Common questions about scholarship awards, disbursement, and the claim process. For a full overview, see How to Claim Your Scholarship Award.

How do I know if I won a scholarship?

You'll be notified in several ways:

Email notification — sent to the email on your Bold.org account (check spam/junk folders)
Dashboard banner — a congratulations banner on your dashboard after you log in
My Applications & Awards — your award appears under "My Awards" in the My Applications & Awards section
Scholarship page — your name is listed on the scholarship page winners section

I won a scholarship. What do I do next?

Log in and go to My Applications & Awards. Click on your award under "My Awards" and complete the claim steps shown on the page. These typically include choosing your disbursement method, providing school information, uploading required documents, and sending a thank-you message to the donor.

What's the difference between a Finalist and a Winner?

Finalist means you've made it to the final round.
Winner means you've been officially selected to receive the scholarship.

How will I receive my scholarship funds?

Bold.org supports several disbursement methods:

Tuition payment — funds sent directly to your school's financial aid office
Direct payment — for eligible educational expenses, funds may be sent directly to you

The available options depend on your specific award. You'll choose your preferred method during the claim process.

How long does disbursement take?

Processing time varies depending on the disbursement method. Tuition payments require coordination with your school's financial aid office, which may take additional time. The Awards Team will keep you updated at the email on your Bold.org account. If you haven't received an update after an extended period, contact awards@bold.org.

Do I need a bank account to receive my award?

Not necessarily. If your award is disbursed as a tuition payment directly to your school, no bank account is required. For direct payments, you may need to link a bank account during the claim process.

What documents do I need to provide?

The specific documents depend on the scholarship and your situation, but you may be asked to provide:

Your school name and student ID
An acceptance letter or transcript
Your school's financial aid contact information

All required steps are shown on your award page after you log in and go to My Applications & Awards.

Can I change how I receive my scholarship after I've submitted?

If you need to change your disbursement method after submitting your claim, contact the Awards Team at awards@bold.org as soon as possible. Changes may not always be possible once processing has begun.

I didn't receive my winner notification. What should I do?

First, check your spam or junk folders — award emails sometimes end up there. Then log in to your Bold.org account and check My Applications & Awards for any updates. If you believe you should have been notified but don't see anything, contact Support with your account email and the name of the scholarship.

What if my school information has changed since I applied?

Update your profile with your current school and student information before completing your claim steps. If you've already submitted your claim with outdated information, contact the Awards Team at awards@bold.org to update your details.

I wasn't selected as a winner. Can I apply to other scholarships?

Yes. While you can't reapply to the same scholarship after the deadline, there are always new scholarships being added to Bold.org. Keep your profile complete and up to date, and continue applying to new opportunities.