Scholarships and Grants

Education breaks the cycle of generational poverty and abuse—circumstances that often force children into foster care. – Eileen McCaffrey, Executive Director of OFA.

OFA is the largest national nonprofit organization dedicated entirely to helping former foster youth obtain the academic and technical skills and competencies needed to thrive in today’s economy. To that end, OFA provides scholarship and grant money to former foster students in colleges and specialized training programs across the country. In 2009-2010, OFA awarded over $15 million in financial aid to more than 3,500 students. Every OFA student receives care packages and coaching, and is eligible to participate in mentoring and internship programs.

OFA students have a 60% graduation rate after five years –more than three times the rate of other independent students.

• CASEY FAMILY SCHOLARS PROGRAM Since 2000, OFA has administered nearly $1M in scholarship funding annually for Seattle-based Casey Family Programs. Close to 500 Casey Family Scholars have graduated and entered the workforce or gone on to postgraduate studies since 2001.

• OFA SPONSORED SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM Funded entirely by private contributions, the Sponsored Scholarship Program provides money for former foster youth to attend universities, colleges or specialized training programs. Donors at the $2,500 level and higher can sponsor individual students with named scholarships.

• EDUCATION AND TRAINING VOUCHER (ETV) PROGRAM ETVs are federally-funded state grants intended to help current and former foster youth pay for college or specialized education and related expenses. OFA administers ETV funding in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, and Ohio. In most states, students may receive up to $5,000 a year.

• NC REACH Funded by the state of North Carolina and administered by OFA, NC Reach provides scholarships and intensive support services to current and former NC foster youth.