Brighterly Equity Scholarship

Brighterly Equity Scholarship

Apply for the Brighterly scholarship and get 6 months of personalized tutoring in math or reading with an expert tutor, plus a $500 cash award to support your child's education.

  • 24,000

    Parents trust Brighterly

  • 700+

    New students every week

  • 5+

    Years helping kids learn

About the Brighterly Scholarship

Every kid deserves a fair shot at doing well in school, but if 1:1 tutoring is out of families' reach, Brighterly Equity Scholarship closes that gap. Each cycle, we award one student a $500 cash prize and six months of 1:1 lessons with a certified tutor. Students can choose math or reading based on which subject they need the most help with. If a child is losing their confidence reading aloud in class, or can't figure out fractions, a tight budget shouldn't stop them from getting extra help. Our scholarship is open to students in grades 1–9 for both subjects. Our scholarship winner gets matched with a certified tutor who's right for their needs. We build a personalized learning plan based on a child's learning goals in the chosen subject. For parents — no stress over costs or finding the correct approach, just consistent progress with 1:1 online lessons that build confidence and help a child catch up and move forward.

  • Hassle-free application

    Our scholarship application for students takes just a few minutes — parents or students fill out a short form and tell us which subject they chose and why they need the scholarship. There's no confusing paperwork — a brief statement of financial need from a parent or guardian is enough.

  • 1:1 lessons and $500 cash prize

    The winner receives six months of free 1:1 lessons with a certified Brighterly tutor and a $500 cash prize. Our team creates a personalized math or reading learning plan designed to close gaps and help a child move forward — with 2 lessons per week and regular progress reports for parents.

  • Certified tutors

    Scholarship winners work with vetted tutors matched to the learner's unique needs. Tutors pinpoint the gaps holding them back and help close them, boosting children's confidence and getting them ready to ace tests.

Scholarship Application Criteria

The Brighterly Equity Scholarship is open to U.S. students in grades 1–9 who need support in math and reading. Here's how we look at each application:

  • Age group

    We welcome applicants aged 6 to 15, grades 1–9.

  • Household income

    We don't require any formal household income documentation. All we need is a brief statement of financial need from a parent or guardian.

  • Current school enrollment

    Applicants must be currently enrolled in a grade 1–9 educational program in the United States (public, private, or homeschooling).

  • Passion for learning

    Whether students choose a math scholarship or a reading scholarship, they must submit an essay on their interest in the given subject, challenges they face, and their goals for improvement.

  • Recommendation letter

    Applicants must provide a recommendation letter from a teacher, school counselor, or mentor, highlighting the student's efforts, passion for learning, and why they would benefit from the scholarship.

  • Commitment to learning

    Winners must commit to attending at least 80% of lessons provided by the Brighterly scholarship. We welcome students dedicated to making the most of the opportunity.

  • Submission deadline

    Applications for the Fall Scholarship are currently open. All submissions must be received by November 30. Note: Brighterly Scholarship runs three application cycles each year, with finalists selected in April, August, and December.

  • Terms

    Scholarship winners will be notified by email and must respond within 5 days to accept the award.

Application form 🚀

+1

Upload following files

Please upload an essay, a letter of recommendation, and a statement of financial need by clicking the appropriate Upload file button and uploading each file individually.

  1. 1.

    Essay should be between 400 and 500 words and describe the applicant's interest in math, any challenges they have faced in math, and their goals for improvement.

  2. 2.

    Recommendation Letter. From a teacher, school counselor, or guardian overseeing the child's education.

  3. 3.

    Statement of Financial Need. From a parent or guardian. This may be a handwritten document or a photo of the signed document.

EssayWord or PDF format only. Max size 8MB.
Recommendation letterWord or PDF format only. Max size 8MB.
Statement of financial needWord/PDF/JPG/PNG/GIF/TIFF formats. Max size 8MB.

Terms of Brighterly Scholarship Program

By applying for the Brighterly Scholarship Program on behalf of the applicants, their parents or legal guardians agree to be bound by the following terms and conditions, which outline eligibility, selection process, personal information use, and recipient obligations.
 

  • (i) Eligibility Criteria
  1. Age Group: The elementary scholarship, as well as middle school and high school scholarships, are available to students in grades 1-9, typically aged 11-15.
  2. Household Income: No formal documentation of household income is required, a brief statement of financial need from a parent or legal guardian must be provided.
  3. Current School Enrollment: Applicants must be enrolled in a 1-9 educational institution in the U.S.(public, private, or homeschooling).
  4. Passion for Math and Reading: Applicants are required to submit a short essay (400-500 words) on their interest in math or reading, challenges they face, and their goals.
  5. Recommendation Letter: Applicants must provide a recommendation letter from a teacher, school counselor, or mentor, highlighting the student’s efforts, passion for learning, and need for the scholarship.
  • (ii) Selection criteria:
  1. Applications will be assessed based on: 1) demonstrated financial need; 2) interest in improving math or reading skills (via the essay); 3) the recommendation letter.
  2. A Brighterly panel will select one scholarship recipient for each round of evaluations.
  • (iii) Further conditions:
  1. Commitment to Learning: The winner must attend at least 80% of the free 1:1 lessons provided by Brighterly as part of the scholarship. We believe in helping students who are dedicated to taking full advantage of the opportunity.
  2. Notification of Winners: Parents/legal guardians of the winner will be notified via email and must respond within five (5) days. If no response is received, another applicant will be nominated. Please note that applicants who are not selected will not receive a notification.
  3. Award: The winner will receive 6 (six) months of studying with Brighterly (the specifics will be communicated to the winner upon selection). The winner will also receive a monetary award of USD 500 via the payment method of the winner’s choice.
  4. Submission of Materials: All application materials should be submitted through the dedicated form on the Brighterly website. Documents must be uploaded in Microsoft Word or PDF format.
  • Privacy and Consent:
  1. Use of Personal Information: Personal information submitted will be used for evaluating applications and awarding the scholarship. By participating, parents or guardians explicitly consent to the potential publication of the winner’s name, essay, and photo on the Brighterly website. This information may be used to promote future scholarship opportunities and to celebrate the success of the recipient. A brief story and photo of the winner may also be featured on the Brighterly website.
  2. Consent: By submitting an application, parents or guardians confirm their acceptance of these terms and provide their consent for participation.

Previous Scholarship Winners

Math Programs by Grade Levels

Reading Programs by Grade

Free Printable Math Worksheets

Free Printable Reading Worksheets

Frequently Asked Questions

Brighterly runs three application cycles each year, with finalists selected in April, August, and December. One student is awarded the scholarship each cycle.

Yes. Students enrolled in a grade 1–9 educational program in the United States — public, private, or homeschooling — are all eligible to apply.

Yes. If a child isn't selected in one cycle, they're welcome to reapply in a future cycle with an updated application.

Winners are notified by email and must respond within 5 days to accept the award. If we don't hear back in time, the award may be offered to another applicant.

The winner receives six months of 1:1 online lessons with a certified Brighterly tutor in their chosen subject — math or reading — with a personalized learning plan, two lessons per week, and regular progress reports for parents.

The scholarship supports students who need extra help in math or reading and whose families would benefit from financial support — whether a child is falling behind or simply needs focused 1:1 attention to build confidence.

Yes. A certified tutor builds a personalized plan that pinpoints the gaps holding a child back and works to close them, helping them catch up and move forward.

Our tutors focus on rebuilding confidence through supportive, personalized 1:1 lessons, celebrating progress and helping each child feel capable in their chosen subject.

Yes. 1:1 online tutoring gives each child focused, personalized attention, and most students show visible progress within weeks of consistent lessons.

Six months of twice-weekly 1:1 tutoring would normally cost hundreds of dollars; the scholarship covers this in full, plus a $500 cash prize.