2026 Founders Fund
Scholarship Application
Each year, Phi Eta Sigma awards more than $400,000 in scholarships at the national level through our Founders Fund program, convention grants, and local scholarships. Phi Eta Sigma prides ourselves in awarding scholarships to students who have demonstrated leadership, service, academic excellence, and a commitment and involvement within Phi Eta Sigma. ​
​
​Scholarships are available for both undergraduate and graduate students. We offer a variety of resources including webinars and best practices, so that our students can put their best foot forward in the application process.
​​​
The application form is available now through the link above with a deadline of May 1st. Award recipients are notified over the summer, and awards are dispersed by August 15th each year. ​
The scholarship application requires students to respond to a series of essay questions that includes:
​
-
Phi Eta Sigma Involvement
-
Academic plans
-
Involvement and awards
-
Service
-
3 Letters of Recommendation (optional)​​​
​
To assist assist students in preparations, a pdf of the entire 2026 Scholarship application is linked below
Founders Fund
Scholarship Program
​
Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility
​
Who is eligible for the Founders Fund Scholarship Program?
Members of Phi Eta Sigma inducted by December 31, 2025 are eligible to apply for the 2026 Founders Fund Scholarship Program. Members inducted after this date are not eligible for the 2026 cycle and are encouraged to apply when the 2027 application opens in January 2027.
​
What if I graduate in December 2026—am I eligible to apply?
Yes. Students graduating in December 2026 are eligible to apply for the 2026 Founders Fund Scholarship Program.
​
Is there a minimum GPA requirement to apply?
No. There is no minimum GPA requirement to be eligible to apply for the Founders Fund Scholarship Program. Academic performance is considered as part of the holistic review process.
​
If I’ve received a Founders Fund Scholarship before, may I apply again?
Yes. Previous Founders Fund Scholarship recipients are eligible to apply again, provided all other eligibility requirements are met.
​
Application Materials.
Are recommendation letters required as part of the application?
No. Recommendation letters are not required, but they are allowed and encouraged.
​
Can my Phi Eta Sigma chapter advisor write my recommendation letter?
Yes. Phi Eta Sigma chapter advisors may write recommendation letters for members of their chapter applying for the Founders Fund Scholarship Program.
​
Do I need to submit anything beyond the application itself?
No additional materials are required beyond your application submission.
If a recommender chooses to email a recommendation letter instead of uploading it with the application, it must be sent to hq@phietasigma.org.
​
Member of Distinction & Review Process​​
​
What if I applied for Member of Distinction but haven’t received my notification yet?
You do not need to delay submitting your scholarship application. Any applicant selected as a Member of Distinction will have that designation added to their scholarship application by Phi Eta Sigma Headquarters before applications are reviewed by the Scholarship Committee.
​
Financial Aid & Awards
​
Will a Phi Eta Sigma scholarship affect other scholarships or financial aid I receive from my university?
Phi Eta Sigma scholarships are awarded directly to recipients by check and are not distributed through a university’s financial aid or scholarship office.
​
Recipients are responsible for reporting any external scholarship funds if required by their institution. Applicants are encouraged to consult their university’s financial aid or scholarship office to understand how outside awards may interact with existing aid.
​
Notification Timeline
​​
When will Founders Fund Scholarship recipients be notified?
Recipients will be notified by July 15, 2026, and scholarship funds will be distributed by August 15, 2026.
​
If your question is not addressed above, you may contact the Phi Eta Sigma National Office at hq@phietasigma.org.