Scholarships & Grants

Scholarships & Grants

Scholarships
& Grantsproviding support

Scholarships

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Sigma Kappa Foundation is pleased to offer scholarships for academic expenses to both undergraduate and graduate students.  Last year, 102 scholarships were provided by the Foundation to encourage and support the scholastic development of our collegiate and alumnae sisters. Since 1989, Sigma Kappa members have been awarded more than $1.79 million in scholarships.  While many are designated for members of specific chapters, more than 20 are available to members at large. Scholarships are made possible by our generous donors.


Applications submitted by the deadline will be reviewed in March. Applicants can expect to be notified of their status in late April.

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Eligibility

  • Sigma Kappa members, both collegiate and alumnae, in good standing with the organization, as well as, new members provided they are initiated and in good standing by April 1, 2025.
  • Member is pursuing undergraduate or graduate degree.
  • In addition to general eligibility guidelines, many scholarships are designated with specific qualification criteria.  For further details, please see our Scholarship List and FAQ at the bottom of this page.

Timeline

  • The application will be available Jan. 2, 2025 and must be submitted by March 3, 2025 by 11:59 PM PST.
  • Applications submitted by the deadline will be reviewed in March. Applicants can expect to be notified of their status in early April.
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2024-25 Scholarship Recipients


Click here to view the 2024-25 scholarship recipients list.

Scholarship List


Click here for the 2025-26 scholarship list.

Individual Emergency Grants

The Sigma Kappa Foundation is pleased to offer a number of grants for members experiencing hardship. Grant applications are accepted year round! For questions please email foundationgrants@sigmakappa.org or call 317-381-5531.

Emergency Grants

Available Grants

Sigma Kappa Foundation has moved emergency grant applications to a new platform – GivaGrant. 
In order to access the applications, members should sign up for a personal account using this link.

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Alumnae Heart Fund


This charitable program is designed to provide assistance to alumnae who find themselves facing financial distress, emergency or crisis through aging, medical, natural disaster, or other severe personal or family problems. 

Apply Now
Once an account is created, the Application Dashboard will display AVAILABLE applications. Select the specific application that fits your situation.

Collegiate Emergency Grant

The purpose of the Collegiate Emergency Grant is to provide emergency grants to aid truly needy collegiate members in good standing, who find themselves in financial distress, due to unforeseen life-changing circumstances. Grants from this program are restricted in their use to payment for tuition and books, rent and housing related expenses, personal medical bills, replacement of personal items, and other critical needs to help keep the member in school or to overcome personal loss of property.

A Collegiate Emergency Grant does not need to be repaid unless the member changes her membership status during the grant award year. A change of membership status will result in full repayment of the grant.

Note: The Foundation is unable to provide grants for dues, per the Internal Revenue Service, as dues are not considered a basic necessity nor an educational expense, and, as a result, we cannot use tax deductible contributions for this purpose.

Apply Now

Once an account is created, the Application Dashboard will display AVAILABLE applications. Select the specific application that fits your situation.


Sister to Sister Disaster Recovery Fund


The Sister to Sister Disaster Recovery Fund assists alumnae and collegiate members of Sigma Kappa who find themselves in financial distress due to the occurrence of a Presidentially declared major disaster or emergency. Grant applications for the Sister to Sister Disaster Recovery Fund can be accepted for up to six months following the Presidential declaration. This grant is funded by member donations and contributions are accepted at any time.

Apply Now

Once an account is created, the Application Dashboard will display AVAILABLE applications. Select the specific application that fits your situation.

Leadership Grants

Sigma Kappa Foundation offers grants for Sigma Kappa members to attend the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute (UIFI). While attending UIFI, participants will enhance their leadership potential, foster personal growth and gain skills to positively impact their chapters and fraternity/sorority communities. These grants are made possible by collegiate membership in the 1874 Giving Circle.



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Eligibility

  • Sigma Kappa members in good standing with the organization.
  • Leaders and future leaders within the chapter and fraternity/sorority communities.


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Timeline

  • Dec. 14 - Feb. 16 - Applications will be accepted. 
  • Mid Feb. - Applications go under review.
  • Early March - Applicants are informed of status.
  • Mid April - UIFI Early Bird Registration closes



Chapter Grants

DEIA Chapter Grant


The vision of the DEIA Chapter Grant is for chapters to work with their campus diversity office to create an educational program for the chapter utilizing a speaker from the college or university. Topics may include unconscious bias, creating an inclusive environment within the chapter, cultural appropriation, privilege walk, inclusive language/inclusive language of diversity. Questions? Please email foundationgrants@sigmakappa.org or call 317-381-5531.

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Eligibility & Expectations:


  • Program must be educational in nature
  • Program must feature a facilitator external to the chapter
  • Program must have at least 50% of the chapter in attendance (virtual attendance is certainly acceptable)
  • Chapter must submit a grant report after the event and submit a list of action items to be taken by the chapter or individuals as next steps as a result of this program

Scholarship FAQs


If you have any questions not answered in the list below, please contact Teresa Glassman at 317-381-5531 or foundationscholarships@sigmakappa.org.

General Information

1.When is the application available for Sigma Kappa Foundation scholarships?

The 2025-2026 Sigma Kappa Foundation Scholarship application process opens Jan. 2, 2025; the deadline for submission is  midnight PST on March 3, 2025. 

2. How do I apply?

The application link will be LIVE only Jan. 2, 2024 through March 3, 2025. Sigma Kappa Foundation uses GivaGrant for the application process; all questions and steps must be completed in order for your application to be evaluated. Incomplete applications will not be considered. To access the application, members should sign up for a personal account using this link.

3. What is GivaGrant?

GivaGrant is a third-party online application system. Applications must be completed and submitted electronically via GivaGrant. If you are a first-time user, you will be prompted to create an account to access the application.  

4. Who chooses the recipients?

Sigma Kappa Foundation appoints a Scholarship committee to review all submitted applications.

5. How many scholarships are awarded?

Last year, the Sigma Kappa Foundation awarded 102 scholarship awards for more than $117,000 in scholarship support. 

6. To which term/semester/quarter is the financial award applied?

The scholarship award is divided over the academic year.  Example: For schools on a semester calendar, half of the award will be applied to Fall semester tuition and half will be applied to Spring semester.

7. What if I will only be in school one term?

This topic is addressed within the application.  Please indicate your plans if you will not be enrolled the entire academic year. If selected as a recipient, the funds will all be awarded in full for that term.

8. How can I donate to a scholarship fund?

Click here , then select the fund you wish to support.

Eligibility

1. Who can apply?

Any Sigma Kappa member in good standing who will be enrolled during the 2025-2026 academic year in a college degree program. New members are welcome to apply as long as they are initiated by April 1, 2025.

2.  If I applied last year, can I apply again?

Yes, you are welcome to apply.  Each scholarship application cycle is handled separately from previous cycles. 

3.  Will all applicants receive an award?

Unfortunately, we are not able to award a scholarship to each applicant. 

4.  I am eligible for multiple scholarships.  Do I need to submit separate applications for each award?

No. We use one application for all scholarships.  Upon submitting an application, you are automatically a candidate for any scholarship for which you qualify, based on each specific scholarship’s criteria.

5.  I am currently applying to graduate school and will not know if I am accepted until after the scholarship application deadline.  Should I still apply?

Yes. If you are chosen as a scholarship recipient, we will require your school acceptance information at that time (between March - April). 

6. Is there a minimum GPA requirement to apply?

No. However, many scholarships do have GPA requirements. Please see scholarship listing for specific criteria. 

7.  Can I use the Sigma Kappa Foundation scholarship for membership dues?

No. Sigma Kappa Foundation scholarships can only be applied toward academic expenses.  Scholarship awards are paid directly to the school of enrollment and not to the awardee. Scholarship awards may only be used for 2025-2026 academic year, not to pay off student loans for past academic expenses.

8. Can I use the Sigma Kappa Foundation scholarship for study abroad?

You must remain a Sigma Kappa member in good standing.  The scholarship must be applied toward academic expenses, including study abroad. 

Application Information

 Do I have to complete my application in one session?

No.  You can save your application and return to it when you have more time.

2.  What key information do I need to have available when I apply?

  • Official cumulative GPA
  • Tuition costs and financial aid information
  • Personal essay and additional narrative 

3.  What is meant by official cumulative GPA?

Members should report their official cumulative GPA based on the most recently available academic period. While no documentation is requested at the time of the application, verification of GPA and enrollment will be requested from those who are selected to receive a scholarship award.  Students are expected to report accurate and truthful information. Any student found to have knowingly reported false information will be deemed ineligible.

4.  Can I update my application once I click “Submit Application?”

Yes. You are able to make updates while the application is in Pending status.

5.  Will I receive a confirmation when my application is submitted?

Yes, once your application is created and submitted you will receive confirmation.

Deadlines

1.  When is my scholarship application due?

March 3, 2025 at 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. 

2.  When will I be notified if I have been selected or not?

Early April.

Award Status Notification

1.If selected for a scholarship award, what happens next?

You will receive an email with a checklist of materials to be submitted to the Sigma Kappa Foundation.

2.  What happens after my award recipient materials are submitted?

You will receive an email confirming your checklist items have all been received.  

4. Where and when is the award check sent?

TThe award check is mailed directly to your school on or around June 1, 2025.

5.  Will my university notify me when they receive my award?

Notification varies from school to school.