Deadlines for 2026 scholarships are March 1, April 1 and May 1, 2026, depending on the scholarship opportunity. Learn more about CFT’s Scholarships here and apply online.
From July 2024 through June 2025, CFT distributed $2 million through 415 scholarships awarded. Thanks to the support of CFT’s generous scholarship donors, 146 colleges, universities and trade schools across the country were attended by award recipients.
“We help deserving students pursue their dreams while supporting the charitable visions of people in our community,” said Katie Kuehl, Communities Foundation of Texas’ senior officer of scholarships and nonprofit funds. “I’m grateful CFT can help serve as a connection point between our scholarship fundholders and our scholarship recipients.”
CFT partners with families, individuals, companies, organizations and estates to achieve their philanthropic goals. For some, this comes in the form of establishing a scholarship, allowing countless students the opportunity to advance their education in a field or study they’re passionate about.
Spotlight on Scholarship Donors
CFT fund holders, Andy and Jackie Schwitter, have two charitable funds at CFT: the Bridges Scholarship Fund and their donor-advised fund, the Schwitter Family Fund. They are also proud members of CFT’s legacy society, the Live Oak Society. One thing that makes the Bridges Scholarship special is its focus on helping students “in the middle” — those who work hard and earn B’s or C’s but show potential. Since 2006, more than 240 students have received transformative scholarships from the Bridges Scholarship Fund.
“Kids just need a chance. When they’re given an opportunity, they almost always succeed,” said Andy Schwitter, Fundholder, Bridges Scholarship Fund at CFT. Read more about the Schwitter family’s passion for creating more opportunities for students in CFT’s 2025 Annual Report, Giving Made Greater, here.
A selection of some of available CFT scholarships is listed below:
- Bear Bison Scholarship – up to the full amount of tuition for high school seniors of South Oak Cliff High School (Dallas, TX) or Sunset High School (Dallas, TX) pursuing a degree at any accredited college. The application deadline is April 1.
- Frederick Jones Sr. Family Scholarship – scholarships of up to $5,000 to graduating high school seniors of Southwest Dallas from Duncanville, DeSoto, Cedar Hill, and Lancaster, Texas who are pursuing a degree in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or medicine. The application deadline is April 1.
- ECLAT Foundation Scholarship – $2,000 scholarships to graduating seniors or college students. The application deadline is April 1.
- Gigi and Louise Gartner Scholarship– scholarships of up to $10,000 to high school seniors, current college students or post-graduates of a high school in Dallas County who are pursuing a degree in holistic medicine. The application deadline is May 1.
- Joan H. Hensley Scholarship – scholarships of up to $5,000 to graduating high school seniors or past graduates of a high school in Dallas County. The application deadline is May 1.
- Lawrence “Larry” Cole Memorial Scholarship – scholarships of up to $6,000 to students who intend to pursue a certificate or associate’s degree in machining technology, manufacturing and industrial technology, or manufacturing engineering. The application deadline is May 1.
- LIFE Association Trade Scholarship Fund– scholarships of up to $5,000 to graduating high school seniors or past graduates with a degree or GED equivalent in Texas who intend to pursue a trade or vocational degree or certification. The application deadline is May 1.
- Maier Foundation Scholarship – scholarships of up to $5,000 to students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, or medicine. The application deadline is May 1.
- Om & Shanti Scholarship Fund– four-year awards of up to $6,000 to graduating high school seniors of a public high school in Dallas or Collin Counties in the State of Texas. The application deadline is March 1.
Additional opportunities may be viewed on CFT’s website.
