications will be sent. You can also check the status of your application any time by logging back into your GHCF Scholar account.

If you are selected to receive a scholarship, your email will contain your award information and next steps for accepting your scholarship.

If you are not selected, please note that due to the large volume of applications received, we typically do not provide individual details into why an application was not awarded.  You can email us any specific questions you may have.

Can I attend any school and receive my scholarship?

The Foundation only awards scholarships to students attending accredited academic institutions. Depending on the scholarship you receive, there may be limitations to the college/university you can attend.  Those details are outlined within each scholarship’s specific criteria.