A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Scholarship Fund

Building excellent scholars for tomorrow.

BEST awards up to $6,000 flexible scholarships to college-bound high school seniors and students enrolled in college or trade school. Funding is paid directly to institutions and covers the full reality of student life.

Apply for the Scholarship Make a Gift
501(c)(3) · Tax ID 87-4045150 Tuition · Housing · Food · Study Abroad · Internships

Our Mission

Why we
exist

“Many good students are stuck in the middle. They are not in the top ten percent academically, yet they face too little hardship to qualify for need-based aid. We founded BEST so the next generation can focus on learning, not merely surviving.”

Monique Phillips  ·  President, Board of Directors

Building Excellent Scholars for Tomorrow was founded by five women who set out to give back to students who look like them. Their common thread is simple: each knows what it costs to earn a degree without a safety net, and each decided the next student should not have to learn that the hard way.

Read the founding story

The Cost of Attendance

College is valuable. It is also increasingly out of reach.

A degree remains one of the strongest predictors of lifetime earnings. For students in the middle, the cost brings debt, food insecurity, housing instability, and opportunities passed up because the money simply is not there.

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Average annual cost of attendance, in-state student at a public four-year institution
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Average annual cost of attendance at a private university
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Average period a student borrower spends in repayment
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Average interest paid by a student borrower each year
With interest and lost income, a bachelor's degree can ultimately exceed $400,000. Source: educationdata.org

The Scholarship

An award of up to $6,000, built around real student life

Most scholarships stop at tuition. BEST funds are structured to address the full cost of being a student, the expenses that determine whether a scholar merely attends or fully participates.

All funds are disbursed directly to educational institutions and approved providers, so every dollar reaches its intended purpose.

Eligibility, timeline, and FAQ

  1. 01

    Tuition & Fees

    Undergraduate cost of attendance at an accredited college or trade school.

  2. 02

    Housing Assistance

    Stable housing, so scholars are not choosing between rent and enrollment.

  3. 03

    Food Costs

    Meal plans and grocery support. No student should have to study hungry.

  4. 04

    Study Abroad

    Global academic experiences that should not be reserved for students who can already afford them.

  5. 05

    Internship Stipends

    Support to accept the unpaid or low-paid placements that launch careers.

  6. 06

    Graduate Study

    Funds may extend beyond the undergraduate degree toward advanced study.

For Donors

What your gift provides

Every contribution translates directly into a scholar's education. Gifts are tax-deductible.

$600
Books and course materials for one semester
$2,225
A full semester meal plan
$3,000
One semester of scholarship support
$6,000
One full year of scholarship, a complete award
$12,000
Two years of sustained support for a scholar
Make a Gift Building Excellent Scholars for Tomorrow is a 501(c)(3) organization. Tax ID 87-4045150.

New in 2026 — BEST Pathways

The scholarship is the start. Pathways walks the rest of the way.

Getting into college is only the beginning. BEST Pathways surrounds first-generation scholars with mentorship, community, career exposure, and persistence support — from enrollment to a meaningful career.

Explore BEST Pathways

  1. 01

    Fellow Circles

    Small-group sessions each fall and spring where Fellows build community, confidence, and belonging.

  2. 02

    Pathway Guides

    Volunteer mentors, each walking alongside two Fellows with year-round academic and personal guidance.

  3. 03

    Career Summit & Networking

    Career conversations, internships, and an annual Pathways Summit that opens doors to opportunity.

  4. 04

    Persistence Grants

    Targeted financial support that removes barriers and keeps scholars on track to graduation.

Applications & References

Know a student with the potential to be great?

Apply for the scholarship, submit a reference on behalf of a student you believe in, or fund the next award.

Apply Now Submit a Reference Donate