About CAO
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Center for Advancing Opportunity is a research and education initiative created by a partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the Charles Koch Foundation, and Koch Industries. CAO supports faculty and students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other post-secondary institutions to develop research-based solutions to the most challenging issues in education, criminal justice, and entrepreneurship. Our constituency is people living in fragile communities and they are members of all races, ethnicities, and religions.
Scholarship Overview
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), and the Center for Advancing Opportunity (CAO) are proud to offer a scholarship to doctoral students attending a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Up to five scholars will be selected to receive a scholarship up to $15,000 for the 2020-2021 academic school year ($7,500 per semester which can only be applied to verifiable costs associated with average tuition and usual fees).
Eligibility Requirements:
- Be a current doctoral student at an accredited college or university
- Must have received a four-year undergraduate degree from an HBCU
- Current cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher
- Able to demonstrate leadership abilities
- Able to demonstrate a financial need
- Be a U.S. Citizen or legal permanent resident with a valid permanent resident card or passport stamped I-551
How to Apply
All Applicants Must:
- Provide a copy of the 2020-2021 FAFSA Student Aid Report.
- Provide the transcript (official or unofficial) for your most recently completed academic term-this should include your end of Fall 2019 grades and cumulative GPA.
- Upload two letters of recommendation from:
- Current doctoral advisor
- A former professor, college administrator, community leader, or another person supporting the academic ability, character, reputation or professional aptitude of the applicant.
- Answer each of the following (Maximum of 1500 words):
- Tell us about yourself and why you are interested in becoming a CAO Scholar.
- Why does education reform, criminal justice reform, and entrepreneurship matter to your community? Describe something you have done in the past year that made a difference in your community under the purview of criminal justice reform, education reform, or entrepreneurship.
- What solution would you propose to improve or resolve a current issue that relates to education, the economy, or criminal justice? How will your solution help remove barriers to opportunities for people living in fragile communities? (Use evidence and data from CAO’s 2019 State of Opportunity in America report to support your solutions).
Application Dates
This application is closed.