General Overview of the Application Process

The online application requires applicants to provide their information and upload the necessary documentation.

The selection committee (i.e, the Foundation board members) will deliberate and choose which applicants will move forward to the video interview, the final stage of the scholarship process.

Upon selection of the finalists, a committee representative will reach out to them via email to schedule a video interview. After the completion of the interviews, the committee will utilize the Evaluation Criteria to select three (3) winners who will receive the award. The award recipients will be notified via email. The award funds will be disbursed directly to the educational institution where the recipient is enrolled or to another institution or entity where the recipient has incurred other qualifying educational expenses, provided that the recipient submits a complete and sufficient invoice that evidences such expenses due or incurred by the award recipient as determined by the TTABF.

Selection Process

The TTABFSF selection committee, which comprises the board members of the The Taigah Alexis Brown Foundation (“Foundation”), will meet to review applications for the scholarship fund. Awards are based on the criteria outlined below. Grants are awarded according to the funds available in a given fiscal year.

To ensure a fair review process, the Foundation does not comment on the deliberations of the awards selection committee. The Foundation does not provide or otherwise disclose evaluations of applications. No provisions exist for reconsideration of awards proposals. Applications and supporting materials become the sole and exclusive property of the Foundation and will not be returned.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for TTABF Scholarship Fund awards, all applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

Be a woman (or a person who identifies as a woman) of African descent (for example, African-American, Ethiopian, etc.)
Be enrolled as an undergraduate student for the 2024-2025 academic year pursuing an associate’s degree or a first bachelor's degree at a college or university accredited by the U.S. Department of Education.
Submit an official or unofficial transcript from the applicant’s college or university, or solely if a rising first-year student, an official or unofficial transcript from the applicant’s high school and a copy of the official high school diploma or official GED certificate.
Be a United States citizen or a permanent U.S. resident.
Complete, in full, TTABF Scholarship Fund application online and submit it online by the deadline.

Evaluation Criteria

Applicants are evaluated based on the following criteria:

Demonstrated commitment to contribute to your community's well-being.
Educational and career goals.
Academic achievement (including cumulative GPA and academic awards)
Demonstrated financial need.

Applicants are first ranked based on consideration of items 1, 2, and 3 above. If more than 3 applicants are considered to be equal in ranking, the candidate(s) demonstrating the greatest financial need will be ranked higher.

Regulations

1. The TTABFSF award must only be used for the following items:

(a) Tuition and fees required to enroll at or attend the applicant’s qualifying educational institution for the 2024-2025 academic year;

(b) Course-related expenses, such as fees, books, supplies, and equipment that are required for the courses at the applicant’s educational institution, which items must be required of all students in your course of instruction in the 2024-2025 academic year.

2. No portion of the award may be used for: room and board, travel, research, clerical help, equipment and other expenses that are not required for enrollment in or attendance at the educational institution, etc.

3. The determination of whether there is a tax obligation associated with the receipt of a TTABFSF award is the sole and exclusive responsibility of the applicants and award recipients. Applicants and award recipients that have questions regarding income tax matters may, as they determine in their sole discretion, address them with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, the applicant’s financial aid office and/or a personal tax adviser. The Foundation cannot and does not provide tax advice or other financial advice. The Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity.

4. Scholarship applications become available online August 31, 2024, and must be completed in full and submitted with all required materials by October 7, 2024 at 11:59pm PST. Applicants who are awarded a scholarship will be notified by end of October 2024.

Award Determination

The amount of the scholarships awarded to each student is determined by the TTABFSF Selection Committee. Scholarship award amounts equal $1,500 (subject to the qualifying items). Scholarship grants are awarded based on the evaluation criteria provided above.