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How to apply 2026-2027 IHDF Scholarships

HOW TO APPLY for the
Fall 2026/2027
IHDF Scholarships:

The Post Secondary Department is dedicated to supporting students educational goals with financial support via scholarships. These scholarships help to pay costs associated to attending college or another post-secondary opportunity.  For any support or questions contact the team: college@ihaveadreamboulder.org or call the (303-444-3636 ext. 111). 


“I Have A Dream” Foundation Scholarships

Application information requirements:

    • A DREAM ID is required to apply. A team member may provide this for you. If you are re-applying, you will receive an email from the Post Secondary team.
    • College information, including your student ID
    • Major/Degree information
    • Social Security Number
    • Recent transcript, showing your Cumulative GPA (Undergrads – this must show your current completed cumulative credit hours)
    • Your FAFSA/CASFA student summary. This will show an SAI. For anyone submitting FAFSA, it will show possible Pell Grant and Student Loans 

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE:

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR IHDF DREAMER SCHOLARS:

  1. Dreamer Scholarship is for “I Have A Dream Foundation” Dreamer Scholars only. When you indicate you are a Dreamer Scholar you will be considered for both Dreamer & COSI scholarships automatically.
  2. Donor Scholarships: DEADLINE is May 22, 2026
    ***Optional scholarship and requires a response to three short answer questions.

    1. Dakota Solomon & Cielo-Vocational Scholarships 
    2. Questions:
      1. Describe an experience, project or assignment in the last year you are proud of. Describe the details that include what it was, how did you complete this task, and how it made you feel.
      2. As you begin this next chapter in your education journey, provide details about your long term career goals. Please describe how this will have a positive impact on your family and your community.
      3. What strengths or skills have you developed that will help you thrive in college? Please provide at least two examples. 
  3. COSI ACHIEVE – Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) Scholarship  Limited funding 
        • Active Dreamer Scholar 
        • Active Dreamer siblings 
        • Active Dreamer parents
        • Partner students (Adelante, AVID, and Boulder Housing Partners – only renewal applicants who received scholarships in 2025/2026)

 DEADLINE: Friday May 22, 2026, 5pm MST

  • Application tips:
    • There is ONLY one online application for all scholarships.
    • The application is intuitive – it will provide questions based on your responses.
    • The application does not save or allow you to return to where you may have stopped. You need to complete this in one sitting.
    • This application will only allow you to choose one college/university.
    • This application will only allow you to choose one semester.
      • If you apply for fall, our team will process spring automatically.

Steps to apply:

  1. Prepare application documents: FAFSA/CASFA summary & unofficial high school transcript
  2. Have demographic and college ID information available (including Social Security Number)
  3. Write and review the 3 REQUIRED short answer questions (200 words max per response)
  4. Start, complete and submit the online application (in one sitting)

Short Answer Questions: Please provide a response in less than 200 words for each question.

  1. Describe an experience, project or assignment in the last year you are proud of. Describe the details that include what it was, how did you complete this task, and how it made you feel. 
  2. As you begin this next chapter in your education journey, provide details about your long term career goals. Please describe how this will have a positive impact on your family and your community.
  3. What strengths or skills have you developed that will help you thrive in college? Please provide at least two examples.

Submission agreement:

  • Keep IHDF updated with current contact information, which includes email, phone number(s), and preferred address. 
  • Apply for financial aid and have a complete financial aid award account with your college. 
  • Maintain scholarship requirements which may include: 2.0 college GPA and meeting academic and financial aid SAP policy. 
    1. ***If you have any concerns about your current SAP standing, please contact the Post Secondary team.
  • Students are REQUIRED to submit an online check-in form every semester they are enrolled, or IHDF will put a hold on future payments.
  • If you are a first time attending student, you are REQUIRED to complete a verbal check-in each semester (in addition to the online check-in).

Scholarship Review & Awarding Process:

After the deadline all applications will first be reviewed for required information. Any incomplete application will be voided and not move forward to the next round.

In the next round all applications will be reviewed by a committee of volunteers. The committee will review applications based on the responses and grammar for the 3 REQUIRED short answer questions. It is recommended that you have someone proofread your responses for spelling and grammar.

If chosen to be an awardee you will receive an award letter, sent to the email listed on the application. There is a REQUIREMENT for all attendees to attend a Summer Melt transition program held by the Post Secondary Department on Thursday May 28, 2026. There will be limited space for each session. A registration link will be in the email you receive.

All Scholarship funds will only be sent to the college/university. Funds are never provided directly to the student. Fall funds will be sent by early August and Spring funds will be sent by early January. Once your college/program receives the funds they will apply them to your financial aid award screen. They determine and distribute funds to your balance according to their disbursement policy.