#RAREis Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases

Description

**Purpose and focus**
The #RAREis Scholarship Fund provides direct educational support for adults living with rare diseases who face additional barriers to reaching traditional life milestones. It offers one-time scholarships to help recipients pursue undergraduate, graduate, or vocational education. The fund is intended to reduce financial obstacles tied to frequent medical care, treatment, and hospitalizations by enabling academic or training opportunities. Applications target students who plan to enroll for the Fall 2026 semester.

Key takeaways
- Scholarship name: #RAREis Scholarship Fund.
- Target population: adults living with rare diseases.
- Intended use: support for educational pursuits (college, graduate, or trade school).
- Applies to Fall 2026 enrollment.

Eligibility

**Who may apply and required verification**
Applicants must be at least 17 years old, residents of the United States, and have a physician-verified diagnosis of a rare disease — or be undiagnosed but able to provide a completed physician Diagnosis Verification Form. A Spanish version of the Diagnosis Verification Form is available. Applicants must plan to enroll full- or part-time at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical/trade school for Fall 2026; there is no minimum credit-hour requirement for part-time enrollment, and pursuing a formal degree is not required.

Key takeaways
- Age and residency: 17+ and U.S. resident.
- Diagnosis verification: physician-completed form required (Spanish form available).
- Enrollment: must plan to enroll in Fall 2026 at an accredited institution.
- Part-time allowed; no minimum credit hours; degree pursuit not mandatory.

Award Value

**Amount and distribution**
For 2026, the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases will provide one-time scholarships of $5,000 each. Up to 58 recipients will be selected to receive these awards. Payments are intended to support education-related costs; awards are one-time disbursements rather than ongoing funding.

Key takeaways
- Award amount: $5,000 per recipient (one-time).
- Number of awards: up to 58 recipients in 2026.
- Purpose: education-related financial support.
- Not renewable; single disbursement.

Application Timeline

**Open and deadline window**
Applications open on March 17 and remain open through 2:00 PM on the application deadline in April. Applicants should confirm the precise April deadline date and submission timezone on the official EveryLife Foundation website before applying. Prepare required materials — including the Diagnosis Verification Form — well before the closing time to avoid last-minute issues.

Key takeaways
- Application window: opens March 17; closes at 2:00 PM on the April deadline.
- Confirm exact deadline date and timezone on the official website.
- Submit all required materials, including physician verification, before the cutoff.

History of the Award

**Founding purpose and sponsor**
The EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases created the #RAREis Scholarship Fund to address disparities faced by people living with rare diseases, whose frequent medical needs can impede educational progress. The scholarship seeks to enrich recipients’ lives by enabling access to education and training opportunities. The 2026 awards are supported by Amgen, reflecting a partnership to expand educational resources for the rare disease community.

Key takeaways
- Established by the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases.
- Goal: reduce educational disparities for people with rare diseases.
- 2026 funding supported by Amgen.