Grants for Independent Schools

Independent schools, also known as private schools, operate differently than public schools do. These types of schools are responsible for raising their own funds through donations, endowments, and other means. Also, these usually have a board of trustees that act on behalf of the school and as a governing body. There are many types of grants or scholarships that are available for students who attend these schools.

The BASIC Fund (California)

The BASIC fund is awarded to low-income students that reside in the Bay Area. It gives these students the chance to attend elite private schools and further their education. The scholarships are awarded based on financial need and are available for students entering Kindergarten through the eighth grade. Participating schools are located in counties throughout San Francisco such as: Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa, Marin and Solano.

BISON Scholarship Fund (New York)

This scholarship is for low-income children that reside in the area of Western New York. The scholarship enables parents to send their children to a private school of their choice. The goal of the scholarship is to provide these students with a high quality education that they normally would not be able to afford. Parents have the choice to send their children to one of the 59 catholic and private schools in Buffalo, New York that participate in the program. Each scholarship pays for four years of education.

B.E.S.T. (Baltimore Educational Scholarship Trust)

This scholarship is geared toward African American children who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Twenty member schools are involved with the program, and each student who receives the scholarship gets their choice of which school that they want to attend. The scholarship is made possible by donations from individuals, businesses and corporations. Students who reside in the Baltimore Metropolitan area are eligible to apply.