DC Futures Financial Assistance Program

Please note: As of Friday February 23, 2024, applications are NO LONGER being accepted for 2023-2024 DC Futures Emergency Grants.  The funding Trinity received from OSSE/DC Futures for 2023-2024 grants has been exhausted, and no funding remains.

The DC Futures Program (DC Futures) was created in 2021 under the Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s (OSSE) authority to administer scholarships, financial assistance and direct payments aimed at expanding access to higher education for residents of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law 24-159; D.C. Official Code § 38-2602(b)(29A)) for students accepted and enrolled in one of three universities partnering with DC Futures. Scholarships and other financial assistance under DC Futures are supported wholly through the US Department of Treasury’s Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund established under the American Rescue Plan Act.

General Program Guidelines

All DC Futures Program students that remain enrolled and in good standing with the DC Futures Program are eligible to apply for emergency funds and / or a previous years’ unpaid balance payment in the fiscal year in which they are participating.

Emergency Fund

Emergency funds can be applied toward unexpected emergency expenses that would impact a DC Futures Program student’s ability to remain enrolled at the university (i.e., food, housing, child care, transportation, health, safety and security, and learning resources).

  • The emergency funds are capped at $2,000 annually, regardless of the DC Futures student’s program type (two- or four-year degree), as long as funds are available.  Funding for Academic Year 2023 – 20234 (FY24) is available through October 1, 2023 through May 10, 2024
  • DC Futures students must remain in good standing with the DC Futures Program to submit an emergency fund request and must be enrolled at Trinity Washington University at the time of such request.
  • Applicants are required to submit documents to support and explain their need.
  • Applicants will be required to attest to the fact that the requests being made are true, necessary and qualify as events that would force them to leave school if they did not have the additional funds.
  • Applicants will be required to attest to the fact that they are meeting with their DC Futures (or approved alternative) coaching provider at least once a month.
  • Applicants will be required to maintain supporting documentation (records and receipts) of the expense in the case of an audit request.

Previous Years’ Unpaid Balance Payment

These funds are intended to enable DC Futures students to access transcripts and credits that can be applied to their current program.

  • The previous years’ unpaid balance is capped at $1,500 and is only available one time, as long as funds are available.
  • DC Futures students must remain in good standing with the DC Futures Program to submit a previous years’ unpaid balance request and be enrolled at Trinity Washington University at the time of such request.
  • The total amount can be applied across multiple institutions by the DC Futures student.
  • Applicants are required to submit documents demonstrating this need.
  • Applicants will be required to maintain supporting documentation (records and receipts) of the expense in the case of an audit request.

Eligibility Requirements

  • DC Futures Program defines eligibility by fiscal year below, however, DC Futures participants may not be able to receive emergency funds or previous years’ unpaid balance payment if they are not enrolled as a DC Futures student at Trinity Washington University at the time of their emergency fund request or previous years’ unpaid balance request.
  • DC Futures participants must also attest that they are in good standing with the DC Futures Program upon submission of an emergency fund request or prior year’s unpaid balance request to the university partner.
  • Good standing refers to a student that has been accepted into the DC Futures Program and is fully participating in the coaching portion of DC Futures by meeting with their DC Futures (or approved alternative) coaching provider at least once a month.

Application and Award Process

Trinity does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, or marital status in any of its policies, procedures, or practices.