Scholarship Application
The Eleanor Foundation scholarship celebrates students whose lives began in the NICU and who are now pursuing their college education. Questions about eligibility, NICU verification, or deadlines? See the scholarship FAQ.
Eligibility
To apply, you must meet all three of the following requirements:
- Be a graduating high school senior or a college student.
- Have been accepted to, or be currently enrolled at, a public college or university, or an accredited trade school.
- Be a NICU graduate — you spent time in a neonatal intensive care unit as an infant, whether because you were born premature, experienced any other newborn condition, or suffered an injury at birth.
What You Will Need
Proof of Enrollment
A copy of your college or trade school acceptance letter, or a current transcript or enrollment verification showing you are currently enrolled.
NICU Verification
Any one of the following:
- A brief letter from a physician, hospital, or NICU verifying your stay
- Hospital discharge papers or NICU admission records
- A signed statement from a parent or guardian attesting to your NICU stay
Essay
A 500–650 word essay responding to the prompt:
"Your story began in the NICU. Tell us how that beginning has shaped who you are today, and how you plan to use your education to make a lasting impact."
A note on medical privacy: We only need to confirm that you were a NICU patient — nothing more. Please feel free to black out (redact) any diagnoses, treatment details, or other medical information before submitting documents. Verification materials are viewed only by our selection committee, used solely to confirm eligibility, and securely deleted after the scholarship cycle ends.
Key dates: Applications are accepted from September 1 through December 1, 2026. Scholarship recipients are announced on December 12 — Eleanor's birthday. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Award: Our first-year scholarships will be $1,000.
Recipient agreement: Scholarship recipients agree to provide a photo and allow the Eleanor Foundation to share their first name, photo, and school on our website and social media.
Application Form
The application is a Google Form where you will answer the application questions, upload your documents, and submit your essay. Because the form accepts file uploads, you will need to be signed in to a Google account to complete it.
Start Your Application
All applications must be submitted through the form; we cannot accept applications by email. Do not have a Google account? You can create one for free using your existing email address. Questions about the form? Email us at scholarships@eleanorfoundation.org.
Privacy: Information submitted with your application is used solely to evaluate scholarship eligibility and administer awards. It is never sold or shared outside the Eleanor Foundation's selection committee, except as required by law.
