Financial aid is an essential part of Yale Divinity School’s core commitment to an inclusive community of leaders and scholars. As part of that commitment, YDS has established a $500,000 challenge fund for the creation of new endowed scholarships.
The fund will be used to match individual donations and ensure that scholarship recipients are able to pursue their education and call to serve the church and the world.
The size and nature of the match vary depending on gift level. The details are as follows:
Endowed Scholarship Fund
Donors may establish endowed scholarships with an initial gift of $50,000. Gifts of $50,000 to $99,999 are matched 1:2 with an additional $25,000 from the challenge fund. Gifts of $100,000 or more are matched 1:2 with an additional $50,000 from the challenge fund, up to a maximum of $100,000 match.
Full Tuition Endowed Scholarship Fund
Gifts of $500,000 are matched with an additional $100,000. Income from this endowed fund will cover full tuition for one student each year.
Comprehensive Endowed Scholarship Fund
Gifts of $850,000 are matched with an additional $100,000. Income from this endowed fund will cover full tuition, books, fees, and living expenses for one student each year.
Gifts can be paid over a period of five years and will be matched upon first payment.
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RELATED CONTENT: Watch video of Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes and other scholarship recipients discussing their YDS experience.
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Fully funding student financial need is critical to strengthening YDS’s capacity to train students for leadership in the academy, church, and society. Concern over financial aid is the No. 1 reason given by accepted applicants who choose not to attend YDS—many having received larger financial aid offers from other seminaries and divinity schools.
“Producing great leadership takes great resources,” said James ‘97 M.Div., Director of Major Gifts. “Our new challenge will amplify the impact of each gift and ensure its largest-possible impact on our students and the people and communities they will serve after YDS.”
To learn more, contact Ebert at James.ebert@yale.edu 203.432.8127, or visit divinity.yale.edu/giving.