This guide walks through what happens after your scholarship is published — from launch to winner selection, award disbursement, and renewal. We’ve also included answers to frequently asked questions that come up along the way.
📣 Right After Publishing
Once your scholarship is live, you’ll receive a unique scholarship link — this is your direct link to the live page, and it’s on you to share it with your community!
Example: Harry B. Anderson Scholarship
https://bold.org/scholarships/harry-b-anderson-scholarship/
Post the link on social media, email it to schools, send it to the local news, or text your network who may know eligible students. The more you share, the more great applicants you’ll receive.
We'll also promote the scholarship to eligible students on the Bold.org platform through platform recommendations, email and SMS outreach.
At this stage, your key dates are locked in:
Application Deadline – The last day students can apply
Announcement Date – When the winner(s) will be announced
📈 First 45 Days
Applications typically begin to pick up within the first 45 days.
During this time:
Our team continues to promotes your scholarship to eligible students
Students complete their profiles and submit essays or supplementary materials
You can start reading applications at any time by logging into your dashboard
📅 30 Days Before Application Deadline
There are two key steps to focus on during this period:
Finalize the total award amount and number of awardees
If you’d like to increase the scholarship amount or award multiple winners, this is your last chance to do so. Once the application deadline passes, we can’t add more funds or expand the number of awardees.Begin reviewing applications
Application volume typically starts picking up around this time. If you plan to designate finalists or select your own winners, we recommend starting your review now so you have time to consider your options before the announcement date.
During this time:
Login to your Dashboard to review Recommendations
Designate Finalists
💡 Need help reviewing applicants?
Read our guide to reviewing and selecting applicants
🔒 Application Deadline → Announcement Date
Once applications close, it's time to designate a winner.
During this time:
Login to your Dashboard to Select Finalists
Designate Prospective Winner(s)
What to expect:
You’ll receive automated reminders and check-in messages from your Donor Relations Manager.
Finalist and winner designations are due at least a week before the announcement date.
If you’d like Bold to select the winner(s) on your behalf, just let your Donor Relations Manager know
If we don't get your designations by the deadline, our team will select the finalists and winner(s) based on the existing eligibility criteria and recommendations, making sure the scholarship is awarded as scheduled
🏆 Announcement Day
On the announcement date:
You’ll receive a link to the Winners Page
Anyone who contributed to your Scholarship or Fund will receive a link to the Winners Page
All applicants and finalists are notified that a winner has been selected
Winners receive 14 days of celebration messages with instructions to confirm their award details and next steps.
Example: Meet Winners of the Harry B. Anderson Scholarship!
If a winner doesn’t respond between personalized outreach for 3 weeks post-announcement, we’ll work with you to agree on a runner up.
💸 How Awards Are Distributed
Once the winner confirms their information, the Bold Foundation handles award distribution.
Options include:
Direct to their university, college, training or accredited institution
In some cases direct to the student via debit card, check, or ACH
If they’re under 18 or still in high school, they may defer the award
Timing: Distribution begins once the student completes their financial aid form. Some students respond right away. We give students 3 weeks to reply to our team before escalating for replacement.
If a check is returned or funds cannot be distributed, we’ll follow up with the student. If we’re still unable to complete the award, we’ll work with you to agree on a runner up.
🔁 Renewing a Scholarship
Many donors choose to renew immediately after the scholarship is announced to maintain visibility. You’re able to renew at any time once the previous scholarship has been awarded.
Pro Tip: Plan your renewal timing based on when you’d like the scholarship to be awarded next. Reach out to your Donor Relations Manager for guidance or read more: Renew or Start a Second Scholarship.
💡 Common Questions
How can students use their funds?
Scholarship awards may be used for educational purposes only:
Tuition and fees
Textbooks and required materials
Transportation or housing (if educationally necessary)
Student loan payments
All winners sign a grant agreement confirming funds will be used for educational purposes.
Where can I see the winner’s thank you note?
Yes! You can view thank-you notes in the Winners tab at the top of your dashboard: https://app.bold.org/donors/winners/
Do I get updates if something goes wrong?
Yes — if a winner doesn’t respond or a disbursement fails, our team will let you know and help resolve it.
If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to email us at donors@bold.org. We're here to help!