Ford Philanthropy Scholarship
Offered by Ford Philanthropy and LNESC
About this scholarship
The Ford Philanthropy Scholarship, administered by LNESC, is the current successor to the Ford Driving Dreams listing found in older directories. The open 2026 program offers up to $10,000 to eligible rising college sophomores and juniors pursuing computer science, data science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or software engineering. Applicants must study full time at an accredited college or university, hold at least a 3.5 GPA, and meet the program's underrepresented-community or Ford College Network criteria. Residence is also restricted to designated Ford communities: the Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, or Louisville metropolitan areas; Marshall or Battle Creek, Michigan; or Haywood, Tipton, Lauderdale, Madison, or Fayette County in West Tennessee. Required materials include a transcript, one recommendation, proof of residence, and documentation of the indirect education or career cost for which support is requested. Eligible uses can include cost-of-attendance expenses and indirect career-development costs. The official LNESC page is the actionable program page and contains the application link. The current deadline is September 1, 2026, so qualified students should apply promptly.
Eligibility
- Be a rising college sophomore or junior who meets the program's underrepresented-community or Ford College Network criteria
- Attend an accredited college or university full time
- Major in computer science, data science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or software engineering
- Maintain at least a 3.5 GPA
- Reside in one of the metropolitan areas, Michigan communities, or West Tennessee counties named by LNESC
- Provide a transcript, one recommendation, proof of residence, and documentation of the cost to be supported
- Submit the application by September 1, 2026