Funding Opportunities
Alma Empowering Minds Scholarship & Mentorship Program
Through the Alma Empowering Minds Scholarship, graduate students from historically marginalized communities have the opportunity to receive financial support towards their master’s degree and ongoing mentorship from an experienced clinician. Alma firmly believes that empowering the next generation of providers has the power to drive transformative change, fostering a culture of compassion, empathy, and understanding for all.
Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care. We recognize this goal is dependent on more equitable opportunities for aspiring professionals, and the Alma Empowering Minds Scholarship is a testament to that commitment. By providing financial support and clinical mentorship for graduate students from historically marginalized communities, Alma hopes to build a brighter, more inclusive future for the next generation of providers and those they will serve.
Systemic obstacles have the power to hinder access to higher education, including graduate studies in mental health care. Our scholarship aims to break down those existing barriers and introduce more diverse perspectives, experiences, and insights to the field. Each recipient of the scholarship will receive $5,000 towards their master’s degree in mental health care and the opportunity to participate in our Empowering Minds Mentorship Program, where they will be paired with an experienced clinician and receive guidance, support, and industry knowledge for one academic school year.
The mentorship program will instill confidence and nurture personal and professional growth, ensuring students can navigate the challenges that may arise during their studies and future careers. Recipients will also have exclusive access to workshops and skill-building opportunities to equip them with diverse tools and knowledge, encompassing academic expertise and essential soft skills such as communication, cultural competence, and empathy. Such holistic training will prepare our scholars to become well-rounded mental health professionals capable of impacting their communities.
We firmly believe that empowering graduates from historically marginalized communities will drive transformative change, fostering a society that embraces compassion, empathy, and understanding for all.
Eligibility
APF encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds with respect to age, race, color, religion, creed, nationality, ability, sexual orientation, gender, and geography.
Applicants must:
- be from a historically marginalized community; this includes:
- LGBTQIA+ persons, Black, Latino/x, Indigenous, and Native American persons; Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders; and other persons of color; persons with disabilities; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality
- be graduate level students completing their first year of coursework in a master’s degree program in a mental health discipline.
- still be enrolled when funds are disbursed.
Application Instructions
Application Materials:
- personal statement that includes why they are a good fit for this award program
- attestation of belonging to a historically marginalized community (opportunity to provide more information about identity/ies will be provided)
- resume/CV
- academic transcript
- cost of attendance and disclosure of funding sources (scholarships, financial aid)
- attestation of understanding that winners’ contact information will be shared with Alma to coordinate mentorships
Evaluation Criteria
Applicants will be evaluated on:
- commitment to pursuing a career in clinical psychology or social work
- academic achievement
- financial need
Please be advised that APF does not provide feedback to applicants on their proposals.
Please review our program FAQs for important details on the application process.
Recent Recipient
Inaugural Year
This is the inaugural year of this program.
Past Recipients
Inaugural Year
This is the Inaugural Year of this program.