The Tuesday after Thanksgiving is all about giving back and helping to make a difference. And no one gives back more than high school, college, and graduate students.
Whether you've tutored younger students, organized food drives, served at animal shelters, or contributed to environmental causes, your service experience can unlock thousands of dollars in scholarship funding. Below are the top community service scholarships students should consider applying for in 2025.
Award Amount: $1,000 - $10,000 The Modern Woodmen Scholarship Program is available to graduating high school seniors who are Modern Woodmen members, covered by Modern Woodmen life insurance, or an annuity for at least one year. You must have completed at least 40 hours of volunteer service in the past two years to be eligible for this award.
Award Amount: $750 - $2,500 The DAV Auxiliary Education Scholarship is available to high school seniors and college undergraduate and graduate students who have served disabled veterans and / or their families in the past two years. You must have at least a 2.5 GPA to be eligible for this award.
Award Amount: $2,500 The Ike Foundation Scholarship is available to high school seniors. You must have a minimum 3.2 GPA to be eligible for this award. Preference is given to students who demonstrate commitment to fishing / conservation - related volunteer activities.
Award Amount: $1,000 The Jim Shaw Scholarship is available to graduating high school seniors. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and demonstrate a passion for learning, leadership, and community service to be considered for this award. An essay of between 500 and 1,000 words describing your entrepreneurial aspirations and/or real estate interest and what motivates you to pursue higher education must also be submitted. Preference is given to students from the Atlanta, Georgia area.
Award Amount: $1,000 The Spirit of Giving Scholarship is available to high school seniors and current college students. To be considered, you must submit a 500 - to 750 – word essay on one of the following three topics: How have you advanced the spirit of giving in your community or abroad either through service or in giving? How has the spirit of giving affected you personally? How will your college or post-secondary education allow you to be of service to others or give to others?
Award Amount: $5,000 The United States Senate Youth Program is available to high school juniors and seniors with a career interest in public service. You must be a permanent resident of the United States and be currently enrolled in a public or private secondary school located in the state of your parents' legal residence. Also, you must be currently serving in an elected or appointed capacity in any one of the following student government, civic or educational organizations: student body president, vice president, secretary or treasurer, class president, vice president, secretary or treasurer, student council representative, student representative elected or appointed (appointed by a panel, commission or board) to a district, regional or state-level civic and/or educational organization approved by the state selection administrator. Deadlines vary by state; check sponsor's website for your state's deadline.
Award Amount: $1,000 - $2,500 The Humanity Rising Scholarship is available to high school seniors, college freshmen, and college sophomores who are making a difference in the world through volunteerism or creating their own service project. You must join the Humanity Rising Movement as a student member to be eligible for this award. Additionally, you must share your service story in writing or create and upload a 60 - second video using the hashtag #whatcauseinspiresyou?
Award Amount: Varies The Jane Delano Student Nurse Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate nursing students who have contributed volunteer service to or are employees of an American Red Cross Unit.
Top Community Service Scholarships for 2025
MoreWithUs Scholarship Competition
Deadline: 12/15/25 Award Amount: $500 The MoreWithUs Scholarship Competition is open to high school and college undergraduate students. You must submit a one - page essay or a short video about a work or volunteer experience to be considered for this award.Equitable Excellence Scholarship
Deadline: 12/18/25 Award Amount: $5,000 The Equitable Excellence Scholarship is available to high school seniors. To be considered for this award, you must demonstrate ambition and self-drive to give back to your community by encouraging other students to pursue post-secondary education. A minimum GPA of 2.5 is also required.National Eagle Scout Scholarship
Deadline: 1/31/26 Award Amount: $6,000 The National Eagle Scout Scholarship is available to high school seniors through college juniors who are Eagle Scouts. You must demonstrate understanding of the fundamentals of service to community, service to Scouting, and your character to be eligible for this award.Modern Woodmen Scholarship Program
Deadline: 2/2/26Award Amount: $1,000 - $10,000 The Modern Woodmen Scholarship Program is available to graduating high school seniors who are Modern Woodmen members, covered by Modern Woodmen life insurance, or an annuity for at least one year. You must have completed at least 40 hours of volunteer service in the past two years to be eligible for this award.
DAV Auxiliary Education Scholarship
Deadline: 3/20/26Award Amount: $750 - $2,500 The DAV Auxiliary Education Scholarship is available to high school seniors and college undergraduate and graduate students who have served disabled veterans and / or their families in the past two years. You must have at least a 2.5 GPA to be eligible for this award.
Ike Foundation Scholarship
Deadline: 4/1/26Award Amount: $2,500 The Ike Foundation Scholarship is available to high school seniors. You must have a minimum 3.2 GPA to be eligible for this award. Preference is given to students who demonstrate commitment to fishing / conservation - related volunteer activities.
Jim Shaw Scholarship
Deadline: 6/1/26Award Amount: $1,000 The Jim Shaw Scholarship is available to graduating high school seniors. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and demonstrate a passion for learning, leadership, and community service to be considered for this award. An essay of between 500 and 1,000 words describing your entrepreneurial aspirations and/or real estate interest and what motivates you to pursue higher education must also be submitted. Preference is given to students from the Atlanta, Georgia area.
Spirit of Giving Scholarship
Deadline: 7/31/26Award Amount: $1,000 The Spirit of Giving Scholarship is available to high school seniors and current college students. To be considered, you must submit a 500 - to 750 – word essay on one of the following three topics: How have you advanced the spirit of giving in your community or abroad either through service or in giving? How has the spirit of giving affected you personally? How will your college or post-secondary education allow you to be of service to others or give to others?
United States Senate Youth Program
Deadline: VariesAward Amount: $5,000 The United States Senate Youth Program is available to high school juniors and seniors with a career interest in public service. You must be a permanent resident of the United States and be currently enrolled in a public or private secondary school located in the state of your parents' legal residence. Also, you must be currently serving in an elected or appointed capacity in any one of the following student government, civic or educational organizations: student body president, vice president, secretary or treasurer, class president, vice president, secretary or treasurer, student council representative, student representative elected or appointed (appointed by a panel, commission or board) to a district, regional or state-level civic and/or educational organization approved by the state selection administrator. Deadlines vary by state; check sponsor's website for your state's deadline.
Humanity Rising Scholarship
Deadline: VariesAward Amount: $1,000 - $2,500 The Humanity Rising Scholarship is available to high school seniors, college freshmen, and college sophomores who are making a difference in the world through volunteerism or creating their own service project. You must join the Humanity Rising Movement as a student member to be eligible for this award. Additionally, you must share your service story in writing or create and upload a 60 - second video using the hashtag #whatcauseinspiresyou?
Jane Delano Student Nurse Scholarship
Deadline: VariesAward Amount: Varies The Jane Delano Student Nurse Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate nursing students who have contributed volunteer service to or are employees of an American Red Cross Unit.
How Community Service Scholarships Reward Your Volunteer Work
Community service scholarships reward you for helping others, and your volunteer experience can open doors to significant college funding. Volunteer opportunities can also help you pay for college. If your kindness helps you minimize student loan debt, you should jump at the opportunity! Don't limit yourself to this list. Students involved in volunteer programs should ask whether any financial aid awards are available where they perform their community service. It is common for hospitals, veterans' groups, religious groups, historical societies, and other organizations to provide scholarships for volunteers that attend college. Be sure to create your free Fastweb profile to gain full scholarship database access and to get a complete list of community service scholarships.You Might Also Like
Shawna Newman
Managing Editor, Contributing Writer
Shawna Newman covers various topics related to post-secondary education, including trade schools, the military, and college. She details strategies for paying for school, such as scholarships, financial ai...
