Education Loan Grant
A member-only benefit, our Education Loan Grant Program writes checks up to $10,000 each to qualifying members to offset the burden of student loans and continuing education costs. Members must submit to qualify through an application process that opens every year in the Fall. Since launching this program in 2012, She Runs It has paid nearly $2 million to rising stars in marketing, media, and tech.
Nearly 60% of all college students are female, and while that number is encouraging, it also means that women carry a disproportionate amount of loan debt. In fact, women carry 66% of all student loan debt in the US, in amounts that can be 3 to 4 times her annual salary early in her career. To alleviate that burden, She Runs It has provided loan grants to nearly 100 women, 42% of which have been women of color.
Hear from Past Recipients of Our Loan Grant Program: Education Loan Grant
Applications OPEN
Qualifications
- Applications are open to women and anyone who identifies as a woman.
- Applicant must be a She Runs It member in good standing for at least 6 months, and reside in the U.S. or Canada.
- Applicant must be the recipient of an undergraduate degree, graduate degree, or enrolled in industry-relevant continuing education courses prior to application submission.
- Loan or invoice documentation that you provide with your application must be held in the name of the applicant.
What this application requires:
- Bio
- Short answer rationale
- One letter of recommendation is required, but will accept up to two letters
- Loan or invoice documentation in your name
- Current resume
What we are looking for in an applicant:
- We’ll be looking at your record of contributions to She Runs It and our industry, the future commitments you intend to make, and your career success to-date.
- Loan grant recipients participate in a special project each year that is supportive of She Runs Its mission and decided by the cohort.
FAQ about the Education Loan Grant
Sorry, this award is available to residents of the US and Canada
• Yes. Recipients are asked to continue their involvement with She Runs It and to devote time to a specific project as a “class”. (For example, one group of honorees was asked to help She Runs It explore how we can better serve the Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) across the She Runs It membership community. Another group contributed to the Loan Grant video you see on the nomination landing page.) • The group meets virtually three times throughout the year to brainstorm ideas and bring recommendations to the staff.
Funds vary from year to year based on donations received by She Runs It. The organization has given as few as four grants in a calendar year, and as many as 16.
Yes
• Yes. • As many as two letters of recommendation are accepted for each applicant, but one letter is required. • Letters of recommendation should be written by an executive at your current or former company of employment, or by an industry colleague. • Note: you can ask a current or former supervisor or colleague to write a recommendation. When you request the letter, you can download the recommendation template or instruct them to shape their letter around answers to four questions: • How do they know you? • How long have they known you? • In their opinion, what contributions have you already made to the company, the community, and/or the marketing, media, and tech sectors? • In their opinion, how do they believe you will influence the future of the industry? What positive impact might you have? (e.g. “She will be a great mentor to others.” Or “She will seek new ways for brands to connect with consumers?”)
• How actively are you participating in the She Runs It community? • What plans do you have to accelerate/enrich your participation in She Runs It over the next 2 years? • How are you contributing to your company and the industry, especially beyond your day-to-day work responsibilities? • How do you hope to contribute to your company and the industry in the future? • What impact will the grant have on you and your career journey, if selected as a recipient?
You will need to provide copies of your loan documents and/or tuition statements.
Sorry. You are not eligible for this award if you have won it previously.
Payments vary and can amount to as much as $10,000 USD, depending on the outstanding loan balance. Funds are paid directly to the loan company or another designated organization solely for the purpose of paying down student loan debt or to further the applicant’s education within marketing, media and tech.
Applicants must be current and active members of She Runs It for a minimum of 6 months to qualify for an education loan grant.
Applications typically open in September and remain open until November (dates fluctuate annually). The winners are generally announced in or around January.
