Grants/Scholarships

All of our center grants and scholarship applications are closed for the summer. Furthermore, the information and resources below is subject to change as we transition and plan for the upcoming academic year. Please revist our website during the Fall Quarter 2025 for updates.

Center Grants 

Questions about our grants and eligibility can be directed to our center email : undocumented@ucdavis.edu .

Opportunity Grant

The Opportunity Grant helps offset unexpected expenses through basic needs and USCIS filing fee support up to $1,500/year - based on financial aid eligibility. The application will open and close quarterly until funds are depleted for the academic year. Please email us at undocumented@ucdavis.edu with questions regarding additional financial assistance or other opportunities.

We encourage UC Davis California Dream Act Application students enrolled in the current academic period (at least 6 credits/units) and UC Davis students with an AB540 verification and CA Dream Act Application on file with the UC Davis Financial Aid Office. If this is your first time submitting an application, an intake meeting will be needed. Please allow up to 5 business days for us to process your application; we will contact you with any additional steps. 

Professional Development Grant

This grant is intended for scholars to use to offset the cost of conference attendance, professional development opportunities, and other academic or experiential learning opportunities requiring travel, conference fees, membership fees, etc. for eligible students. 
Examples of professional development opportunities

  • Annual membership fee connected to your career interests
  • Annual membership tool that helps your career interests (zoom, canva pro, etc.)
  • Conference attendance connected to your career interests
  • Travel costs for a conference, workshop, etc.
  • Coaching or Mentorship Program

Examples of personal development opportunities

  • Convening or workshop attendance connected to your personal goals
  • Retreat attendance connected to something you are personally working on
  • Coaching or Mentorship Program
  • Book or tools helpful to bettering your well-being (The Nap Ministries Rest Deck, Beyond survival book, etc.)
  • Program connected to things that ground you or help you feel whole 

Who is eligible to apply for the grant?

  • Currently enrolled in the current academic quarter as an undergraduate/post-bacc graduate or graduate/professional school UC Davis student with an AB540 verification and CA Dream Act Application on file with the UC Davis Financial Aid Office
  • Must be enrolled in at least 12 credits/units or full-time (in accordance with student's professional program)
  • You must have 2.5 cumulative GPA or higher (Note: If your GPA is lower than the GPA listed previously you will automatically be ineligible for this grant. Medical school students are exempt.)

Requirements if Awarded

Within 3 weeks of your engagement, you will be required to submit documentation of how your grant money was used. This can be in the form of a video, slideshow, vlog/blog,  journal entries, etc. Receipts from purchases where you used the grant money will also be required to be submitted.

Center Scholarships

Questions about our scholarships and eligibility can be directed to our center email: undocumented@ucdavis.edu.

All scholarship for Spring Quarter 2025 will close on May 5, 2025. Applicants will be notified of a decision the week of May 19, 2025.

Dragonfly Leadership Award

This is a one-time opportunity for undergraduate/post-baccalaureate UC Davis students to be awarded up to $1,500 – based on financial aid eligibility – to honor community service or leadership experience.  

Amount Awarded: Six to eight $1,500 awards per quarter (based on student's financial aid eligibility) 

Eligibility Update: The Dragonfly Leadership Award will be a one-time award.

If you previously won the Dragonfly Leadership Award in the 2023-2024 Academic Year, you are not eligible to apply for this scholarship. If you won this scholarship prior to the 23-24 Academic Year, you may still apply, however, priority consideration will be given to new scholarship applicants who have never been awarded the Dragonfly Leadership Award scholarship.

Decisions made by the Undocumented Student Resource Center Scholarship Committee composed of UC Davis graduate students, alumni, campus and community partners. 

Eligibility Requirements to Apply:

  • Enrolled in the current academic quarter as a UC Davis student with an AB540 verification and CA Dream Act Application on file with the UC Davis Financial Aid Office
  • Have demonstrated financial need (based on Financial Aid)
  • Demonstrate leadership experience and/or stellar community service.  
  • Are a undergraduate or post-baccalaureate student
  • Currently enrolled full-time in classes at UC Davis (12 units minimum)

Application Checklist: 

  • Resume (1-page front and back max)
  • Short Written Statements  

UndocuScholar Award

This is a one-time opportunity for undergraduate/post-baccalaureate UC Davis students to be awarded up to $1,500 to honor stellar academic performance.  

Amount Awarded: Six to eight $1,500 awards per quarter (based on student's financial aid eligibility)

Eligibility Update: The UndocuScholar Award will be a one-time award.

If you previously won the UndocuScholar Award in the 2023-2024 Academic Year, you are not eligible to apply for this scholarship. If you won this scholarship prior to the 23-24 Academic Year, you may still apply, however, priority consideration will be given to new scholarship applicants who have never been awarded UndocuScholar Award scholarship.

Decisions made by the Undocumented Student Resource Center Scholarship Committee composed of UC Davis graduate students, alumni, campus and community partners. 

Eligibility Requirements to Apply:

  • Enrolled in the current academic quarter as a UC Davis student with an AB540 verification and CA Dream Act Application on file with the UC Davis Financial Aid Office
  • Must have 2.5 cumulative UC Davis GPA or higher 
  • Currently enrolled full-time in classes at UC Davis (12 units minimum)

Application materials:

  • Transcript (Include a copy of your unofficial transcript)
  • Short Written Statements  

Graduate/Professional School Student Support Award 

NOTE: To fill out the application you must use your UC Davis student email. 

The Graduate/Professional School Student Support Award is a one-time opportunity for graduate/professional school UC Davis students to be awarded up to $4,000 – based on financial aid eligibility – for academic excellence and/or stellar leadership/community service.  

Eligibility Update: The Graduate/Professional School Student Support Award will be a one-time award.

If you previously won the Graduate/Professional School Student Support Award in the 2023-2024 Academic Year, you are not eligible to apply for this scholarship. If you won this scholarship prior to the 23-24 Academic Year, you may still apply, however, priority consideration will be given to new scholarship applicants who have never been awarded Graduate/Professional School Student Support Award scholarship.

Decisions made by the Undocumented Student Resource Center Scholarship Committee composed of UC Davis graduate students, alumni, campus and community partners. 

Please note, that if awarded, the aid amount and disbursement date will depend on the financial aid department of your graduate/professional school
 

Eligibility Requirements to Apply:

  • Enrolled in the current academic quarter as an graduate/professional school UC Davis student with AB540 verification and CA Dream Act Application on file with the UC Davis Financial Aid Office
  • Have demonstrated financial need
  • Enrolled "full time" as dictated by your program
  • Demonstrate academic excellence, and/or leadership experience and/or stellar community service.  
  • 2.5 cumulative UCD Davis GPA or higher. If this is your first quarter/semester of your program at UC Davis, you will not be eligible to apply at this time. However, we highly encourage you to apply once you complete your first semester/quarter and have a UCD GPA. [Medical students are exempt from GPA requirement - but must be in good academic standing]

Application Materials: 

  • Resume or CV
  • Short Written Statements

*Other Resources Outside of Our Center*

California Dream Act Application (CADAA)

The California Dream Act Application allows students interested in attending eligible California Colleges, Universities, and Career Education Programs to apply for state financial aid. This application is unrelated to the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and the previously proposed national DREAM Act Legislations. This application is free. The information provided on your California Dream Act Application is used to calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is used by UC Davis to determine your eligibility for financial aid. You can apply for financial aid before you apply for admissions. For more information about CADAA review the information on the UC Davis Financial Aid Office website: https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/undergraduate/apply  and or the California Student Aid Commissions website at https://dream.csac.ca.gov/

Immigrants Rising Fellowships & Scholarships

Immigrants Rising (formerly E4FC) is a renowned non-profit located in the Bay Area. Driven by and for immigrants, they aim to support students in achieving their educational and career goals. Accompanying their Scholarship Application Guide and Scholarship Essay Tool, they have compiled lists of fellowships and scholarships that do not require proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residence status in the United States.

Yolo County Short Term Emergency Aid Committee

Food, utility, rental, and job readiness help for qualified individuals living in Yolo County with incomes at or below the federal poverty level found at the STEAC website.