Would you like to join our Scholarship Award Program?

Please fill out our form to get the ball rolling!

Here’s more information about the program…

In order to qualify for a Scholarship Award given to a Ruby’s Rainbow Rockin’ Recipient in your honor (or in honor of a loved one), funds totaling at least $3,000.00 must be raised by April 30 of a given year so they can be awarded to a new Rockin’ Recipient that June. For example, if you host a fundraiser that closes anytime from January 1 through April 30, the raised funds will be applied to a scholarship awarded in June of that same year. If your fundraiser closes anytime from May 1 through December 31, the raised funds will go toward a scholarship in June of the following year.

We always do our best, if desired, to connect each awarding individual or team with the Rockin’ Recipient who receives their Scholarship Award. Our hope is that the people donating a scholarship will continue to be inspired by their Recipient’s accomplishments and take pride in knowing they were part of helping make someone’s college dreams a reality. Some truly beautiful relationships have grown from these connections!

We also strive to assign scholarship awards to Recipients living in the same area as the awarding individual or team, if possible. This enables the awarding individual or team to surprise their recipient in person with their scholarship award! (Please note that, since our Rockin’ Recipients live all over the United States, this is not always an option, though we always do our very best.)

Please note that Ruby’s Rainbow scholarships range from $1,000.00 and up. Since we match Recipients with Scholarship Awards based on geographical location, the actual amount of a particular Scholarship Award might be more or less than $3,000.00, depending on the Recipient matched with that award.

Fundraising Ideas

When you start fundraising, be sure to let your supporters know that Ruby’s Rainbow is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization, and all donations made directly to Ruby’s Rainbow are tax-deductible!

There are many great ways to reach out to your network of family, friends, coworkers and contacts, and raise money together for a great cause! Here are just a few easy, fun ideas for ways to fundraise on Ruby’s Rainbow’s behalf:

  • Via Ruby’s Rainbow’s annual 3/21 Pledge fundraiser. Happening every March and culminating each year on World Down Syndrome Day (March 21), our 3/21 Pledge is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and it’s also one of the quickest and easiest ways for individuals and teams to raise a full scholarship amount. You can set up a Pledge page, donate just $21.00, and then reach out to your network to donate under you. Any individual or team raising a minimum of $3,000.00 through their immediate network is eligible to have a scholarship awarded in their honor or in honor of a loved one.

Note that “immediate network” refers to anyone donating directly under a particular individual or team, which can be done online, via the individual/team’s Pledge page, or by check. When donating by check, donors must specify which individual or team they wish to donate under. To learn more about the 3/21 Pledge, please visit 321Pledge.org.

  • Join the Pledge Committee. This committee is made up of passionate people committed to the Ruby’s Rainbow mission of helping more peeps rockin’ that extra chromosome go for their college dreams, via the 3/21 Pledge fundraiser. We are so honored to partner with our Pledge Committee members! In 2019, a group of just 46 committee members raised over $145,000 during the two-week Pledge period!! Learn more about how the Pledge Committee works at http://www.rubysrainbow.org/pledge.
  • Birthday fundraisers. We think philanthropy is one of the best ways to celebrate another trip around the sun! Whether for their own special day or for the birthday of a child, spouse or loved one, we’ve had supporters ask friends, family and party attendees to donate to Ruby’s Rainbow in lieu of traditional gifts. Want to try it? Email Liz@rubysrainbow.org for your own private fundraising page and link!
  • Fun Runs and Walkathons. Whether you’re participating in an established Fun Run or organizing your own, you can ask friends and family to pledge their financial support to benefit Ruby’s Rainbow. You decide the details – whether people will donate per lap or in simple, flat amounts, for example, or in honor or memory of someone you love. However you choose to do it, this is a fun and active way to support a great cause!
  • Get crafty. Are you a crafty type? (If so, we think you’re extra awesome-sauce!!) We’ve had people raise money for Ruby’s Rainbow by selling handmade Christmas ornaments, crocheted and knitted goods, decorated cookies, and more, and asking people buying their items to make out their payment checks directly to Ruby’s Rainbow. You could even set up a neighborhood lemonade stand with your children and donate the proceeds to our organization! Please let us know if you need a high-quality image of the Ruby’s Rainbow logo to print or post along with the items you’re selling!

Remember, We’re Here to Help!

We know the idea of raising a minimum of $3,000.00 can seem a bit intimidating, and we hope these ideas will help you connect with that sense of excitement and determination that comes from supporting our incredible and inspiring Rockin’ Recipients! There are myriad ways to get your network of peeps excited about being part of something amazing and helping people rockin’ that extra chromosome go for their college dreams, so please let us know if you think of another creative way to tackle this fundraising challenge!

Remember, Liz and the Ruby’s Rainbow crew are always here to help! We’re just an email or phone call away; please contact Liz@rubysrainbow.org or (512) 879-7801 with any questions you may have about our Scholarship Award Program.

Again, be sure to let all supporters of your fundraising efforts know that Ruby’s Rainbow is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization, and any donations made directly to Ruby’s Rainbow are tax-deductible.

As always, we appreciate ANY and all support, large or small! This is how we do what we do!!