Corporate scholarships are educational awards funded by businesses and corporations, available through direct company programs, employee-dependent benefits, or tax-credit scholarship organizations.
What is Corporate Scholarship?
Corporate scholarships come in several forms, but they share one thing: funding from businesses rather than government or educational institutions. Some companies offer direct scholarships to students in their communities or fields of interest. Others provide scholarships specifically for employees' children. A growing category involves tax-credit scholarships, where corporations donate to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) in exchange for state or federal tax credits, and those SGOs distribute scholarships to eligible families—including homeschoolers. A new federal program launching in 2027 will significantly expand access to corporate-funded education scholarships.
Key Takeaways
- Three main types: direct corporate scholarships, employee-dependent programs, and tax-credit scholarships
- Tax-credit scholarship programs exist in 21 states, with federal expansion coming in 2027
- Employee-dependent scholarships often extend to homeschooled children
- Homeschoolers are explicitly eligible for many scholarship programs
- New federal tax-credit program covers homeschool curriculum, tutoring, and supplies
Types of Corporate Scholarships
Direct corporate scholarships come from companies like Coca-Cola, Chick-fil-A, Intel, and Burger King—they fund scholarship programs from their own budgets for students meeting various criteria. Employee-dependent scholarships (offered by companies like Home Depot, American Airlines, Chevron, and Siemens) provide awards specifically for employees' children, often requiring 3+ years of parent employment. Tax-credit scholarships work differently: companies donate to approved Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs), receive tax credits equal to 50-100% of their donation, and the SGOs distribute pooled funds as scholarships to income-eligible families.
Tax-Credit Scholarships and Homeschoolers
Currently, 21 states have tax-credit scholarship programs where corporate and individual donations fund educational choice. These programs typically serve families earning under 300% of area median income. A new federal program under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act launches in 2027, allowing individual donors (not corporations) to receive dollar-for-dollar federal tax credits for donations to certified SGOs. Critically, homeschoolers are explicitly eligible. Covered expenses include curriculum materials, books, tutoring, special needs services, testing fees, and educational software—not just private school tuition.
How to Access Corporate Scholarships
Check your employer first—even if you don't think they offer educational benefits, ask HR about scholarships for employees' dependents. Some companies extend eligibility to retirees' children. For direct corporate scholarships, research Fortune 500 companies in fields related to your student's interests. Use scholarship databases (Scholarships360, Bold.org, Scholarships.com) that catalog corporate programs. For tax-credit scholarships, search for SGOs operating in your state. Build a strong extracurricular profile since corporate scholarships often weight community service heavily, and homeschoolers without traditional school activities need to demonstrate engagement through other means.
The Bottom Line
Corporate scholarships represent an often-overlooked funding source for homeschool families. Tax-credit scholarship programs are expanding, with the 2027 federal program specifically including homeschool expenses as eligible uses. If your employer offers dependent scholarships, your homeschooled children likely qualify. For direct corporate scholarships, focus on companies aligned with your student's interests and build the extracurricular profile that selection committees look for. The landscape is changing rapidly—programs that didn't exist a few years ago are opening new possibilities for educational funding.
