Scholarships and Grants for Teen Entrepreneurs

Building something that matters should not depend on how much money you start with. These scholarships and grants exist specifically for young people who are already building something real — or who want to start.

Every opportunity on this list is free to apply for. They range from $250 project grants to a $200,000 fellowship.

Major Scholarships and Awards

Prudential Emerging Visionaries — Up to $15,000

Prudential Emerging Visionaries, run in partnership with Ashoka and the Financial Health Network, awards 25 winners up to $15,000 each plus an all-expenses-paid trip to the Awards Summit.

• Eligibility: Ages 14-18
• Deadline: November 2, 2026
• What they look for: Innovation in financial health/resiliency or solving real problems. Judged on innovation, potential to scale, and meaningful community impact.
• Why apply: One of the largest cash awards specifically for teen changemakers. The Ashoka partnership means your application is reviewed by people who deeply understand entrepreneurship and impact.

Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes — $10,000

The Barron Prize honors 25 young leaders annually who have made significant positive impact on people, communities, or the environment. Top winners receive $10,000 each toward their service work or higher education.

• Eligibility: Ages 8-18, permanent U.S. or Canadian residents
• Deadlines: Pre-application opens January 7, 2026 (due March 15). Full application due April 15, 2026.
• Format: Two-step application process
• Why apply: The Barron Prize specifically rewards young people who have already made a difference, not just those with promising ideas. If you have been doing the work, this recognizes it.

Coca-Cola Scholars Program — $20,000

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program awards $20,000 college scholarships to 150 high school seniors selected from over 107,000 applicants. It is achievement-based, recognizing leadership, service, and community impact.

• Eligibility: High school seniors, U.S. residents
• Application window: August 1 - September 30, 2026 (for class of 2027)
• Why apply: Extremely competitive (0.14% acceptance rate), but the $20,000 award and lifetime alumni network of 7,200+ scholars make it worth the effort. They value leadership and real-world impact heavily.

NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards — Up to $25,000

The NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation awards ~52 scholarships annually, with the National Young Entrepreneur of the Year receiving $10,000 and four additional national awards of $5,000 each.

• Eligibility: High school seniors who own and/or operate their own small business. Must be entering freshman year at an accredited institution.
• Deadline: Typically December each year
• Why apply: One of the few scholarships that specifically rewards students who have already launched a real business. If you are running something, this is built for you.

Daniels Scholarship Program — Full College Tuition

The Daniels Scholarship covers up to the full cost of attendance at the college of your choice, anywhere in the country. "Entrepreneurial spirit" is one of their core evaluation traits.

• Eligibility: High school seniors in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming. Minimum 3.0 GPA. AGI of $100,000 or less.
• Application window: September 15 - October 17, 2026
• Why apply: Full tuition at any college in the country is life-changing. They explicitly value entrepreneurial spirit alongside character, leadership, and service commitment.

DoSomething.org Awards — Up to $100,000

DoSomething.org distributes over $300,000 in scholarships annually. The top four Do Something Award nominees each receive a $10,000 community grant, and the grand prize winner receives $100,000.

• Eligibility: Ages 13-25, U.S. residents or citizens abroad
• Cost: Free. No essays, GPA requirements, or recommendations.
• Deadlines: Various throughout the year
• Why apply: The barrier to entry is remarkably low. You complete social action steps and verify your participation. Multiple scholarship opportunities run year-round.

The Big One

Thiel Fellowship — $200,000

The Thiel Fellowship provides $200,000 over two years to young people who want to build something instead of (or before) going to college. No equity is taken.

• Eligibility: Age 22 or younger, without a university degree. If selected while in school, you must drop out to accept.
• Deadline: Rolling (no fixed deadline). ~20-30 fellows selected annually.
• Why apply: This is the most generous fellowship for young entrepreneurs, period. Past fellows have built companies worth billions. The catch is real — you have to leave school. But if you have a venture that demands your full attention, this removes every financial barrier.

Project Grants (Fund Your Own Idea)

Peace First Challenge — Up to $250

Peace First provides non-competitive mini-grants of up to $250 plus a guided learning journey for designing and executing community projects.

• Eligibility: Ages 13-25, anywhere in the world
• Deadline: Rolling/ongoing
• Why apply: Low barrier, available globally, and the guided platform helps you develop your project even if you are starting from zero.

Youth Service America Grants — Up to $1,000

YSA offers several grant programs:

• Hershey Heartwarming Young Heroes: $250-$500 for youth-led projects engaging 25-50 youth volunteers

• 9/11 Day of Service Grants: Up to $1,000 each (up to 100 grants awarded, must engage 100+ youth volunteers)

• Eligibility: Ages 5-25, U.S. and Canada

• Deadline: 9/11 Day of Service applications open May 1, 2026

• Why apply: Real money for real projects, and YSA's backing gives your project institutional credibility.

Changemaker Youth Grants — Up to $1,000

Pace e Bene's Changemaker Grants fund youth-led projects addressing violence in communities through nonviolent, community-based solutions.

• Eligibility: Ages 12-23
• Award: Up to $1,000 per project
• Why apply: If your work is focused on peacebuilding, conflict resolution, or community safety, this is specifically designed for you.

Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams — $7,500

Lemelson-MIT awards $7,500 grants to high school teams that design technological inventions to solve community problems, plus year-long support and a showcase at MIT's EurekaFest.

• Eligibility: High school teams with a STEM educator as lead
• Timeline: Next cycle likely opens mid-2026
• Why apply: $7,500 is serious prototyping money, and the MIT brand opens doors. Best for tech-oriented projects solving real problems.

Deadline Calendar

How to Strengthen Any Application

Regardless of which opportunity you pursue, a few things consistently separate winners from the rest:

1. Show, don't tell. Every funder wants to see what you have already done, not just what you plan to do. Even small actions count.
2. Be specific about impact. "I helped my community" is weak. "I organized 12 volunteers to distribute 400 meals to 3 food-insecure families weekly for 6 months" is strong.
3. Explain why you. What personal experience or insight makes you uniquely positioned to tackle this problem?
4. Have a plan beyond the money. Show that the grant or scholarship accelerates work you would do anyway, not work that depends entirely on the funding.

The money is out there. The question is whether you will take the time to apply.

Need help building the kind of project that wins funding? Loona's programs guide you through every stage, from idea to launch. We also offer financial aid for our own programs so cost is never a barrier. For practical guidance on launching your first venture, read our article on building your first product.