Ford Opportunity Program

Each year, up to 55 students throughout Oregon and Siskiyou County, California are selected as recipients of the Ford Opportunity Program. The scholarship award is not a set amount, but is calculated to cover 90% ($1,000 minimum/$25,000 maximum per academic year) of each student’s college costs that are not covered by other resources (such as grants and scholarships), and his or her expected family contribution (EFC) from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The scholarship can be renewed annually for up to four years of undergraduate study.

Applicants must be residents of Oregon who are single parents of dependent children and considered "head of household," and must have high school diplomas or GED certificates, be about to complete high school, or be continuing college students.

Applicants must plan to earn a bachelor’s degree and to enroll full time in the fall of the application year at a public or private, accredited, Title IV eligible, non-profit college in his/her home state. Students with existing bachelor’s degrees are not eligible to be recipients of Ford Family Scholarships.

All Ford Family scholarship recipients are subject to a criminal background check. Awards can only be disbursed to recipients with a felony conviction if he or she has completed parole, probation, or any type of post‑prison supervision, and has paid any required restitution and/or court fees by August 1st.

Graduate school funding may be an option for Ford Opportunity Scholars who were awarded the scholarship as an undergraduate and who successfully completed their bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.6 cumulative grade point average (GPA) from their degree-granting institution. For further eligibility requirements, contact the Foundation Scholarship Office.

Below are additional selection criteria for the Ford Opportunity Program. The applicant must demonstrate:

Financial need. Each applicant must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and not exceed the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) limit, as established by the Foundation. Scholarship offers may be rescinded if an applicant's FAFSA changes prior to fall term of the application year and he or she no longer meets the financial need criteria. The FAFSA should be files early in January and must not have a rejected status at the time of the scholarship application review (mid-March).
Leadership skills and leadership roles in school and community activities.
A concern for others and a contribution of time and energy to volunteer projects and/or service organizations.
A contribution to personal success through paid work experience.
An ability to clearly communicate about personal strengths and goals and to present ideas clearly and concisely in both the essays and the required individual interview with a Foundation selection committee.
An ability to succeed in college as demonstrated by a high school or college GPA of 3.00 or higher, or a GED score of at least 2650. Applicants with less than a 3.00 cumulative GPA or 2650 GED score must have a school counselor, advisor, or teacher submit a Special Recommendation as part of the online application.

The Ford Family Foundation partners with the Oregon Student Access Commission (OSAC) to administer the scholarship application. Apply for a Ford Family Scholarship at www.OregonStudentAid.gov. The online application is available beginning in the fall of each year.

OSAC’s one online scholarship application offers more than 400 scholarship opportunities. Consult the OSAC website for application materials and additional information about financial aid and scholarships.

Don’t forget that in order to qualify for need-based scholarships, applicants must submit a FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1 and before March 1 to be certain it is available in time for the Ford Family scholarship application review. Submit online at www.fafsa.gov.

Your online application and related materials must be submitted by March 1. All eligible applications are reviewed and the most qualified applicants are invited to individual interviews in mid-May. Applicant interviews are conducted in Eugene, Oregon.

Please contact:

The Ford Family Foundation Scholarship Office
440 East Broadway, Suite 200
Eugene, OR 97401
Toll free: (877) 864-2872
Local: (541) 485-6211
E-mail: fordscholarships@tfff.org
Fax: (541) 485-6223