Scholarship Platform Facts: Bold.org vs. Finaid.org 2025

Both Bold.org and Finaid.org connect students with financial aid opportunities, but Bold.org goes beyond just listing scholarships. By working with donors, Bold.org actively creates and funds exclusive scholarships on its platform, offering students meaningful opportunities backed by real people committed to making a difference.

To date, Bold.org has awarded over 5,000 scholarships, distributing a total of $33.9 million in financial aid to help students pay for higher education. With scholarships ranging from $500 to $50,000, the average Bold.org winner receives around $1,700 in award money.

Key Differences Between Bold.org & Fastweb

Both Bold.org and Fastweb help students find scholarships, but they differ in how scholarships are sourced and awarded.

• Fastweb functions as a scholarship aggregator, compiling external scholarships from various providers and directing students to outside applications.
• Bold.org takes a different approach by working directly with donors to create exclusive scholarships available only on its platform.

Unlike Fastweb, which primarily serves as a listing service, Bold.org funds and awards its own scholarships in addition to curating less than 1% of external opportunities.

Scholarship Offerings on Bold.org vs. Finaid

• Total Active Scholarships – Bold.org has 773 active scholarships currently available.
• Exclusive Scholarships – 99% of Bold.org scholarships are unique to the platform and funded by Bold.org and donors, while Finaid.org primarily aggregates from third-party sources.
• Custom Scholarship Creation – Bold.org's donor team works to create customizable scholarships around donors' preferences. Finaid.org does not facilitate the creation of new scholarships and serves more as a directory.
• No-Essay Scholarships – 10% of Bold.org scholarships have no essay component for easy applications.
• Commitment to Expanding Funding – Bold.org added over 1,200 new scholarships in 2024 alone.

Bold.org provides a diverse range of scholarships designed to support students at every stage of their education. From high school students preparing for college to undergraduates managing tuition costs and graduate students advancing their studies, there are tailored opportunities available. By offering scholarships across all academic levels, Bold.org ensures that financial aid remains accessible throughout a student’s entire educational journey.

Helping Students Find Scholarships on Bold.org vs. Finaid

Both Bold.org and Finaid.org help students discover financial aid opportunities, but Bold.org offers a more personalized and efficient experience.

• Full Scholarship Database Access: Students can access 100% of Bold.org's scholarships without an account and apply to 99% of them with one Bold.org profile. Finaid.org links to third-party websites, requiring multiple accounts to view or apply for scholarships.
• More Search Options: Students can search using keywords or 52 customizable filters for a targeted search on Bold.org.
• Easier Navigation: Finaid.org organizes scholarships into lists but doesn’t allow students to search the entire database at once. Instead, it relies on third-party sites like Fastweb.com and Niche.com, meaning students must navigate external pages to access details and applications. On Bold.org, all application information is visible in one place.

“Bold.org allows me access to a wider variety of scholarships, and serves as a hub to search, find, discover, and apply for scholarships, some that I may not have even known existed or been able to apply for.” - Nicholas, a Bold.org member

With a constantly growing list of exclusive, easy-to-apply scholarships, Bold.org simplifies the process for students looking to secure financial aid. Instead of spending hours navigating different platforms, students can find, apply for, and track their scholarships all in one place.

Application Process on Bold.org vs. Finaid

External scholarships represent most of Finaid.org's offerings. For every scholarship on Finaid.org, students must create an account or sign up for a mailing list on a third-party website.

Unlike Finaid.org, on Bold.org, students can apply using a free Bold.org account and can submit applications on Bold.org.

A Commitment to Students, Now and in the Future

Bold.org is dedicated to reducing student debt by making higher education more accessible. Through exclusive scholarships created and funded by real donors, easy application processes, and the continuous creation of new funding opportunities, we’re building a better scholarship experience—one that truly prioritizes students.

Help more students access exclusive scholarships and financial aid by sharing Bold.org scholarships with your audience.