Please see our "How to Apply" page for all the details.

The scholarships have varied and diverse criteria beyond the universal requirements. Visit our Scholarship Listings page where you can click on individual scholarships for more detailed information.

The majority, but not all, include financial need as a criteria in addition to academic achievement (merit). Based upon the information that you submit with the General Application, we will match you to those scholarships for which you have the best opportunity for award. 

A minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 2.0 or GED score of 2.89 is required. Some scholarships specify a higher GPA for consideration. Visit the Scholarship Listings Page and click on the Scholarship name to view eligibility criteria for specific scholarship. 

Application deadlines are posted on our Scholarship Listings Page. 

Our online application gateway opens in early January for scholarships for the upcoming academic year. Our best tip is to START EARLY! If you have questions or need assistance, we will have time to help you. The process is not difficult, however your application will not be reviewed until all your requirements have been uploaded. It is more likely that we can alert you to errors or omissions you have made to an application submitted early (by February 15).

It is preferable that you upload your own references to assure your application is complete by the deadline. However, if they prefer to send them to us directly, they must be emailed here prior to the application deadline. Ask them to include your full name (as it appears on your application) and your application number, if available. 

We will upload emailed Letters of Recommendation to your application as soon as possible. Please allow time for processing at our end, particularly on or near the deadline when the volume of incoming applications and materials is extremely high. 

Some scholarships require acceptance into a specific college for award consideration. If you are a first year college bound student and have your letter of acceptance at the time of application, please include it. You may submit your application without the college acceptance letter.

Once you have submitted your application with all your requirements, it will be reviewed and verified by our staff. If we identify errors or omissions to your submitted application prior to the deadline, we will alert you. Reported errors/omissions must be resolved within the stated deadline for application consideration. There will be no deadline extensions. If your application and all requirements are successfully completed prior to the deadline, it will be considered and you will receive an email confirming your “completed” status.

Selection Committee Meetings take place beginning in April and continue through June. Applicants chosen for an award will be notified primarily by email (US mail in some cases) as soon as committee selection results are reported. We will notify all online and renewal applicants by email, when the internal selection process has concluded. Refer to Scholarship Details for awarding of “External Application” scholarships.

You will receive an email (US Mail in some cases) notifying you of your award. Included in your award letter and the accompanying attachments/enclosures, will be details regarding the scholarship you received including: eligible expenses and how they will be paid, what your responsibilities are as a recipient, and the renewability of your award for subsequent years. If you have any questions after you have received your award, you may contact us at 216-615-7164.

For traditional college students (attending the full academic year), awards greater than $750 will be paid in two equal installments in August and again in January. Awards less than $750 will be paid in full fall term. Payments will be scheduled to arrive at your school by August 15 in the fall, and in early January for the spring term. You may use your award letter to report this award to your school for their anticipated receipt of our payment.

Please be aware that payments may be delayed or cancelled if you did not submit your Student Verification form upon award notification, or if you have neglected to send your grade reports at the end of each scholarship term in compliance with your scholarship requirements for continued support.

All active Cleveland Foundation Scholarship recipients are required to submit a grade report to the Foundation at the end of each term, as soon as available. You do not need to send an “Official Transcript." An acceptable grade report would include: student name, school name, course grades, credit hours, term and cumulative GPA, and academic standing. This data is generally available to all students online. Save in a pdf format and email here.

Some are, depending on the preference of the donor who established the scholarship fund, and provided you have met the requirements for continued support. Go to the Scholarship Listings Page and click on the Scholarship name for these details. The Scholarships Details page will also tell you if a particular scholarship is One-time, Renewable, or if you are required to submit an Application each year to be considered for additional scholarship support.

To renew a current "renewable" scholarship for the upcoming academic year, complete and return the Renewal/Verification form with your renewal requirements. Go to the How to Apply page for further details and to download the Renewal form.

Past recipients, not eligible for renewal, can apply for additional and/or new support by submitting the General or Corporate/Group application. You can mention in your essay that you are a former recipient of a scholarship through the Cleveland Foundation. 

Feel free to call us at 216-615-7164, if you have any further questions related to the above information.

Visit our Student Resources page for useful information on the national, state, and local level.