Energy Scholarship Fund

Funding our Future

In the decade ahead, the energy sector expects to face historic hiring demands to power and fuel an energy evolution. The vast majority of individuals that will be hired will seek education and training to gain crucial skills and knowledge to prepare for those careers. But the cost of those programs remains a common barrier, limiting both individuals’ access to rewarding careers in energy and the sector’s ability to secure the talent it needs. It’s time to address this challenge with haste.

The new Get Into Energy Scholarship Fund, an initiative to boost access to energy careers, is providing the response and leadership the industry needs. CEWD is proud to partner with Scholarship America, the largest scholarship administrator in the U.S., to bring the Scholarship Fund to life. We invite energy, workforce development, education, and philanthropic partners to support the Scholarship Fund’s mission.

Who and What the Scholarship Fund Will Support

The Scholarship Fund is geared towards people of all ages and in all parts of the country, especially those with demonstrated financial need, who are interested in pursuing education or workforce training in a field of study relevant to the energy sector. It will support full-time and part-time study across a wide range of program types, including those leading to two-year, four-year, and graduate degrees, certificates, as well as Registered Apprenticeship programs. 

Program Structure

The Scholarship Fund, slated to open its first round of applications in Fall 2026, aims to be a one-stop hub for people pursuing energy-related scholarships to identify relevant opportunities.

First, it will aggregate existing scholarship programs currently offered in the industry (as approved for inclusion by the programs’ sponsors). If your organization runs or funds an existing scholarship program that you would like to include in the Get Into Energy Scholarship Fund’s offerings, contact [email protected]. 

Second, the page will present distinct scholarship sub-funds from which applicants can receive awards. This is where CEWD is especially asking for industry and philanthropic support. Sub-funds pool contributions from multiple organizations towards a shared goal, reflecting industry priorities, while also making it easier for applicants to access scholarships. The final slate of sub-funds will be determined based on the nature of financial contributions that the Scholarship Fund receives.Currently, CEWD is encouraging contributions to the following slate of distinct sub-funds: 

• Get Into Energy Fund (General): This is a general fund intended to flexibly support people interested in pursuing rigorous, relevant education or workforce training programs and who may not be strong candidates for the other distinct scholarship funds.
• Urban Energy Scholarships: Supporting residents of urban communities that have participated in CEWD & National Urban League energy programs.
• Veterans Scholarships: Supporting veterans pursuing energy careers.
• Hire PowHER Scholarships: Supporting women pursuing energy careers.
• Boosting Apprenticeship Success (Emergency Aid Fund): Supporting participants in Registered Apprenticeship Programs to cover emergency one-time expenses that could jeopardize their ability to persist in their programs, such as child care, housing, transportation, food, or other immediate financial needs.

*Additional pooled funds may be added based on industry interest and support. 

How to Support the Get Into Energy Scholarship Fund

There are four ways that energy, workforce, education and philanthropic stakeholders can support the Get Into Energy Scholarship Fund: 

1) Contribute to one of the new Get into Energy Scholarship sub-funds. Organizations looking to bolster the Get Into Energy Scholarship Fund may opt to contribute to one or more of the sub-funds based on corporate strategies and priorities. Share your interest by contacting [email protected]. 

2) Incorporate your existing scholarship program that supports learners pursuing energy careers into the Get Into Energy Scholarship Fund. If you sponsor a relevant existing scholarship program, would like to have it listed on the Get Into Energy Scholarship Fund page, and/or learn about having it administered by Scholarship America, please let us know at [email protected].

3) Start a new Get into Energy sub-fund that aligns with your organization’s goals. There may be a sub-fund not identified that reflects an energy workforce priority for your organization. For example, the Get Into Energy Scholarship Fund could have a distinct scholarship fund that supports students pursuing careers in a specific energy subsector (e.g., nuclear, hydropower, natural gas, transmission, renewable energy technologies) or support learners in a geographic region.

4) Help spread the word about the Get Into Energy Scholarship Fund with this flier: