Single Parent Scholarship

Single Parent Scholarship is sponsored by Community Foundation of Collier County (or other regional foundations in Charlotte, Glades, Hendry, or Lee counties). This scholarship is open to single parents residing in Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, or Lee counties in Florida who demonstrate financial need. Applicants must have overcome adversity and plan to pursue a degree or certification.

Our Scholarships Program - Collaboratory Hit enter to search or ESC to close Our Scholarships Program is designed to support students at every stage of their journey. Opportunities are available to high school students, adult learners, and undergraduate and graduate students largely from Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee counties.

Funding supports those attending vocational and technical colleges, state colleges, and universities anywhere in the country. Applying for Scholarships During the 2026 scholarship cycle, Collaboratory awarded $1,597,296 and 218 scholarships through the generous support and passions of our donors. Our Scholarships Program is designed to support students at every stage of their journey.

Opportunities are available to high school students, adult learners, and undergraduate and graduate students largely from Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee counties . Funding supports those attending vocational and technical colleges, state colleges, and universities anywhere in the country.

Awards are based on a variety of criteria, including academic achievement, community service, chosen field of study, athletic participation, and even attendance at specific schools. With a single application, students can be considered for multiple scholarships that align with their goals and aspirations.

Applying through Collaboratory When to apply for the 2027 Scholarship Cycle Application Opens: November 2, 2026 Application Deadline: January 14, 2027 Recipients are notified between late April and end of May 2027. Application Opens November 2, 2026 You apply for scholarships online using the Kaleidoscope Platform. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted or considered.

2027 Available Scholarships Listing – COMING SOON Your email address will serve as your user ID. Do not use your high school district assigned email address— you’ll lose access after graduation. Choose a personal email account you regularly use and can access long-term.

Write down your user ID and password and store them in a secure place. Important updates and requests for additional materials will be sent via email. Complete the entire application before submitting.

Unfinished applications will not be considered. The platform uses advanced AI and plagiarism detection software. While AI can be a helpful tool, students are expected to submit original work that reflects their own thoughts and experiences.

You’ll first answer a series of questions to determine your scholarship eligibility. Be honest and read each question carefully. Within the main application, you’ll respond to several short-answer questions.

Make sure to: Answer each part of the question Stay within any word or character limits Tip: You can preview these questions under the “Required Materials Checklist” section.

Required Material Uploads Before you can submit your main application, you’ll need to upload the following: Academic Transcript – (most up-to-date official or unofficial) One Letter of Recommendation written during the current academic year FAFSA Submission Summary for year requested on the current application Review Qualified Scholarship Programs Once your main application is submitted, you will be able to view any scholarship programs for which you qualified for consideration.

To view the specific scholarship description, requirements, and award amounts, you will need to select VIEW PROGRAM DETAILS. Additional Scholarship Materials Some scholarship programs may require extra documentation (e.g., essays, additional letters, or specific forms). You’ll upload these after submitting your main application if prompted.

Not all applicants will need to upload additional materials—only those applying for specific scholarships that require them. Required Materials Checklist To ensure a smooth application process, please prepare the following documents for upload: Academic Transcript (Required) Submit your most up-to-date official or unofficial transcript based on your academic status.

High school seniors: Contact your school counseling office to get your current transcript for upload. College students: Upload your most recent college transcript. GED Holders: Upload a copy of your GED certificate.

One Letter of Recommendation (Required) This letter must be written during the current academic year by someone who knows you well and can speak to your character, goals, and potential. Letters from family or friends will not be accepted.

Acceptable recommenders include: The letter should include: • The recommender’s relationship to you • Insight into your character and personal qualities • Your potential in your chosen career path • Comments on your educational and/or career goals • Specific examples that highlight your strengths • Thoughtful, personalized, and not overly brief content Tip: Reach out to your recommender early to give them ample time to craft a thoughtful and detailed letter.

2027-2028 FAFSA Submission Summary (Required) All Collaboratory scholarships require the submission of a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). After completing your FAFSA, download your FAFSA Submission Summary from your StudentAid. gov account.

FAFSA Opens: October 1, 2026 Unable to Submit a FAFSA? If you are not eligible to complete the FAFSA (e.g., due to ineligible noncitizen status, other extenuating circumstances, etc…), please email us at scholarships@collaboratory. org .

We’ll guide you through alternative steps—we’re committed to helping all eligible applicants. Main Application Short Response Questions (Required) We’re looking for quality here. Make sure you answer each question in a way that allows us to see who you really are as a person.

Be you. Please explain why you chose your major and how do you plan to use your degree/certification? Please, explain your financial circumstance and why you are seeking scholarship funds.

In your explanation, provide details about your circumstances and what impact receiving a scholarship would have on you. Community Service, Leadership, and Work Experience Please share more about your community service, leadership, and/or work experience? How do you spend your time when you are not in class?

Do not forget to include work experience, taking care of family members, extracurricular activities, community service projects and any other after-school responsibilities you may have. Provide details. Connect these two responses back to your future career goals.

What local community problem do you want to solve and how do you plan to use your future success to help solve it? What is your passion and how did you discover it? If you had an entire day and no limits on what you could do, buy or experience, how would you spend this day and why?

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback or failure that made you think you were not going to make it through, but you did. How did that affect you?

What did you learn from the experience? If you could have dinner with one living person and one historical figure who has inspired you, who would your choices be, and what would you want to discuss? Write a letter to your future self.

What would you like him/her/they to remember about the person you are today? Provide details about the qualities you currently possess and characteristics. (Please do not use your name and address it as “Dear Future Self”) Frequently Asked Questions 1) How do I return to my started application on the Kaleidoscope platform?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the form used to apply for federal grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans to help pay for college or career school. It’s a crucial step in accessing federal student aid and is free to fill out. To get started, visit www.

studentaid. gov . 3) How do I access my FAFSA Submission Summary after submitting my FAFSA form?

You’ll typically receive your FAFSA Submission Summary within one to three days after submitting your FAFSA online. Go to “My Activity”: Locate the “My Activity” section on your dashboard. Find your FAFSA Submission: Select the specific FAFSA form submission that you want to view.

Access the Summary: On the “Details” page of your FAFSA submission, click “View FAFSA Submission Summary”. Download: You can print the summary to a PDF file from the same page for your records. 4) How do I know if I am eligible to apply for any scholarships?

After submitting the main application, you can easily view the scholarship programs for which you qualify for consideration within the Qualified Programs tab. 5) How to check for additional scholarship requirements? After you submit the Main Application, some scholarships may require extra materials—such as an essay, letter of recommendation, or other documentation.

To view any scholarships that require additional items, as well as those for which you are automatically considered, log back into your Kaleidoscope account and navigate to: the “Qualified Programs” tab on your submitted Collaboratory Scholarship Application, or the “Applications” tab on your Kaleidoscope Dashboard. 6) Where can I find a list of all the scholarships offered through Collaboratory?

You can find a full list of all scholarships available for the current application cycle—including descriptions, eligibility criteria, and award amounts—in the “About the Collaboratory Main Application” section above. 7) How will I know if I was selected for a scholarship? Notification emails are sent out each year between late April and end of May.

8) Does the check come to me, or does it go directly to the school? Scholarship payments are sent directly to the institution you attend after we verify your enrollment information. 9) If I have applied previously, do I need to reapply?

You should re-apply every year to be considered for additional scholarships. Scholarship opportunities are open to high school seniors, current college students, and adult learners. Use the same login every time you access the portal for any activity (do not create a new account each year) 10) I received a renewable scholarship; how do I renew?

Each year you will need to submit your enrollment information, your college transcripts, and an update for the scholarship donor. FAFSA First (click here to visit) FAFSA first is here to help make the application process as easy as possible. Check out all the great resources to help students and parents in completing the FAFSA.

Scholarship Resource List (click here to visit) Compilation of local (Southwest Florida) and national scholarships to help you get started with your scholarship search process. FutureMakers Navigators Program (click here to visit) It is a free support program designed to help adult learners navigate their path toward a successful career.

Whether you’re starting, returning to, or completing your education or training, Navigators are here to help you: Identify the right education or training programs Connect with financial aid and scholarship resources Overcome personal or logistical barriers (like transportation, childcare, or access to technology) Stay motivated and on track to reach your goals This program is ideal for adults who are looking to start or advance in a career but need guidance, support, or access to resources to move forward.

If you are interested in becoming a scholarship reviewer, starting a scholarship fund or contributing to the general scholarship fund, contact us at scholarships@collaboratory. org or call 239-274-5900. For accessibility assistance, contact us via phone: 239-274-5900 or email: info@collaboratory.

org Hi, I’m Crystal Maldonado. I’m deeply committed to helping students of all ages get the learning opportunities they deserve. Email me or give me a ring at 239 308 1214 and I’ll get in touch.

As a community foundation, we manage charitable resources, support meaningful work, and stay responsive as community needs change. We are committed to learning, adapting, and showing up where we are needed most . We would be happy to keep you up-to-speed.

Join our email list and we’ll keep you well informed of our progress. For accessibility assistance, contact us via phone: 239-274-5900 or email: info@collaboratory. org This field is hidden when viewing the form Collaboratory — 2031 Jackson St, Fort Myers, Florida 33901 — Telephone 239 274 5900 SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, INC., DBA COLLABORATORY, IS REGISTERED WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION (CH661) AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE OR VISITING WWW. 800HELPFLA. COM.

REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. OUR CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND WHISTLEBLOWER POLICY ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. EIN #59-6580974 If you experience difficulty accessing the content of this website, feel free to call us toll-free at 239 274 5900 or email us at info@collaboratory.

org. View our Commitment to Accessibility .