Austin scholarships & local foundations

The IRS lists 3 community foundations with at least $1 million in assets based in the area’s principal cities; the largest is Austin Community Foundation in Austin ($556 million in assets). Community foundations hold hundreds of small donor-funded scholarships, often limited to graduates of specific high schools or residents of one county, and many use a single shared application each winter.

Statewide, 12 more open awards are limited to Texas residents, and state aid includes TEXAS Grant. Federal Pell Grants stack on top for students who file the FAFSA.

Where local money hides: ask your school counselor for the local scholarship bulletin (many high schools keep one), check employer and union awards from your parents’ workplaces, and look at service clubs (Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions) and credit unions near you. These awards rarely appear on national sites, which is why their applicant pools are small.