Native Forward Scholars Fund 2025-2026 Scholarship

This application serves as the gateway to all Native Forward Scholars Fund scholarship opportunities for the 2025-2026 academic year. By submitting it, you will automatically be considered for every scholarship for which you qualify.

Eligibility Requirements

To apply, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be an enrolled member or a descendant of a U.S. federally recognized or state-recognized American Indian Tribe or Alaska Native group.
• Provide proof of Tribal affiliation by submitting a Tribal Eligibility Certificate (TEC) or official documentation such as a Certificate Degree of Indian Blood, Tribal membership/citizenship card, or an enrollment/descendancy letter from your Tribal enrollment office.
• Complete and submit a Financial Need Form (FNF).
  • The TEC and FNF forms will be emailed to the address you provide.
  • Carefully review your email address for accuracy before submission.
  • Follow up to confirm that the email request has been received, as it may be directed to a spam or junk folder.
  • Note: Some scholarships are awarded based on merit, while others consider financial need.
• Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and be eligible for federal financial aid.
  • Students ineligible for federal aid due to academic suspension, expulsion, unsatisfactory academic progress, or educational loan default may not qualify for Native Forward funding.
• Be enrolled in a degree-seeking program at a U.S. accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
  • Note: Most Native Forward scholarships require full-time enrollment.
• Provide a copy of your most recent cumulative academic transcript.
• Submit a digital photo (not used in the selection process).
• Provide contact details for two references and ensure their email addresses are entered correctly.
  • Follow up to confirm that the reference request was received, as emails may go to spam/junk folders.
  • References must complete and submit their online questionnaires before the deadline.
• It is the applicant’s responsibility to track their application progress and ensure that all required documents are submitted on time.