Live Your Dream Award
Offered by Soroptimist International of the Americas
About This Scholarship
The Live Your Dream Award targets a group most scholarships overlook: women who are the primary financial support for their families while pursuing education. Recipients must have financial need and be enrolled in or accepted to vocational training, high school equivalency, or an undergraduate program; women who hold or are pursuing a graduate degree aren't eligible. The cash can cover anything education-adjacent — tuition, books, childcare, transportation.
Awards stack through three levels: local Soroptimist clubs give awards averaging $1,000, region-level winners receive $3,000 or $5,000, and international honorees get $10,000 — up to $16,000 combined. Soroptimist says it distributed more than $3.4 million to over 2,300 women in the latest year, and has awarded over $49 million to 47,000 women since the program began in 1972.
More than half of recipients are survivors of domestic violence, trafficking, or sexual assault, and the organization reports that 97% of past awardees completed their education or stayed on track toward their goals. Applications are accepted August 1 through November 15 each year, and the first round is judged at the local club level — you're competing in your community first, not against a national pool.
Eligibility
- Woman who provides the primary financial support for herself and her dependents (children, spouse, partner, siblings, or parents)
- Demonstrated financial need
- Enrolled in or accepted to a vocational/skills training, high school equivalency, or undergraduate degree program
- Does not already hold a graduate degree and is not pursuing one
- Not a Soroptimist member or employee (or immediate family)
How To Apply
- Apply online through soroptimist.org between August 1 and November 15
- Your application is judged first by a local club, then advances through region and international levels automatically
- Club winners are typically notified in the winter and spring
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be a traditional college student to qualify?
No. The award covers vocational and skills training and high school equivalency programs as well as undergraduate degrees — it's designed for women restarting their education, often as working mothers.
Can I spend the money on childcare?
Yes. Unlike tuition-only scholarships, Live Your Dream funds can go toward any education-enabling expense, including childcare and transportation.