How to Start a Scholarship
a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
Create a Scholarship — Step-by-Step
Featured Scholarships
No Fees. Just Impact.
All powered by donations.
Meet the Students Your Support Makes Possible
Carter Kitts
Rosedale Technical College Automotive Repair Major, Apprentice Mechanic & Future Automotive Restoration Specialist
These scholarships remind me that I’m not doing this alone. Knowing that others see potential in my goals drives me to keep learning, working hard, and honoring the opportunity I’ve been given.
Kaylee Flowers-Burris
Texas Southern University Business Marketing Major & Future Fashion Marketing Leader
This scholarship reminds me that my voice and vision matter. It’s helping me turn my passion for creativity and business into a platform for representation and positive change in the fashion industry.
Rishi Dhanasekaran
Georgia Tech Biomedical Engineering Major, First-Generation American & Aspiring Physician
Caring for my terminally-ill mother taught me what true strength and empathy look like. These scholarships remind me that those experiences can become a source of purpose as I work toward a career helping others through biomedical engineering.
Arielle Woolman
North Carolina State University Chemistry Major, Women in Science Mentor & Future Reproductive Endocrinologist
Receiving this award inspires me knowing that people believe in me. It doesn’t just fund my education; it fuels my passion to make healthcare more compassionate and equitable for everyone.
Your Options to Start a Scholarship Fund
Best Overall User-friendly platform that enables anyone to create and manage scholarships with ease. Fees $0 Create Fund $0 Min. donation $500 | Scholarship Management Service Entity dedicated to charitable purposes, funded by assets, and governed by a board. Fees 20%+ Min. donation $10,000 | Set Up Yourself Hiring a professional organization to handle the administration of scholarships on your behalf. Fees $5k-10k+ Min. donation $0 |
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Crowdfunding | No crowdfunding | No crowdfunding |
100% tax deductible | Not tax deductible | Not tax deductible |
Automatically get applicants | Some marketing features | No marketing support |
Trusted by Thousands of Donors
Frequently Asked Questions
There are no platform fees to create or donate to a scholarship on Bold.org—100% of your donation goes directly to the scholarship you choose.
Nope! When you launch a scholarship on Bold.org, it’s automatically hosted through the Bold Foundation—a registered 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN: 84-2719715). The Foundation has worked with Bold.org to design a fully managed, legally compliant, and tax-deductible scholarship process. That means no legal legwork, no nonprofit setup—we handle everything from applications to fund disbursement so you can focus on making an impact.
Yes! The Bold Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so all donations are fully tax-deductible and go directly toward funding scholarships. You’ll automatically receive a tax receipt as soon as your donation is processed.
We’ve got it covered! All scholarships on Bold.org are administered through the Bold Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) in good standing with the IRS. We follow strict compliance procedures so your scholarship meets all IRS guidelines. You focus on supporting students—we’ll handle the legal and regulatory details.
Yes! You can create a dedicated crowdfunding page on Bold.org to rally support from your network. Every donation made through your page is tax-deductible, and donors automatically receive a tax receipt—no extra work needed.
Funds ready to be awarded are held in cash, while future scholarships are securely invested in U.S. Treasury bills. This helps us operate with zero fees—so 100% of your donation goes directly to students.
Funding upfront ensures every scholarship is fully backed before students apply. This guarantees that the award will be available to recipients—no uncertainty, just impact.
100% of every donation goes directly to scholarships—never to overhead or fees. Scholarship awards are strictly used for educational purposes. Students can use the funds for tuition, required fees, textbooks, school supplies, transportation or housing (if necessary for their education), or to pay down student loans. Every recipient signs a grant agreement confirming that the funds will be used for eligible educational expenses.
A fund is used to collect and grow donations before a specific scholarship is launched, and it can help sustain a scholarship over time. A scholarship is the actual financial award given to a student to support their education.
You have the flexibility to define criteria that align with your values and goals—like location, field of study, graduation year, and more. When you create a scholarship on Bold.org, you’ll be matched with a dedicated Donor Relations Manager to help shape your criteria and bring your vision to life.
