Philadelphia Foundation Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Philadelphia Foundation

Overview The Philadelphia Foundation uses an online portal (SmarterSelect) to match students to scholarship opportunities. Applicants begin by answering basic eligibility questions, then complete supplemental questions and short essays for individual scholarships. The system copies uploaded documents and entered information across multiple applications, which streamlines applying to several awards at once. Only fully submitted applications in the portal will be considered by review committees. How the portal works - Complete eligibility questions to generate a list of matched scholarships. - Select scholarships of interest and answer any additional, scholarship-specific questions. - Upload required documents once; they carry forward to other applications. Key takeaways - Start at the Foundation’s SmarterSelect portal to find matches. - Matching is automated based on your responses to eligibility questions. - Only submitted applications are reviewed. Eligibility Scholarship eligibility depends on several criteria including residency, academic status, and financial need. Most awards require residency in the Greater Philadelphia region (Burlington and Camden counties in NJ; Bucks, Chester, Montgomery, Delaware, and Philadelphia counties in PA). An exception exists for students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), who may be eligible regardless of state residency. All applicants must be graduating high school seniors accepted or enrolled at an accredited post-secondary institution and must demonstrate unmet financial need via FAFSA. Core eligibility requirements - Graduating high school senior. - Accepted or enrolled in an accredited college, university, or vocational/technical program. - Demonstrated unmet financial need (FAFSA is used to determine need). Key takeaways - Residency is required for most awards, with an HBCU exception. - FAFSA-based financial need is mandatory. - Acceptance/enrollment at an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution is required. Available Scholarships A searchable list of current scholarships is available on the Foundation’s portal; each listing contains full details and any special criteria. Some scholarships have additional application requirements that appear on the final page of the individual scholarship application. Review each scholarship’s description and criteria carefully before applying, so you understand unique eligibility conditions and required materials. Finding and reviewing awards - Use the portal’s search feature to see scholarships matched to your eligibility responses. - Click each scholarship to read its specific criteria and requirements. - Note any scholarship-specific essays, letters, or documents listed on the scholarship page. Key takeaways - View the full list of scholarships in the portal. - Read each scholarship’s details before applying. - Some awards require extra materials; check each listing. Application Process The application workflow is step-by-step: begin with eligibility questions, save matched scholarships to your applications, create or sign in to an account, complete applications and uploads, then submit each scholarship individually. Documents and common responses auto-fill across multiple scholarship applications once uploaded. Remember that selecting “Save to My Applications” does not submit an application — you must open each scholarship and click the final “SUBMIT” button to complete it. Step-by-step actions - Begin Search: answer eligibility questions to produce matched scholarships. - Save to My Applications: add chosen scholarships to your account. - Complete and Submit: sign in/create account, finish each application, then click “SUBMIT” for each. Key takeaways - Complete eligibility questions first to obtain matched scholarships. - You must sign in to save, edit, and submit applications. - Click “SUBMIT” on each scholarship; saved but unsubmitted applications are not considered. Applying for Multiple Scholarships The portal is designed to let you apply to multiple scholarships efficiently by reusing uploaded documents and shared responses. After submitting one scholarship, return to your saved list to select additional awards and follow the same submission steps. To continue an in-progress application, use the “Edit Application” button and navigate to the indicated section to resume work. Managing multiple applications - Reuse uploaded documents and common answers across applications. - Add more scholarships from your matched list and repeat the submission steps. - Edit saved applications from your account to complete pending items. Key takeaways - You may apply for as many eligible scholarships as you choose. - Uploaded files and shared answers copy to other applications automatically. - Use the account dashboard to add or resume applications. Technical and Other Considerations There are a few technical and administrative constraints to note before you start. Scholarships are awarded only to accredited U.S. institutions. Some scholarships require extra materials listed on the individual scholarship page. For the best experience, use Firefox, Safari, or Chrome; Internet Explorer is known to cause problems with the SmarterSelect portal. Important technical and administrative notes - Awards are payable only to accredited institutions within the United States. - Check the last page of each scholarship application for required supplemental materials. - Recommended browsers: Firefox, Safari, Chrome; avoid Internet Explorer. Key takeaways - Confirm the school you plan to attend is accredited and in the U.S. - Prepare any scholarship-specific documents in advance. - Use a modern browser to reduce application issues. How to Proceed and Troubleshooting Begin by clicking “Begin Search,” answer the eligibility questions, then save scholarships to your account and sign in to complete and submit. If you do not see applications in your account, sign out of SmarterSelect and repeat the search while signed out, then sign in when prompted after saving. You can save progress on any application and return later to finish; only completed submissions will be reviewed. If something goes wrong - If applications don’t appear in your account, sign out and retry the search process. - Save progress often; incomplete drafts will remain in your account until submitted. - Ensure you click “SUBMIT” at the end of each scholarship application. Key takeaways - Sign out before starting a search if you experience missing applications. - You can save and resume applications, but must submit to be considered. - Verify submission status in your account after submitting. Contact and Support For additional information beyond the portal and FAQs, the Foundation provides direct email support for scholarship applicants. If you have specific questions about eligibility, materials, or technical issues, contact the scholarships team for assistance. The FAQ page on the portal also addresses common questions and troubleshooting steps. Support channels - Email: scholarships@philafound.org - Consult the portal FAQ for common questions and guidance. Key takeaways - Use scholarships@philafound.org for application questions. - Check the online FAQ before emailing for quick answers. - Reach out early if you encounter technical or eligibility issues.