From 2007 to 2012, AARP Foundation’s Women’s Scholarship Program helped low-income women win back opportunity, The Foundation’s scholarship program  funded education, training, and skills upgrades, leading to better employment opportunities and increased financial security for women and their families.  Due to the need to fund other programs that will be able to assist greater numbers of struggling older people, AARP Foundation  will discontinue funding individual scholarships through the Women’s Scholarship Program in 2013.


Questions & Answers
Q: Why isn’t AARP Foundation offering the Women’s Scholarship Program anymore?
A: Since 2007, AARP Foundation’s Women’s Scholarship Program awarded scholarships to more than 800 eligible women – facilitating their entry into education and training they could otherwise not afford, with the goal of providing them a better opportunity to take care of themselves and their families and to have an adequately funded retirement.  Because we can assist many more struggling older people through other AARP Foundation programs, we are no longer funding the Women’s Scholarship Program.

Q: What will happen to women who were awarded scholarships in 2012?
A: The application period for the AARP Foundation Women’s Scholarship Program 2012-2013 academic year closed on March 30, 2012.  Scholars were notified in June 2012 and have until December 2012 to enroll in an accredited institution.  AARP Foundation pays scholarship funds directly to the accredited institution and has already or is in the process of completing those payments to satisfy scholarships that were previously awarded.


No new scholarship opportunities will be available in 2013.

Q: This would have been the first year I met eligibility requirements for AARP Foundation’s Women’s Scholarship Program and I was planning on applying – what am I supposed to do now?
A: While AARP Foundation Women’s Scholarship program is no longer available, there are many grant, scholarship, and fellowship programs administered nationwide.  We recommend visiting FAFSA.ed.gov and scholarshipsforwomen.net/olderwomen to browse a list of federal agencies and organizations currently offering scholarships.  In addition, the Jeanette Rankin Foundation offers scholarships for low-income women age 35 and over.

Q: I volunteered as a mentor with the AARP Foundation Women’s Scholarship Program; are there other mentoring opportunities now that the Women’s Scholarship Program has ended?
A: Thank you for your time and commitment in volunteering as a Women’s Scholarship Program mentor.  There are many volunteer mentor opportunities available nationwide, and right in your community.  Please visit AARP’s Create the Good website at createthegood.org to search an online database of current mentoring opportunities.