The Boston Foundation Emergency Grant Program
The Boston Foundation has established an emergency grant program for current postsecondary undergraduate students enrolled full-time or part-time at select Boston area schools who are experiencing an unexpected financial difficulty that may negatively impact enrollment.
The Boston Foundation Emergency Grant Program
The Boston Foundation Emergency Grant Program provides funding to help cover unexpected financial difficulty that may negatively impact enrollment.
The program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarships and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. Eligibility for individual programs is determined at the sole discretion of the sponsor and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team.
Eligibility
Applicants to The Boston Foundation Emergency Grant Program must:
- Be a current postsecondary undergraduate student enrolled full-time or part-time and able to upload a course schedule to verify enrollment at one of the following schools:
- Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology
- Urban College of Boston
- Bunker Hill Community College
- Roxbury Community College
- University of Massachusetts – Boston
- Experiencing an unexpected financial difficulty that may negatively impact enrollment.
- Experiencing one of the following one-time emergency need expenses and be able to provide documentation for these expenses as incurred within thirty (30) days of application:
- Housing/Rent/Utilities
- Medical/Dental
- Childcare
- Transportation/Car Repair
- Food/Groceries
- Public Transportation/Travel
- Ineligible expenses:
- Tuition and fees
- Required course materials
- Books
Grants
If approved, the student will receive a grant of up to $1,000. Students may receive a maximum of one grant per academic term. Grants will not exceed the amount of the eligible expense. Requests for food and groceries will be approved up to $500. Students will be asked to submit a receipt or receipts for groceries within 30 days of receiving a grant for groceries.
Grants may be considered taxable income. Recipients should work with a tax professional to determine whether or not their grant is taxable.
Notification
Applicants will receive first contact and/or approval within one (1) business day of submitting an application. Note: additional time may be needed at surge times.
Notifications are sent via email. When setting up your account, avoid using a school or work email. Instead, use an active, personal email address that you will continue to have access to.
Payment of Grants
Scholarship America processes grant payments on behalf of The Boston Foundation.
Selection Criteria
Grant are awarded on the basis of:
- Ability to demonstrate need as defined by the program requirements
- Meeting the basic eligibility requirements
- The availability of funds
Grants will be awarded until all funds have been disbursed or the application deadline date, whichever occurs first.
Scholarship America will verify applicant eligibility as well as review the description and supporting documentation of the unexpected financial emergency in order to approve/deny requests.
Requirements
As part of your application, you must upload the following:
- Proof of Enrollment: Documentation confirming your enrollment for the Fall 2026 term
- Proof of Expense: Documentation of the expense for which you are requesting assistance. This may include a bill, invoice, or receipt
- Grocery Assistance: Students requesting assistance with groceries must upload an itemized list of the groceries, and if approved, submit receipts within 30 days
Your application is not complete unless all required materials are submitted electronically.
