New Yorkers For Children

NEW YORKERS FOR CHILDREN

SPIRIT AWARD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

New Yorkers For Children

As the nonprofit partner to New York City's Administration for Children Services, NYFC protects, promotes and ensures the safety of New York City's children and families, with an emphasis on children in foster care.

2026 APPLICATION AND GUIDELINES

Dear Applicant:

We are proud to support young adults in their efforts to achieving their educational goals through the New Yorkers For Children Spirit Award. The Spirit Award consists of four different awards up to $10,000 awarded each year to four individuals in foster care or former foster youths who are attending a 4-year college with plans to complete a bachelor’s degree. The recipient is a young person who has achieved academic success, demonstrated a willingness to think beyond themselves, shown resilience in the face of challenges, and gained a new sense of self-awareness as a result of the obstacles they have had to overcome. Students are eligible to apply if they are entering the third or fourth year in college in fall 2026.

Please review the enclosed guidelines and carefully complete the application. It is important that we have all the requested information, so please take extra care to read the guidelines before finalizing and sending in your application. If you have any difficulties obtaining all the information required by the deadline of October 7 th, 2026, please let us know. You may have the information sent directly to New Yorkers For Children in order to avoid further delay. An incomplete application will not be considered. The Spirit Award is only available to youth in, or transitioned out of foster care that are enrolled in college and in their junior or senior year. All applications must be received by October 7th, 2026.

Our goal is to serve as many foster youth from New York City as possible. If you have any questions or need help with the completion of your application, please contact us at program@newyorkersforchildren.org or 646.257.2930.

Sincerely,

Ellen Ampofo

Senior Director of Programs

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New Yorkers For Children protects, ensures, and promotes the safety and well-being of NYC's children and families, with an emphasis on youth in foster care.

Please visit our website www.newyorkersforchildren.org for more information about our programs.

NYFC Spirit Award

This is a merit-based scholarship that is granted to youth who have achieved academic success, demonstrated a willingness to think beyond themselves, shown resilience in the face of challenges, and gained a new sense of self-awareness because of the obstacles they have had to overcome. The Spirit Award consists of up to $10,000 in scholarships awarded each year up to four individuals.

Eligibility Requirements

Must be in a 4-year college program with plans to complete a Bachelor's Degree
Must be in good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 3.0
Must be entering their Junior or Senior year in an accredited 4-year college or university as a full-time student

Priority will be given to students who have aged out of the foster care system.

Contact Information

Last Name

Middle Initial

First Name

Phone

Email

Address Line 1

Apt Number, if applicable:

City

State

Zip Code

Are you Hispanic/Latino?

YesNoDo not wish to answer

If yes, please select one:

If other, Please specify

Contact Information

Please Indicate Race:

Please select which gender you identify with:

If Self-Describing, Please Identify Below:

Do you identify as LGBTIQA+?

YesNoPrefer not to say

Are you a parent or legal guardian to a child under 13?

YesNo

If yes, how many children do you have?

Educational Information:

Name Of High School or GED Program

Name of college you are currently attending/plan to attend

Graduation Date from current institution (mm/dd/yyyy)

Major (If Applicable):

Year in school:

Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA):

Counselor’s /Advisor’s Name:

Counselor’s /Advisor’s Phone Number

Counselor’s /Advisor’s Email Address

Career Interest(s):

Foster Care Agency/Worker Information

Are you currently in Foster Care?

If no, please indicate your date of discharge

Age at Discharge:

Name of Foster Care Agency

First Name of Agency Worker:

Last Name of Agency Worker

Agency Worker Phone Number

Agency Worker Email Address

Income and Expenses

Are you currently working?

If yes, How many hours are you working a week?

Name of Employer

Employer Phone Number

Monthly Expenses

How much do you pay in rent/mortgage?

$

Con Edison?

$

Cable/Internet

$

Cell Phone

$

Public Transportation

$

Food

$

Other (Please Specify):

$

What is your Other Expense?

Monthly Income

ETV

$

ACS/ Agency Stipend (Please Specify)

$

What is the name of the ACS / Agency?

S.N.A.P. Benefits

$

Public Assistance

$

Job (Pay Check)

$

Other (Please Specify)

$

What is your other Income?

Award Package for Spring Semester

Pell

$

TAP

$

Other (Please Specify)

$

What is the Other Award?

Other (Please Specify)

$

What is the Other Award?

Personal Essay

PERSONAL ESSAY QUESTIONS

Please write below or attach your personal essay, 500 words or more, that demonstrates your candidacy for the Spirit Award Scholarship.

Your essay must address each of the questions below:

1. Please describe why you are applying for the scholarship.

2. What are your academic, professional and personal goals?

3. Please describe your current financial situation and how receiving these funds will help you in school.

Required documents for submission:

1. Unofficial transcript

2. Fall 2026 school schedule

Personal Essay

Fall 2026 school schedule:

Unofficial transcript:

Authorization to Verify Eligibility

By submitting this application, I give New Yorkers For Children (NYFC) permission to verify my eligibility for this program, including my foster care history or status with the New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) and my current enrollment status through the National Student Clearinghouse, as needed.

I understand and agree to this verification.

YesNo

By E-signing below, I affirm that all statements made on this application are true. I understand that a false statement or intentional omission of any material fact may cause me to be disqualified from eligibility of this scholarship.

Applicant Signature

Date: