Next Generation Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by NRF Foundation

Overview
The NRF Foundation, together with a panel of retail executives, is inviting high-achieving students who are passionate about retail and offer original, forward-thinking perspectives to apply for the 2026 NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship. Ideal candidates are ambitious, adaptable, and show potential to shape the future of the retail industry.

Who Should Apply
Students enrolled full-time at a U.S.-based college or university who are juniors or seniors at the time the scholarship is awarded (January 2027) and who meet the eligibility criteria below. There is no limit on how many students a single institution may nominate or submit.

Application components and deadline
To enter, applicants must submit a complete packet by Tuesday, May 26, 2026, including:
- Essay
- Personal brand video
- One letter of recommendation
- Resume
- Official school transcripts
- Headshot

Selection process and timeline
The competition has two main phases:

Phase 1 — Initial application review
- A selection committee will review all complete applications submitted by May 26, 2026.
- Up to 25 semifinalists will be announced on June 24, 2026. Semifinalists will have seven (7) days to accept their selection; if a semifinalist does not respond within that window, a replacement may be chosen.

Phase 2 — Semifinal and finalist rounds
- On June 24, 2026, the NRF Foundation will provide the semifinalists with a case study developed in partnership with Under Armour. Semifinalists are required to complete this case study and participate in two interviews with assigned retailers. All semifinalist deliverables (case study and required interviews) must be submitted/finished by 12:00 p.m. ET on August 10, 2026.
- A panel of retail executives will review semifinalist submissions and select the top 10 candidates. Those top 10 will complete quick-fire video interviews with the NRF team between September 24–28, 2026.
- From that group, five finalists will be chosen and notified by October 6, 2026. Finalists will have seven (7) days to confirm acceptance or a replacement finalist may be selected.
- Finalists will undergo final-round interviews with members of the NRF Foundation Board of Directors in Fall 2026.
- Scholarship recipients will be announced during the NRF Foundation Honors in January 2027. All judging decisions are final.

Awards and stipends
- Top scholarship awards: One (1) $25,000 tuition scholarship for the highest-scoring finalist; four (4) scholarships of $10,000 each for the remaining finalists. Scholarship funds will be sent to the recipients’ respective universities in February 2027; each university will disburse the funds to the student.
- Board service: The $25,000 recipient will also serve on the NRF Foundation Board of Directors for a one-year term.
- Travel stipend: The 25 semifinalists will each be eligible for a travel stipend of up to $1,000 to offset registration and travel expenses for the NRF Foundation Student Program. The NRF Foundation will pay the stipend directly to the semifinalist’s university. After the university covers the scholarship applicant’s convention registration and related costs, any remaining stipend funds may be used by that university to help support student attendance at any National Retail Federation conference or educational program that benefits the retail industry.

Eligibility requirements and conditions
- Enrollment: Must be enrolled full-time at a U.S.-based college or university at the time of application.
- Class standing: Must be a junior or senior enrolled full-time at the time the scholarship is presented (January 2027).
- Attendance: Eligible students must be available to take part in the 2027 NRF Foundation Student Program in New York City, January 7–10, 2027, including attendance at the NRF Foundation Honors on January 10, 2027.
- Prior awards: Applicants must not have previously received $10,000 or more from the NRF Foundation.
- Employment restrictions: Employees of the National Retail Federation and their immediate family members and household members are ineligible.
- Citizenship/work authorization: Applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal U.S. residents authorized to work in the United States.
- Academic performance: Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Retail experience: Applicants must have current or prior retail employment or a retail internship.
- Application completeness: To be considered, every required component (essay, personal brand video, letter of recommendation, transcript, resume, headshot) must be submitted.

Other notes
- Semifinalists and finalists must accept their selection within seven (7) days of notification or a replacement may be named.
- The case study for semifinalists was developed with Under Armour.
- Final decisions by the judges are final.

If you meet the qualifications and are ready to demonstrate leadership, creativity, and a strong grasp of retail, prepare your materials and submit your complete application by May 26, 2026.