Imagine a scholarship with...
No program restrictions.
No extracurricular requirements.
No minimum GPA.
No income cutoff.
No age limits.
Life happens. Debt happens. Housing crises happen. Bad semesters happen. Inflation sucks. We get it.
Just tell us your story.
The Smith Black Student Emergency Housing Fund
This fund will provide one-time emergency bursaries of up to $1000 for Black students facing urgent financial need related to securing housing in Canada (i.e., damage deposit or monthly rental payment). Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and will remain open until funds are exhausted. Payments will be made directly to the landlord or property manager. Priority will be given to applicants who are currently homeless or at risk of imminent homelessness.
APPLICATIONS WILL OPEN IN EARLY 2025
2025 Tuition Scholarships
Scholarships ranging from $500 to $1500 will be made available each year. While we strive to offer 'no barrier' scholarships for all Black students pursuing their education in any field, we also recognize that there may be more significant costs associated with some programs. Scholarships will be categorized into 6-12 month (i.e., certificate) programs, 2-year (i.e., diploma) programs, and 3-4 year (i.e., bachelor) programs. At this time, our scholarships are offered only to those who do not yet have an undergraduate degree.
APPLICATIONS WILL OPEN IN EARLY 2025
HOW CAN
YOU HELP?
We are in the process of applying for CRA charitable status, so we cannot yet offer tax receipts. We are hopeful that we can still launch the first round of scholarships and bursaries in early 2025 with the help of our generous community. Until we qualify for not-for-profit grants, we are gratefully relying on donations of any amount through our GoFundMe to start supporting students as soon as possible. If you would like to make a donation directly to our business bank account, please contact us. Individuals who contribute $200 or more can be named as a recognized donor. Company sponsorships are available starting at $200 and will include recognition as a sponsor and advertising space!
Rooted In Resilience
Mental Health & Wellness Fund for Black Students
We recognize the interconnectedness of housing instability, financial insecurity, mental health challenges, and hindered academic success. The Rooted in Resilience program will be designed to support Black students in financial need whose academic progress is likely to be negatively impacted by new or ongoing mental health struggles. Limited funding will be available to provide rapid access to racially and culturally safe private-pay mental health services and/or wellness activities (i.e., dance or fitness classes) of the student’s choosing. This program intends to help reduce the likelihood of program withdrawal or failure due to the unmet mental health and wellness needs of Black students.
Applications will open in early 2025.