Student Success Fund

Fill out the SSF application form linked above with your contact information, details of your request, and a Statement of Need. The application must be submitted by a parent or guardian. All information is confidential and used only to evaluate award eligibility. Incomplete applications cannot be considered, so make sure every section is filled out before submitting.

Please note that applications for the Student Success Fund open annually each August and are accepted throughout the school year until available funds run out. Click on the application link to see if the form is active and accepting submissions.

The Student Success Fund can cover a range of school-related costs connected to your student’s major or academic progress, including:

• Private lessons for their major

• Equipment and supplies required for their major, including instrument rental, performance attire, and shoes

• Academic supplies, such as AP books or fees for Advanced Placement (AP) or CU Succeed classes

• Academic prep courses or tutoring

Each award varies based on student’s needs and available funds. The average award has been $1,100. In the 2025–2026 school year, the Friends Foundation award 46 scholarships averaging $915 each.

This is where an applicant can briefly describe the financial or family circumstances behind your request. In previous applications, some families note participation in a program like FRL, SNAP, TANF, WIC, or unemployment benefits; others describe a circumstance (like a parent unable to work due to illness) that has affected the family’s finances. There’s no required format, but a Statement of Need does help the committee understand your family’s situation. Moreover, applications that include one are more likely to have their request awarded. We strongly recommend every applicant include one.

The Student Success Fund Committee reviews applications monthly. All applications received by the second Monday of the month are reviewed together once that deadline passes. If the committee has clarifying questions about an application, the foundation will follow up by email before making a decision. The application stays open and review continues each month as long as funds remain available.

Families are notified by email by the end of the review month. Applications received by the second Monday are reviewed and decided that same month. Anything submitted after that day rolls into the following month’s review, and notification follows that new month’s timeline instead.

If your award is approved, the parent or guardian must reply to confirm acceptance by email. The award cannot be finalized until a family responds affirmatively to the acceptance email.

Below is a list of the review dates by month for the 2026–27 school year. Aside from the month of August, applications received by the second Monday are reviewed and decided that same month. Anything submitted after that day rolls into the following month’s review, and notification follows that new month’s timeline instead.

2026–27 SSF Schedule

August award schedule: submit by Thursday, August 27, 2026.*
September award schedule: submit by September 14, 2206.
October award schedule: submit by October 12, 2026.
November award schedule: submit by November 9, 2026
December award schedule: submit by December 14, 2026
January award schedule: submit by January 11, 2026
February award schedule: submit by February 8, 2026
March award schedule: submit by March 8, 2026

Further dates may be made available if funding remains.
If the application link is open, you may apply.

*The August SSF application is later in the month in order to give families the chance to better understand and evaluate their student’s needs.

No, awards are not transferable. They must be used for what was listed in your original application. If circumstances change and you need the funds for something else, please submit a new application for that request.

Families can apply more than once per school year, as funding allows. Each application is reviewed on its own for that month’s cycle.

The committee bases its decision only on what the parent or guardian submits in the application. Therefore, academic standing on its own isn’t a factor. If grades or academic performance are relevant to your request (for example, needing a tutor to pass a class or to qualify for a summer program), include that context in your Statement of Need or request details because that’s what the committee will review. However, if the committee determines that need more information on anything, the Foundation will reach out by email for clarification before finalizing any award decision.

Donate to the IMPACT fund, the annual campaign of the DSA Friends Foundation. A portion of every dollar given is set aside for the Student Success Fund to ensure that all DSA students have access to academic and artistic resources, regardless of financial circumstances. 

Donate today at http://weblink.donorperfect.com/dsaimpactfund.