Northwestern Mutual Childhood Cancer Sibling Scholarship Opening Soon
Offered by Northwestern Mutual Foundation
About This Scholarship
Childhood cancer reshapes a whole household, and the Northwestern Mutual Foundation is one of the few national funders that recognizes it: this scholarship awards $5,000 — renewable for a second year, up to $10,000 total — to the siblings of children who have faced cancer. Up to 25 awards are granted per cycle, with a minimum of five per U.S. time zone so the money reaches families nationwide.
Applicants must be age 25 or under, be high school seniors, graduates, or current undergraduates, and plan full-time study at an accredited institution. Like the companion survivor scholarship, the program is administered by Scholarship America and weighs academics, leadership, work experience, and financial need alongside the family's experience with childhood cancer.
Applications for the 2027-28 academic year open December 1, 2026, with recipients notified in April and funds paid in a single installment in mid-August.
Eligibility
- Sibling of a childhood cancer patient or survivor
- Age 25 or under; U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- High school senior, high school graduate, or current undergraduate
- Planning full-time undergraduate study at an accredited institution
How To Apply
- Apply through the Scholarship America portal linked from the Northwestern Mutual Foundation scholarships page starting December 1, 2026
- Submit documentation of your sibling's diagnosis along with your academic materials and personal statements
- Notifications go out in April; payment is made in one installment in mid-August
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a scholarship exist specifically for siblings?
Siblings often shoulder disruption, caregiving, and financial strain during a brother's or sister's treatment. Northwestern Mutual funds 25 sibling awards per cycle — with at least five per time zone — to acknowledge that impact.