Catching The Dream Native American Scholarship
Best fit for
Native students (members or documented descendants of federally-recognized tribes) at any college level — particularly strong for students attending Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) or planning to return to tribal community work.
What they actually look for
Catching the Dream is one of the only Native scholarships that EXPLICITLY values cultural + community connection over pure academic stats. About 200 winners/yr; awards range from $500 to $5,000. They specifically look for kids who'll RETURN to their community after graduation, not just succeed personally. Strong community-engagement narrative can outweigh slightly lower stats — important for the high-percentage of rural Native applicants who don't have access to ACT prep or AP courses.
What you'll need
- Documented member of a US federally-recognized tribe (CDIB card or tribal enrollment certificate)
- OR descendant with documented Native ancestry (varies by program track — check eligibility)
- Current college student or HS senior accepted to an accredited 2-year or 4-year college
- Demonstrated academic + cultural / community engagement (Native community involvement, language learning, cultural participation)
- Two essays on Native heritage and goals
- Two recommendations
When to start
Application typically opens spring, closes May-June. Awards announced summer for the upcoming academic year. Some applicants apply BOTH to Catching the Dream AND American Indian College Fund (different organizations, different funding pools) — definitely stack them.
Watch out for
Catching the Dream sometimes requires you to write your essays in a way that demonstrates SPECIFIC tribal connection (tribal language phrases, ceremony participation, family lineage knowledge) — not just 'I'm Native American.' If your tribal connection is more recent in your family or you grew up off-reservation, focus on your reconnection journey rather than claiming traditional knowledge you don't have.