Welcome and thanks for visiting!
Gaines-Jones Scholars (GJS) 2026-2027 application round is now open!
Application deadline: March 15, 2026 at 11:59pm Pacific Time.
Please carefully read all the information below to determine if you are eligible to apply. Then click the APPLY button below
(If you do not fit our criteria — don’t despair! There are plenty of scholarships out there: Click here to explore our page for finding other scholarships! )
Who is eligible to apply?
You must be an African-American high school senior bound for a 2-or 4-year college, technical or trade school, and residing in one of these Southwest Georgia or San Francisco Bay Area counties:
Southwest Georgia:
Baker • Calhoun • Colquitt • Decatur • Dougherty • Early • Grady • Lee • Miller • Mitchell • Seminole • Terrell • Thomas • Worth
San Francisco Bay Area:
Alameda • Contra Costa • Marin • Napa • San Francisco • San Mateo • Santa Clara • Solano • Sonoma
—or, you may be:
A prior Gaines-Jones Scholar currently enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, technical/trade, or medical school/residency program. After graduation, you may apply for funding for career advancement programs. We are dedicated to helping you succeed!
PLEASE NOTE — Returning GJS Scholars: GJS Scholarships do not automatically renew. However, once you become a Gaines-Jones Scholar you may reapply as long as you are enrolled—even if you have taken time off.
GAINES-JONES SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
High School Seniors
Returning GJS Scholar:
Learn More: Our Selection Criteria, GJS Video — What Education Means, and Tips for your Scholarship Search
“Thank you Gaines-Jones Scholars! My time at UC Berkeley was one of the most challenging experiences in my life, but your support made it that much easier. My GJS scholarship helped make college a reality, and allowed me to pursue so many opportunities in and outside the classroom to help me grow personally and professionally. You also helped me graduate college debt free 🙂 “
— Fanta Jamissa
Gaines-Jones Scholar since 2020
University of California, Berkeley, B.S. Public Health | Class of 2024
University of Ghana, Study Abroad | Pan Afrikan Social Movements: Past, Present and Future
A strong essay requires more than one draft. Ask people that you trust to proofread for you: teachers, counselors, advisors, parents, mentors, etc..
SELECTION CRITERIA:
The GJS selection committee evaluates applications based on:
- Clearly demonstrated need for financial aid
- Upward trend in grades and course load
- Strong, original personal essay, short answer, and reference letters
- Extracurricular activity and community service
- A fully-completed online Gaines-Jones application submitted by deadline: 11:59PM PST MARCH 15, 2026
- ANY questions, please contact us: info@gaines-jones.org Call/Text: 415.720.6102
💰Tips for your scholarship search:
There are thousands and thousands of scholarships out there. Treat your search for funding like a part-time job; the pay-off could be much greater! Explore our resources page to find many other scholarship opportunities that match your profile & needs—whatever they may be.
For Help Writing Winning Essays:
How to Find More Scholarships:
Gaines-Jones Scholar Fanta Jamissa, a pre-med senior at UC Berkeley,
created a PowerPoint to share her methods for finding scholarships and doing college DEBT-FREE.