DAR Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Daughters of the American Revolution

The American Indians Committee and the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) present a variety of scholarship opportunities. Each scholarship has unique criteria and may necessitate the submission of specific documents with your application. The scholarships cover a wide range of fields including nursing, medicine, occupational or physical therapy, law, business administration, English, math, chemistry, music (voice or piano only), American history, history, government, American Studies, historic preservation, horticulture, and elementary and secondary education. Two scholarships are exclusively for Native American students (proof of membership in a federally or state-recognized tribe is required) and over twenty scholarships are available for high school graduates, undergraduate students, or graduate students. Two scholarships are specifically for DAR members or their descendants/dependents (proof of the DAR member’s name, national membership number, and your relationship to the DAR member is required).

When you're ready to start your online scholarship application through DAR, ensure you have the necessary documents and information to input or upload into our system. All information should be typed or computer-generated. If you mistakenly upload a document, you can find instructions on how to remove it in the FAQ section located in the top right-hand corner of your application.

• A personal statement of 1,000 words or less outlining your career goals.
• A recent copy of your high school, college, or graduate school transcripts, as applicable. Unofficial transcripts can be submitted initially, but if you are chosen as a scholarship recipient, you will need to provide an official copy to DAR. Home-schooled students should include transcripts from ninth grade through their final year. GED holders should submit their GED transcript. Please note, DAR no longer requires SAT or ACT scores, or class size or class rank on your transcripts if you are a graduating high school student.
• Specific scholarships may require additional information such as financial need details, a letter of acceptance into a special program, proof of tribal membership for Native Americans, or special test scores for graduate programs (like MCAT or LSAT).
• Proof of U.S. citizenship; please photocopy one of the following: a birth certificate, naturalization papers, or the information page of your U.S. Passport. Cover all photographs and blackout any listed social security numbers.
• A ONE-PAGE document listing your extra-curricular activities, honors, and academic achievements. The information should not exceed one side of an 8 1/2 inch by 11 inch piece of paper and must include your name.

You will also need to request recommendation letters from at least two people, but no more than four. Relatives are not permitted to provide recommendation letters.

• These individuals can include teachers, counselors, instructors, professors, coaches, mentors, spiritual leaders, administrators, co-workers, or supervisors.
• Those providing recommendation letters should be able to speak to your abilities, work habits, integrity, character, potential, and volunteer activities. All recommendation letters must be written within the last year, include the date written, and the reference giver’s name, title, signature, and contact information.
• Starting in 2024  2025, you must upload your recommendation letters directly into your application. We will no longer require your references to create a Blackbaud ID to access your application to provide their recommendations.
• Please note, we cannot accept emailed or mailed recommendation letters on your behalf, even if they come from a secure and confidential third-party platform. ALL RECOMMENDATION LETTERS MUST BE UPLOADED BY YOU, DIRECTLY INTO YOUR APPLICATION.

In conclusion, all applicants will receive an email notification from DAR Academic Works by the second week of May, regardless of whether they have been selected as a scholarship recipient. The email will be sent to the address provided in your scholarship application profile.

If you are chosen as a recipient of a scholarship awarded by the DAR Scholarship Committee or American Indians Committee:

• You will need to provide an official copy of your transcripts to the Office of the Reporter General by a specified date. Official transcripts can be submitted via secure email or by mail. Your official transcripts must be received before your scholarship award can be issued.
• You will receive a scholarship acceptance form sent to your email address. You will be asked to complete the form and provide the physical (mailing) address of the academic institution to receive your scholarship award. Scholarship award checks are mailed directly to your academic institution to be placed in your student financial account. Our scholarship awards are restricted, and can only be used for expenses such as tuition and fees, room and board, books, and other expenses allowed by your college/university. Award checks are never mailed directly to the scholarship recipient.
• Please note, applicants can only receive one scholarship from DAR each award cycle.
• Scholarship awards are issued and mailed in August/September for use for the Fall Semester, no exceptions. We cannot accommodate special requests from applicants wanting to delay the awarding of scholarships for the Spring Semester or other time-periods. In addition, recipients must be currently enrolled as a student for the scholarship award to be issued. We also cannot accommodate gap year(s) requests. A gap year is defined as a period of time where individuals take a break from their formal education to take part in personal development activities such as traveling, volunteering, working or taking non-accredited educational or self-improvement courses.
• Failure to provide your official transcripts and completed scholarship acceptance form by the specified date will result in the scholarship not being awarded.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at scholarships@nsdar.org OR contact the National Vice Chairman responsible for each scholarship. Their contact information can be found at: dar.org/national-society/scholarships