Foundation Awards 2,700+ Scholarships to Students
High school seniors, GED holders, and undergraduate and vocational students facing financial need may be eligible for awards of up to $15,000.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Scholarships
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The Shawn Carter Foundation reported more than 2,700 scholarship awards since its founding, including 324 awards in the 2025-26 academic year. The figures were shared through the foundation's newsletter.
Why it matters
The foundation was created on the belief that financial need should not determine whether a person can continue learning, so its award totals speak directly to students who face cost barriers. The milestone figures were reported as the foundation marked its growth since 2003.
Qualifying students can receive up to $15,000 over the course of their studies, and eligibility includes high school seniors, GED holders, undergraduate students, and vocational or trade school students. Financial need is weighed alongside leadership, community service, and personal resilience.
The players
Shawn Carter Foundation
A national scholarship provider founded in 2003 that supports students from admission through graduation, including vocational and trade school students.
Jay-Z
Rapper and co-founder of the Shawn Carter Foundation alongside Gloria Carter.
Gloria Carter
Co-founder of the Shawn Carter Foundation alongside Jay-Z.
The details
The National Scholarship Fund supports students from admission through graduation, and its funds may cover tuition, transportation, food, laundry, clothing, and other essentials. Scholars are required to take part in community service and to mentor younger aspiring students. The foundation has historically paid awards directly to educational institutions rather than to students.
Timeline
2003: Foundation founded by Jay-Z and Gloria Carter.
2025-26 academic year: 324 scholarship awards made.
November 2, 2026: Milestone figures reported in the foundation's newsletter.
Education Landscape
The Shawn Carter Foundation's cumulative award total places a single privately funded program in the broader national effort to widen access to college for students facing financial barriers. Its multi-year model, which covers costs beyond tuition, reflects a growing emphasis among scholarship providers on sustaining students through graduation.
Students who are high school seniors, GED holders, undergraduates, or vocational and trade school students can check whether they meet the foundation's eligibility criteria, which weigh financial need together with leadership and community service. Families planning costs should ask their school's financial-aid office how a scholarship paid directly to the institution would be applied to their bill.
The takeaway
Scholarship support can reach beyond tuition to transportation, food, and other essentials, so the total cost of school is worth mapping out early. Students weighing a scholarship should confirm with the awarding organization how funds are paid and what service or mentoring obligations come with them.
Further reading
For a broader look at how students find and win this kind of support, see our guide to Scholarships.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of India.
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