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Scholarships

The “I Have A Dream” Foundation of Boulder County’s (IHDF) Post Secondary Department is dedicated to serving students as they pursue their academic dreams of attending college or any other post-secondary pathway. The processes of applying and beginning a program has many steps. The Post Secondary team provides support, information and resources for admissions and financial aid. As an organization we support the entire family unit with educational opportunities. This includes immediate family members: siblings and parents 

There are a few scholarships offered by IHDF. During available times the IHDF’s scholarships are available with an online application. All awarded scholarship recipients are considered to renew their scholarship and must re-submit completed annually. REMEMBER: read all the eligibility requirements before applying for any scholarship. As an organization we know that there are many other scholarships available and we do provide lists for External Scholarships. These lists are sorted by grade levels: 9-11, 12, undergraduate/masters. 

You may email us: college@ihaveadreamboulder.org or call the Post Secondary Department (303-444-3636 ext. 111) with any questions.

 


The 2026-2027 Scholarship application is now OPEN. All students eligible to re-apply will receive an email with details. 

Scholarships

Dreamer Scholars that qualify for and signed up to be a part of our programming during their K-12 educational journey are eligible for the "I Have a Dream" scholarship. Every Dreamer Scholar accepted into our program is required to maintain active annual program participation at a specific site with a program director, keep up-to-date annual agreements signed by their legal guardians, and be enrolled in a post-secondary program within one year of their high school graduation. This scholarship is available to: *Graduates from the: Iris, Phoenix, Broadway East, Griffin, Aspen, Rocky Mountain, Oak, Elk, and Carbon Valley Dreamer classes *This scholarship is up to $10,000 ($2500/year) for bachelor's degrees (other programs/degrees may have different annual amounts). This scholarship is renewable by meeting eligibility requirements, up to the $10,000 *An appeal process is available if the education program is shorter than a 4 yr Bachelors degree
This scholarship is available to: Dreamer Scholars Dreamer Scholar Siblings Dreamer Scholar Parent/Guardians Partner Agency students:  FOR RENEWING APPLICANTS (from 2025-2026) - Boulder Housing Partners, Adelante, AVID @ BHS.  For undergraduate degrees at designated Colorado Public Higher Education Institutions This scholarship has a SAI or AGI income eligibility requirement (from the FAFSA/CASFA, if CASFA the student must be classified as ASSET via the college) This scholarship ranges from: $750-$4,000 ***Limited funding and is first come first serve The COSI scholarship is renewable. If awarded the COSI scholarship a student must maintain the following eligibility requirements to maintain eligibility: -Participate in Summer Melt programming -Meet the university's Satisfactory Academic Progress requirement (SAP) -Maintain the university's Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.0 requirement

Scholarships offered by “I Have A Dream” Foundation: 

“I Have A Dream” Scholarship (Dreamer Scholar Scholarship) 

Dreamer Scholars that qualify for and signed up to be a part of our programming during their K-12 educational journey are eligible for the “I Have a Dream” scholarship. Every Dreamer Scholar accepted into our program is required to maintain active annual program participation at a specific site with a program director, keep up-to-date annual agreements signed by their legal guardians, and be enrolled in a post-secondary program within one year of their high school graduation.

  • This scholarship is available to:
    • Graduates from the: Iris, Phoenix, Broadway East, Griffin, Aspen, Rocky Mountain, Oak, Elk, and Carbon Valley Dreamer classes
  • This scholarship is up to $10,000 ($2500/year) for bachelor’s degrees (other programs/degrees may have different annual amounts). This scholarship is renewable by meeting eligibility requirements, up to the $10,000
  • An appeal process is available if the education program is shorter than a 4 yr Bachelors degree

Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) – 6/1/2026 WAITLISTED

  • This scholarship is available to:
    • Dreamer Scholars
    • Dreamer Scholar Siblings
    • Dreamer Scholar Parent/Guardians
    • Partner Agency students:  FOR RENEWING APPLICANTS (from 2025-2026) – Boulder Housing Partners, Adelante, AVID @ BHS. 
  • For undergraduate degrees at designated Colorado Public Higher Education Institutions
  • This scholarship has a SAI or AGI income eligibility requirement (from the FAFSA/CASFA, if CASFA the student must be classified as ASSET via the college)
  • This scholarship ranges from: $750-$4,000 ***Limited funding and is first come first serve

The COSI scholarship is renewable. If awarded the COSI scholarship a student must maintain the following eligibility requirements to maintain eligibility:

  • Participate in Summer Melt programming
  • Requires minimum enrollment of full time
  • Meet the university’s Satisfactory Academic Progress requirement (SAP)
  • Maintain the university’s Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.0 requirement

Dakota Solomon Memorial Scholarship – CLOSED

  • This scholarship is available to:
    • Dreamer Scholars ONLY
  • This is a one year scholarship
  • Scholarship is for a minimum of $1,000, but it varies based on the number of qualified applicants
  • This scholarship has three short answer questions as part of the application process.

Cielo Scholarship (COGAN) – CLOSED

  • This scholarship is available for:
    • Dreamer Scholars ONLY
  • This is a one year scholarship for Vocational education/training programs 
  • Scholarship is for a minimum of $1,000, but it varies based on the number of qualified applicants
  • This scholarship has three short answer questions as part of the application process.

Standard Scholarships Requirements:

There are several requirements to submit the online application:  

  • Information needed:
    • If re-applying, you will need a Dream ID from the Post Secondary team.
    • College attending information, including your student ID.
    • Social Security Number
  • Uploads required:
    • A file or screenshot of your Student aid Index (SAI) from FAFSA/CASFA is REQUIRED
      • Complete the FAFSA or CASFA (click here for a step-by-step CASFA guide from MSU Denver) – If not completed contact the Post Secondary team to help you complete and submit.
    • A file or screenshot of your unofficial transcription is REQUIRED

At the time of submission students must agree to:

  • 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).

If a student does not fulfill these scholarship requirements, they will lose their scholarship eligibility. To reinstate scholarship eligibility, students will have to go through IHDF’s appeal process.

Scholarships Review Process:

Scholarship Review Process:

  1. The Post Secondary team will review applications after the deadline. 
    1. If Incomplete, you will receive an email requesting the missing information. You may be provided an extended time to submit the following:
      1. Missing Unofficial Transcript
      2. Missing Financial Aid SAI (Student Aid Index). This can be found on the FAFSA or CASFA financial aid account.
  2. For complete applications, the team will issue an award letter(s), which will be sent to the email listed on the application. 
    1. If you are applying to a private educational program, Post Secondary staff will reach out to verify details for processing the scholarship funds.

After award notices are sent, IHDF will send the scholarship funds to the college and/or program listed on your application, beginning in July. IHDF never provides funds directly to the student. Once your college/program receives the funds, they will apply and distribute the scholarship according to their policy. Be aware that colleges have their own scholarship disbursement policies.