Apply for a Scholarship
Our 2025 Scholarship Period Opens Soon!
To be notified of application details when the period for 2025 opens, join our mailing list here. You can find general information about our scholarship process below.
| Application Window Opens | 1/13/25 |
| #HFGather Webinar and Info Session | 1/15/25 (Register Here) |
| Application Window Closes | 2/10/25 |
| Scholarship Awards Announced | March 2025 |
| Scholarships Awarded Valid for | 2025 Program Year |
Understanding The Scholarship Application Process
The Highlights Foundation offers scholarships to our programs in several categories (types), awarded on a yearly basis.
With generous support from our community, the Highlights Foundation offers:
- General Scholarships
- General Scholarships from Named Funds (honoring those who have had a significant impact on children’s literature)
- Special Scholarships, which are specially funded by donors and more specific in intent (i.e. supporting writers and illustrators in specific genres or formats, with certain professional goals, diverse voices, and more)
You can find out more about all these awards and determine which you might apply for via our scholarship list.
Scholarship Criteria
All awards are based on the following criteria, evaluated via the applications:
- Seriousness of purpose, including time and effort devoted to craft.
- Talent displayed via a writing or art sample.
- Financial need.
Terms & Conditions
- Applicants are encouraged to apply only once per year.
- Travel is not typically included as part of scholarships, though we have restricted funds available to offer on a limited basis during the application window. Ten travel stipends of $500 each will be awarded during this scholarship period, and there is a place on the application to let us know if a travel stipend is helpful.
- 2024 Scholarship recipients can choose the workshop or retreat that matches their interests and their award during the 2024 program season.
- Whole Novel Scholarship awards are made during this process, but they have separate scholarship funds and you must apply specifically for a Whole Novel Scholarship to receive one. Funds will be awarded specially for Whole Novel programs.
- In-Community Retreat Scholarships awards are made during this process, but they have separate scholarship funds and you must apply specifically for an In-Community Retreat Scholarship to receive one. Awards will be offered by program.
- While scholarships can be used for applicable programs, participation is still subject to the availability of the course (i.e. recipients should sign up early to reserve their seats and ensure availability).
- In a case where a course requires an application or questionnaire for acceptance/registration, scholarship recipients may still need to complete those requirements. Information will be made available at the time of course registration.
For questions (including help if you have trouble submitting your application), contact us.
