12 POINT SCHOLARSHIP VERIFICATION PROCESS
verified_userOur SCHOLARSHIP VERIFICATION TEAM reviews every scholarship to make sure it meets our 12 POINT CRITERIA to be listed in our database. Our team reaches out directly to every scholarship provider and we also depend on you -- our users -- to report any scholarships that might seem suspicious or need additional verification. To be listed in our database, a scholarship must meet ALL TWELVE of the following criteria:
1. Sponsoring organization is legitimate.
Using public records and corporate and non-profit databases, we verify that the company or organization that sponsors the scholarship is real.
2. The sponsoring organization has the ability to fund the award.
We verify that the company or organization has a legitimate revenue source which gives them the ability to fund its scholarship program. Fake scholarships usually don't have any discernable source of income which begs the question: How can they afford to offer a scholarship? The answer: They can't!
3. Eligibility requirements are clearly listed and easy to find.
If we can't determine who is actually eligible to apply for the scholarship, we won't list it in our database. There should be a page that clearly describes who can apply for the scholarship.
4. Deadlines are current and accurately listed.
Nothing is more frustrating than spending hours on a scholarship application only to discover on submission that it is already expired.
5. Scholarship is prominently listed and the online application is easy to find from the homepage.
Shady organizations that use their scholarship program only for marketing or lead generation will bury their pages on their site. We make sure every scholarship organization listed in our database proudly promotes their scholarship on their homepage and other materials.
6. Visible contact information including a mailing address and e-mail.
Legitimate organizations do not hide their contact information. Legitimate scholarship providers show their contact information on their website and applications.
7. Scholarship provider responds to applicant requests in a timely manner.
We often test an organization's ability to respond to questions about their scholarship programs. If we can't get in touch with someone to answer a question, we don't list the scholarship in our database.
8. No false or misleading information about the scholarship program.
If we find false or misleading information about the program, we automatically disqualify that scholarship from being listed in our database. All scholarship providers must provide accurate and truthful information.
9. Winners list is published or made available.
A scholarship program should have a page where they announce their winners. This list should be publicly accessible.
10. The website must have substantial and quality editorial content or be a company with an actual product or service.
A scholarship website that is only designed to collect names is not legitimate. Our researchers verify that the website actually offers substantial and quality content or products or services.
11. Winners are selected based on a criterion not a random drawing.
If you want to enter a random drawing, there are plenty on the Internet. But they are not scholarships. A scholarship selects its winners based on specific criteria. Verified scholarships never choose winners randomly.
12. Any group that claims to be a "foundation," "non-profit," "charitable organization" or similar entity must be registered as a 501.c(3) tax exempt entity with the Internal Revenue Service and be in good standing.
Scams and fakes often pretend to be a non-profit or foundation to gain your trust. We verify that any group that says it is a non-profit truly is one by checking that it is duly recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a tax-exempt non-profit.
If a scholarship program passes all 12 of the above points, it is eligible to be listed in our database of verified scholarships. Our goal is to make sure that every scholarship you find is worth spending your valuable time to apply.
