Harriett's Daughters Inc. 2026 ScholarGift Program
Description
ScholarGifts are non-competitive monetary gifts awarded to young women as they transition from high school into higher education following maternal cancer loss. The term ScholarGift reflects our belief that these funds are given, not earned through competition, and are intended to honor each recipient’s resilience, effort, and future aspirations. ScholarGifts are given to applicants who meet all the eligibility requirements, submit all the additional materials required, and attend a mandatory one-day college preparatory workshop. The complete application package is due on March 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. EST. Applicants who have submitted a complete application and all the required materials will receive an invitation no later than Friday, March 31, 2025 to attend the one-day college preparatory workshop.
The one-day college preparatory workshop is on Saturday, April 18, 2026. The workshop is a series of sessions that will focus on the following topics:
Health and Wellness
Financial Literacy
Career Building
Relationships
Academic Coaching
And more!
Following the college preparatory workshop, applicants are invited to attend the ScholarShower—a celebratory gathering that honors each young woman’s accomplishments and the journey that brought her here. During the shower, applicants will receive their ScholarGift and college care packages.
NOTE: Attendance at the college preparatory workshop and an acceptance letter from the college/university that you plan to attend in the fall semester/quarter of 2026 are required to attend the ScholarShower.
Harriett’s Daughters, Inc. is honored to grant ScholarGifts to young women in their senior year of high school, who have lost their mother to cancer or whose mother has an end-stage cancer diagnosis, and aspire to pursue higher education in the upcoming 2026-2027 academic year.
Selection Process
This is a noncompetitive application, but ScholarGifts will be awarded to applicants who meet all the eligibility requirements and submit all of the additional requirements.
Eligibility:
Reside in Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, or Gwinnett County, or within the City of Atlanta
Young woman in her senior year of high school
Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.00 scale
Mother has a end-stage cancer diagnosis, or has died from cancer
Additional Requirements:
Two letters of recommendation (both letters must be written on official letterhead and signed)
Submit an essay/personal statement
Submit a one-minute video introduction of yourself
Official academic transcript
Attend a one-day college preparatory workshop
Our Mission
To support, inspire, and empower girls who have lost their mother to cancer or whose mother has an end-stage cancer diagnosis.
Our Vision
To make a positive impact in the lives of girls at every stage of the grief process, while fostering hope for a fulfilling future.
Who We Are
Harriett’s Daughters is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting girls and families impacted by maternal cancer loss. We exist to walk alongside girls as they navigate grief, uncertainty, and major life transitions following the loss of a mother to cancer or during an end-stage cancer diagnosis. We understand that grief shows up differently for every girl and that support must be steady, personal, and responsive to what each family is facing. Through consistent relationships and thoughtful support, we meet girls where they are and remain present as their needs evolve over time.
Our Approach
Mentorship is the cornerstone of Harriett’s Daughters. Through individual and group mentoring, family support services, and the Scholargift Program, we provide layered support that responds to the realities of grief, education, and life after loss. Our approach recognizes that grief is not linear and that girls and families need support that evolves over time. By prioritizing consistent relationships, thoughtful programming, and care that extends before, during, and after loss, we meet families where they are and walk alongside them through each stage of the journey.