Roothbert Fund Scholarships
Scholarship Sponsored by Roothbert Fund, Inc.
About the Roothbert Fund
Albert and Toni Roothbert created the Roothbert Fund to provide financial assistance to students pursuing higher education. Headquartered in New York City, the Fund is run by volunteers and awards scholarships to support undergraduate or graduate study at accredited U.S. institutions.
Who the Fund prefers to support
- Individuals whose daily lives are shaped by spiritual values.
- Graduate students and undergraduates who have completed at least one year of college are preferred.
- Preference is given to applicants who live in or attend school in one of these states: Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia.
- Typical awards range from $5,000 to $7,000; recipients may apply for renewals in subsequent years while pursuing the same academic program.
Key dates at a glance
- November 1: Online application becomes available.
- February 1, 11:59 p.m. (annual): Complete applications, including recommendations and official transcripts (scanned), must be submitted online.
- March: Selected applicants are invited to interview with the Scholarship Committee. Interviews are normally held in person in New York City, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, PA, and New Haven, CT; virtual interviews may be considered in special circumstances. Note: interviews are required and candidates should be prepared to attend on short notice. The Fund does not reimburse travel or related expenses for interviews.
- Late April: Award decisions are mailed to recipients.
- August: Scholarship payments are sent directly to the recipient’s institution.
Application checklist
To be considered, applicants must submit:
- The Roothbert Fund online application (you may save an application in progress).
- A scanned copy of an official transcript from your current or most recent school.
- Three autobiographical essays.
- Three letters of recommendation.
Refer to the application itself for more detailed instructions.
Selection process and renewal policy
- Interviews take place in March and are a required step in the selection process.
- Awards are announced in late April by mail.
- Scholarship checks are issued to institutions by late August.
- Fellows may request a renewal each year while enrolled in the same degree program (for example, a student in a three-year master’s may apply for renewals covering those three years). The Fund will not fund a separate, additional academic program after the original program is completed.
Expectations of Fellows (conditions of acceptance)
By accepting a Roothbert Fund award, recipients agree to:
- Uphold high standards of academic work and personal conduct.
- Provide annual transcripts to the Fund.
- Attend one Pendle Hill weekend each year while on grant. Pendle Hill is a Quaker study center near Philadelphia; retreats occur twice yearly (June and September) and are led by former recipients to encourage discussion and community among Roothbert Fellows.
- Complete seven hours per year of other Fund activities (examples include Playing in the Spirit, Fellowship Pods, and Social Hours).
- Maintain regular contact with the Fund through correspondence and visits as appropriate.
- Promptly notify the Fund of any significant changes in academic or financial circumstances.
- Understand that failure to meet these terms may result in revocation of the award.
If you have questions about eligibility or the application materials, consult the online application page for further details.