How Scholarship Providers Can Support Students Affected by Natural Disasters

Natural disasters like Hurricanes Helene and Milton recently disrupted education across Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, forcing colleges to close and displacing students​. Some students have already been evacuated multiple times this academic year. Scholarship providers can play a crucial role in helping students continue their education during these challenging times. Here’s how you can provide meaningful support.

1. Encourage Donors to Contribute to Relief Funds

Encourage your donors to give to existing relief funds designed to support students at colleges or local organizations. Actively promote these resources to your network. Urging generous contributions can help ensure that affected students receive the assistance they need.

2. Establish Emergency Relief Funds

Creating emergency relief funds specifically for students impacted by natural disasters addresses immediate needs such as housing, food, and lost educational materials. Consider implementing the following strategies:

• Offer small, quick-response grants for essential needs. (Up to $600 can be distributed without the need for tax forms, simplifying the process.)

• Use payment apps like Venmo and Cash App to disburse funds quickly and efficiently.

• Consider offering automatic grants for students in disaster-affected zones without requiring formal applications.

• Host a simple online form that captures student information, such as their name and app handle. This ensures an easy process for students needing immediate help.

• Redirect unused scholarship or general funds to support students in need during disasters.

3. Create Flexible Scholarship Opportunities

Offering flexibility to students affected by disasters can reduce the academic and financial stress they face. Options include:

• Allow more time for students to submit scholarship renewal applications or academic progress reports as they deal with recovery efforts.

• Offer flexibility for students who need to drop to part-time status or temporarily switch to online classes or a different institution or program entirely.

• Waive GPA requirements for a set period to account for the challenges students may face, such as displacement and stress.

4. Communicate Early and Clearly

When a disaster strikes, clear, timely communication is critical. Here’s how to ensure students know you’re there for them:

• Upon awarding scholarships, clarify how your program will respond to disasters. Let students know they won’t lose funding due to situations beyond their control.

• Emphasize that students affected by disasters will retain their scholarships, and provide updates on any changes or emergency support available.

• Direct students to emergency aid, extended deadlines, and campus resources.

• Designate a contact person who can address students’ concerns about their scholarships during a disaster.

Clear communication reduces stress for students and helps them stay informed about their scholarship status.

5. Collaborate with Relief and Support Organizations

Partnering with local relief organizations can extend the reach of your support:

• Work with groups that provide housing, counseling, and other services for students. 

• If your organization is in a position to make grants, consider supporting local nonprofits offering disaster relief. Funding student-centered organizations helps create a safety net during emergencies.

6. Plan for Future Disasters

Building resilience into your scholarship program ensures you’re prepared for the next disaster:

• Create clear guidelines that explain how your scholarship will adapt, such as deferring payments or waiving full-time status.

• Establish a reserve fund specifically for disaster relief, allowing quick action when a crisis arises.

• Provide students with tips for safeguarding their education, like storing important documents digitally and using campus emergency services.

Conclusion

Disasters like Helene and Milton remind us that flexibility and timely support can make all the difference for students struggling to continue their education. By encouraging donations, creating relief funds, offering flexibility, and working with local organizations, scholarship providers can help students overcome these challenges. Planning ahead also ensures that students facing future disasters will have the resources they need to stay on track with their academic goals.