Create a scholarship
Say thank you in a way that outlives you both.
A scholarship in someone's name is a living thank-you. When you create one exclusively for current or former foster youth, the belief someone once placed in you is passed on to a young person who needs it most.
You create it. You run it. We help.
Thank a Teacher does not collect, hold, or distribute scholarship money, and we never receive applications or select recipients. The sponsor — an individual, family, business, church, nonprofit, community foundation, or school — is responsible for funding, administering, receiving applications, selecting recipients, paying awards, and all legal, tax, and compliance obligations.
What we provide is inspiration, a free Starter Kit of templates, verification for featured listings, storytelling, and referrals. You may use our templates or establish your scholarship entirely on your own — either way, an eligible foster-youth-only scholarship can be submitted to be featured.
How it works
- 1
Choose your honoree
A classroom teacher, mentor, coach, pastor, foster parent, counselor, neighbor, employer, or friend — anyone who changed your life.
- 2
Define your scholarship
Decide the amount, deadline, and eligibility. To be featured here, it must be exclusively for current or former foster youth.
- 3
Set it up independently
You (or your family, business, church, nonprofit, community foundation, or school) fund it, host the application, select recipients, and pay awards. Many sponsors partner with a local community foundation or school to help administer it.
- 4
Submit it to be featured
Once your scholarship is live, submit it to Thank a Teacher. After we verify it exclusively serves foster youth, we feature it and share your honoree's story.
Step 2 helper
Find the exact school
Many sponsors tie their scholarship to a school — the one their honoree taught at, or the one their recipient will attend. Search the official U.S. list of high schools, colleges, and trade or career schools to get the name, city, and state exactly right.
Official federal school directories. Nothing here is saved — this lookup is just for your reference.
Free download
The Thank a Teacher Scholarship Starter Kit
Eight adaptable templates to make starting your scholarship simpler. Download the whole kit as one PDF, or take only the pieces you need. No sign-up, no email required.
- Template 1
Scholarship announcement language
A clear, warm announcement you can adapt to share your scholarship with schools, caseworkers, and community organizations.
Download PDF - Template 2
Foster-youth eligibility language
Sample wording that defines eligibility as current or former foster youth — the requirement for every scholarship featured here.
Download PDF - Template 3
Application template
A simple application structure covering the essentials, ready for you to adapt and host yourself.
Download PDF - Template 4
Sample essay questions
Thoughtful prompts that invite applicants to share their goals, resilience, and hopes — written with care for foster youth experiences.
Download PDF - Template 5
Selection rubric
A fair, transparent scoring guide your selection committee can use to review applications consistently.
Download PDF - Template 6
Honoree story template
A gentle structure for telling the story of the person your scholarship honors — who they were, and what they changed in you.
Download PDF - Template 7
Recipient notification language
Kind, celebratory wording for notifying recipients, and considerate language for applicants who are not selected.
Download PDF - Template 8
Launch checklist
A step-by-step checklist from naming your scholarship to announcing your first recipient.
Download PDF
The Starter Kit provides general templates and educational resources only. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Sponsors should consult qualified professionals about their own obligations.
Ready when you are.
If your scholarship already exists and exclusively serves current or former foster youth, submit it to be featured.