Student Assistance Funds

STUDENT ASSISTANCE FUNDS

The Student Assistance Funds are managed by the Division for Student Affairs and can be used to help assist students with unanticipated expenses that are creating a financial hardship. The funds were created to assist students in situations that may impede academic progress, and for those who cannot reasonably resolve their financial difficulty through fellowships, loans, or personal resources. In AY24-25, our funds provided $275,000 in support to 234 GW students.

Your gift to the GW Cares Student Assistance Fund will continue to directly impact students who are experiencing hardships and help ensure that their academic experience remains uninterrupted. In AY24-25 alone, we received over 375 applications, so raising funds is essential in supporting student success. We are so grateful for the generosity of our GW community.

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Cokie & Steve Roberts SMPA Student Support Fund

Named in honor of groundbreaking broadcast journalist, the late Cokie Roberts, and her husband, Steve Roberts, the J.B. and M.C. Shapiro Professor of Media and Public Affairs, the Cokie and Steve Roberts SMPA Student Support Fund will provide support for School of Media and Public Affairs (SMPA) undergraduate students as they pursue their education at GW.

The purpose of this fund is to support students facing financial hardship, including unmet need and financial emergencies. In the spirit of Cokie and Steve, the fund will support as many students as possible each semester and students with the greatest need will be given priority. Cokie and Steve Roberts SMPA Student Support Fund awards typically range up to $7,500.

What can be funded?

The fund can be used to support students who meet the following criteria:

Currently enrolled as a degree-seeking full-time or part-time undergraduate SMPA student at the George Washington University and;
Experiencing financial hardship.

Apply for the SMPA Student Support Fund

GW Cares Student Assistance Fund

The GW Cares Student Assistance Fund was established in March 2020 to provide critical support to GW students in need as a result of the pandemic. Today, the Fund helps support our students through unexpected financial hardship so they may complete their schoolwork in a safe, secure environment.

The GW Cares Student Assistance Fund was created to support students who are in immediate need of temporary, short-term, financial assistance to cover essential expenses due to an emergency. Each application is reviewed individually by designated staff with urgency toward time-sensitive student needs. The Office of Student Financial Assistance is consulted during this process.

We are awarding to students who meet the following criteria:

Be currently enrolled in classes in a degree-seeking program.
Be a full time/part time undergraduate or graduate student.
Have unforeseen or emergency circumstances and experience financial hardship as a result.
Have not received more than $1,000 from either fund in the current academic year.

What can be funded? Please note that this list is non-exhaustive:

Emergency medical, dental, and mental health expenses, including prescriptions, not covered by insurance;
Emergency or temporary housing and/or food assistance;
Temporary support costs for a student in a dangerous situation due to threats or acts of violence;
Transportation Issues (e.g., emergency car repair not covered by insurance);
Replacement of essential personal belongings due to burglary, fire, flood, or other disaster;
Emergency dependent care;
Cost to travel home unexpectedly for a family emergency (death, illness, disaster, etc.)

Emergency funding awards will not exceed $1,000.

The GW Cares Fund is closed for the 2024-2025 academic year. The fund will re-open on Monday, August 25th, the first day of classes for the Fall 2025 semester.

Ronald W. Howard Student Assistance Fund

The Ronald W. Howard Student Assistance Fund provides financial assistance to students who incur unexpected expenses they cannot cover in an emergency.

The fund can be used to support students who meet the following criteria:

Currently enrolled as a degree-seeking full-time or part-time undergraduate or graduate student at the George Washington University,
Experiencing unexpected financial hardship resulting from an unforeseen emergency, and
Have unmet financial need as determined by the Office of Student Financial Assistance

What can be funded? Please note that this list is non-exhaustive:

Emergency medical, dental, and mental health expenses, including prescriptions, not covered by insurance;
Emergency or temporary housing and/or food assistance;
Temporary support costs for a student in a dangerous situation due to threats or acts of violence;
Transportation Issues (e.g., emergency car repair not covered by insurance);
Replacement of essential personal belongings due to burglary, fire, flood, or other disaster;
Emergency dependent care;
Cost to travel home unexpectedly for a family emergency (death, illness, disaster, etc.)

Students can only be awarded once during their time at GW and awarded funds cannot exceed $1,000.

The Ronald W. Howard Student Assistance Fund is closed for the 2024-2025 academic year. The fund will re-open on Monday, August 25th, the first day of classes for the Fall 2025 semester.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for the student assistance funds?

The Cares Student Assistance Fund and Ron Howard Student Assistance Fund open on the first day of classes and close on the last day of classes. The Cokie and Steve Roberts SMPA Student Support Fund remains open throughout the calendar year.

How do I know if I qualify for funding through the student assistance funds?

To qualify for funding, you must meet ALL of the following criteria:

Enrolled in at least 1 credit hour in a degree-seeking program at GW during the academic semester;
Current full time, part time, undergraduate or graduate student
Demonstrate an unexpected financial hardship resulting from an emergency or crisis;
Demonstrate how you have exhausted all other sources of financial assistance including but not limited to accepting all financial aid options, exploring personal assistance, etc.; and
Provide documentation to support the request as may be required.
Have not received more than $1,000 from either fund in the current academic year, or $1,000 from the Ronald W. Howard Student Assistance Fund in your academic career.
For the Ronald W. Howard Student Assistance Fund, have unmet financial need as defined by the Financial Aid Office.

I’m an international student, will I still be eligible for student assistance funding?

International students are welcome to apply for the GW Cares Student Assistance Fund and the Cokie and Steve Roberts SMPA Student Support Fund. International students do not typically qualify for the Ronald W. Howard Student Assistance Fund as they are not eligible to receive federal financial aid.

What documentation should I attach with my application?

Submitting relevant documentation will be helpful in your application review. Examples of supporting documentation that can be useful will depend on the nature of your request:

Rent/Housing: A copy of current lease or mortgage statement showing your name, the monthly rent/payment due, and the number of housemates. If your name is not on lease or mortgage OR if you have no lease, please confirm how much you contribute to the rent/payment per month.
Technology: An authentic photo of the current problem with your present computer/laptop; a cost estimate from a repair shop that identifies the problem with your computer and the cost of repair; documentation from a repair shop that confirms that the technology cannot be fixed; an academic note or document that confirms that you are in need of certain technology for your classes; and/or a new technology cost estimate
Medical Expense: A copy of current bill or statement showing service provider, your name, and account balance due after insurance. The bill must show the date of the service provided.

What happens after I submit my application?

There are three stages of the Student Assistance Fund application process:

Review: Our team will review your application to determine if you are eligible for funding. You may receive outreach from us via phone or email during this time. This process may take up to 2 weeks.
Decision: You will receive a decision letter from our team once your application has been reviewed. If you are awarded funding, you will be asked to complete a list of steps to ensure your payment can be processed.
Payment: If you are awarded funding, your payment will be processed once you have completed the required steps. Once your payment has been processed, you will likely receive it within 5-7 business days. The CARE team does not manage the payment process and does not have the ability to speed up payment.

What is the timeline to hear back from an application?

Please note that award applications are reviewed by our team on a weekly basis and that decisions will be communicated within two (2) weeks.

How will I receive my funds if I’ve been awarded?

If you have been awarded funding through our student assistance funds, your award letter will include specific information and instructions to either receive your award by paper check or through direct deposit.

Does my award count as taxable income?

Generally, student assistance fund awards are classified as taxable income, and require the University to make appropriate withholdings and report payment information to the IRS. For more information about tax implications, please see GW’s Tax Department website. Some eligible students may receive a form 1098-T from the University at the end of the tax year with all grants and scholarships received. Keep the award email you receive just in case you need to provide it when you submit your taxes or when you fill out your FAFSA next year.

For International Students: Stipends are subject to withholding when paid to nonresident aliens (NRAs). Please contact the GW Tax Department to complete the appropriate tax forms. Generally, the withholding tax rate is 30%. However, the withholding tax rate may be reduced to 14% if the stipend is paid to an NRA student or scholar with an F-1, J-1, M-1, or Q-1 visa. Currently, state taxes are not required to be withheld by the university even though the payments may be taxable in the state. This, however, is subject to changes in state legislation. A taxable scholarship/fellowship is not subject to FICA withholding since the payment is not for services.