THE PIERRE AND TANA MATISSE SCHOLARSHIP

The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation is committed to supporting people from communities who directly experience the consequences of injustice and discrimination every day of their lives. Developed in partnership with UNCF, The Pierre and Tana Matisse Scholarship will provide need-based scholarships to Black, Latinx, and Indigenous undergraduate students in New York City attending any accredited 4-year institution or 2-year community college. All majors are welcome! Award funds will be disbursed in the 2022-2023 academic year.

Eligibility Requirements
Be Black, Latinx, or Indigenous.
NEW Be a US citizen, permanent US resident, an undocumented student, or an undocumented student with DACA status.
Be a permanent resident of one of the five boroughs of New York City: Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, or Staten Island. See the list of eligible NYC ZIP codes on the right side of this page.
Applicants who are permanent residents of New York City and attend college outside of NYC may apply if their permanent home address is in NYC.
Have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
Be currently classified as a graduating high school senior, or college freshman, sophomore, or junior. Current first-semester college seniors who are graduating in December 2022 may also apply.
Will be enrolled as a full-time freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior at any accredited US 4-year institution or 2-year community college in the 2022-2023 academic year.
Have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and have a demonstrated unmet financial need, as verified by the applicant’s institution.
NOTE Undocumented students and students with DACA status will be exempt from Eligibility Requirement #7.

Application Requirements
An official or unofficial current academic transcript.
A one-page essay (see application for details).
One letter of recommendation written by a non-relative.
Indigenous applicants must submit verification of tribal affiliation with their application.
Letter of Recommendation
Applicants must log in to their student account and select “Invite Reference” on the Application Status page. Applicants should also email the How to Submit a Letter of Recommendation document (download link under Supporting Documents) to their reference for detailed instructions. Emailed letters of recommendation will not be accepted at any time.