Scholarship Application

Yes! As long as you still meet our Eligibility Requirements, you can apply again this year for a Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarship. Please take a careful look at our Scoring Rubrics to make sure your application is as strong as possible before submitting! This is especially important if you have applied before but were not awarded a scholarship! Our rubrics provide you with a roadmap for submitting your best possible application.

After each year’s application window closes in April, our Scholarship Review Committee carefully reads all applications to determine which applicants will receive a scholarship. We contact all applicants via email or U.S. Mail in early June. If you applied but have not heard anything by mid-June, feel free to send an email to Liz@rubysrainbow.org.

Once you have been awarded a scholarship, Ruby’s Rainbow can send your scholarship funds directly to the university or program you are attending. Scholarship recipients (or their parents/guardians) can also receive scholarship funds via reimbursement for tuition, books, or other qualified expenses. This requires that the recipient submit proper documentation, including paid receipts. If you are awarded a Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarship, we will send you specific instructions about how to access your scholarship funds.

Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarships range from $1,000 to $10,000 per awarded individual. We award our larger scholarships in conjunction with major supporters and businesses. (This is part of why we highly recommend submitting extra supporting materials with your application, such as videos or scans of your original artwork or writing, to help us get to know you better! These “extras” make for stronger applications, which are more likely to be awarded larger scholarships! For more information, please check out our Scoring Rubrics before applying!)

Please note that all scholarship funds awarded must be used within one year.

Yes! If you are at least 18 years old (or will be by August 1 of the application year), and you are a high school student planning to graduate in the spring/summer, we’d LOVE to read your application!

Yes! We ask that you fill out as much of the application as you can without help, to the best of your abilities. We recognize that you may need assistance from a parent, guardian, or friend, but we want to read your own responses so we can get a full picture of your accomplishments, goals, and personality!!

After independently completing as much of the application as possible, a family member or friend can add anything they feel is needed to help us get to know you better. One family member is also welcome to submit a letter to share any additional information or inspirational stories about you.

We want to learn all about what makes you you — what you’re passionate about, what you love to do, what you hope or dream about for your future…

To help us get to know you better, you can submit photos, artwork, drawings, poems, a video of you doing something you are proud of, a personal video you made…the possibilities are endless!! We want to get a clear vision of your personality, accomplishments, favorite activities, and goals, so be creative!!!

Please ensure any video links you submit are not password-protected. Otherwise, our scholarship committee won’t be able to review them! Videos should be two minutes or less in length.

In order to submit your Ruby’s Rainbow application, you will need to supply the following:

• A completed Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarship Application
• An essay written by the applicant
• Parent/guardian information, if applicable
• Two letters of recommendation
• Two references
• A copy of your high school diploma/certificate of completion, or proof of enrollment in post-secondary educational program (see application for more options and details)
• At least one photo of you
• Other supporting materials, if desired (e.g., photos, drawings, videos, etc.)

All of the above materials must be submitted by the April deadline for your application to be reviewed. If any of these items are missing, we won’t be able to consider your application.

While videos and other extra supporting materials are not required, they are strongly recommended due to the competitive nature of the application process! We encourage you to submit something that will help us get to know you better and give us a clear vision of your personality, strengths, accomplishments and goals. We can’t wait to read your application and get to know you better!!

We love to hear from others about how you have inspired them or touched their lives!! A few examples of people you can ask are longtime friends, teachers, employers, co-workers, or religious leaders. Please ask them to keep recommendation letters to one page in length.

No. Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarships are specifically for students with Down syndrome. This focus allows us to better serve and support the Down syndrome community in honor of Ruby, who has Down syndrome.

No, we encourage you to apply for a scholarship even if you are still considering postsecondary programs or courses but haven’t been accepted to one yet. Keep in mind that scholarship applications received past the deadline will not be considered. So, even if you are just thinking about applying to a postsecondary program, submit your application on time just in case!

During the open application window, click the Apply button on this page to submit your application and supporting materials online. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM Central Time on the due date to be considered.

The application window for a 2025 Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarship has closed. The application window for a 2026 Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarship will open January 1, 2026, and all applications will be due in April. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM Central Time on the due date; no application can be submitted for review past that deadline.

All Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarship applications are evaluated by our Scholarship Review Committee — a group of caring individuals who are committed to supporting the Ruby’s Rainbow mission and core values. The Review Committee uses the criteria detailed in our Scoring Rubrics to evaluate all applications based on five different categories: Personal, Accomplishments, Goals, Community Impact, and Extras. Applicants may be awarded between 0 and 5 points in each of these categories. Applicants who have never received a Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarship before should visit the Scholarship Application Rubric page for more information. If you have received a Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarship in the past, please see the Scholarship Re-Application Rubric page instead!

Applications for a Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarship open in January of each new year, for funds to be granted for the fall of that same year. Check our Apply page for exact dates. You can also contact Liz@rubysrainbow.org or call 866-766-7829 with any questions.