Required Items

We recommend reading through this page carefully and ensuring you have all required materials before heading over to Kaleidoscope to complete your application. Additional items may be requested if necessary to confirm eligibility.

Eligibility

Be from a low-income household or demonstrate financial need
- Low-income limits are determined by HUD. See current limits here
Be 15-25 years of age as of 3/31/2026
Be a resident of:
- a Hearthstone Housing Foundation property or
- a county where a Hearthstone property is located
Be one of the following during the 2026-27 school year:
- a full-time high school student requesting support for any of the following:
  - college preparation courses
  - fees related to the college application process
  - other academically enriching activities
- a full-time undergraduate student attending a college, university, or vocational school in the United States
  - Please note: Funds may not be used for graduate studies or studying abroad
Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA for current high school students or a 2.75 GPA for current college students
Be available for a phone interview in May or June 2026

Official Transcript

Please provide a copy of your official transcript by email or mail. Please note: unofficial transcripts will not be accepted.

In order for the committee members to get an understanding of your academic history, your transcript must include three (3) semesters worth of information. You may provide transcripts from multiple institutions if needed. For example, college freshmen may also need to provide their high school transcripts.

By Email: If your school offers the option for electronic delivery, please have the official link sent by March 31, 2026 to: scholarship@hearthstonehousing.org

Please note: This email is to be used for official links only (ex. Parchment Exchange, eSCRIP-SAFE, Student Clearing House, etc). We are unable to accept scanned copies of transcripts sent via email by applicants.

By Mail: You or your school may send your sealed official transcript, postmarked by March 31, 2026 to:

Hearthstone Housing Foundation

Attn: Scholarship Committee

1401 Dove St, Suite 620

Newport Beach, CA 92660

Please note: Your application is considered incomplete until your official transcript has been received.

Tax Return

In order to verify your financial eligibility for the scholarship, please submit a copy of your household’s 2024 federal income tax return(s) - i.e. IRS Form 1040. Please feel free to redact social security numbers and other sensitive information prior to submission.

Please note: If you/your household did not file a 2024 tax return, please contact us at 949.553.9447 x204 to determine what other documents may be submitted to verify financial eligibility.

Extra-Curricular Activities

You will be asked to report your most recent extra-curriculars.

There will be space on the application to list your involvement in the following categories:

Volunteer Work
Internship or Work Experience
Clubs or Sports
Other Campus Involvement
Leadership Positions
Awards or Recognition

Alternatively, you may upload a resume or list of extra-curricular activities instead.

You will also have the opportunity to upload items to supplement your application. This is an optional space to expand on your extra-curriculars or show the committee anything we forgot to ask about!

Personal Statement

Your personal statement should supplement the information you have already provided on your application and allow the committee members a greater understanding of the experiences that have shaped you, your growth and your academic and professional goals.

Your statement must include:

Your goal(s) – either personal, professional, or academic
Your plan to achieve your goal(s)
How the scholarship funds awarded by Hearthstone Housing Foundation will be used
The steps you have already taken towards your goal(s) – for example relevant extra-curricular activities

The committee will be reviewing your personal statement for the above as well as your overall writing quality. Additionally, you will be graded on how well you demonstrate:

Community-Mindedness
Persistence / Overcoming Obstacles
Initiative / Leadership
Financial Need

Formatting: Failure to follow these guidelines may result in disqualification.

One page, single-spaced, with one-inch margins
Typed in 12-point Times New Roman font
Include your name in the top, right corner

Please note: If you are a renewal applicant, you must submit a new personal statement that incorporates your growth and experiences over the past year. Submitting a copy of last year’s personal statement will result in automatic disqualification.

Letters of Recommendation

You will be required to submit two (2) letters of recommendation written by professional or academic references. Common references include teachers, employers, coaches and club advisers.

Formatting: Failure to follow these guidelines may result in disqualification.

Each letter of recommendation should:

Not exceed one page in length
Be signed by recommender
Be dated after 3/31/2025
Be written on letterhead or include recommender’s verifiable contact information

Submitting: The application will allow you to either:

upload a letter yourself
send a link via email to invite your recommender to upload the letter.

Please note: If you are a renewal applicant, you must submit new letters of recommendation from new recommenders. Submitting copies of last year's letters of recommendation will result in automatic disqualification.