Tommy Tranchin Award Application Guide 2026–2027: Requirements & Deadline (USA)

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Overview & Value

The Tommy Tranchin Award is administered by The Dallas Foundation to support North Texas students with physical, emotional, or intellectual disabilities who have shown promise or passion in a chosen field of interest. It was established by Tommy’s family specifically to recognize his creativity and adventurous spirit, and to help other young people with disabilities develop their own talents and explore new opportunities. Awards run up to $3,000 annually.

Differentiating fact: unlike almost every other entry in this directory, the Tommy Tranchin Award is explicitly NOT intended to offset the cost of a college or university degree. Instead, it funds creative projects, performances, training activities, and participation in workshops, seminars, and competitions, including travel and equipment tied to those activities. Several general scholarship listings also describe eligibility as “high school students,” but the Foundation’s own eligibility language covers grades 8 through 12, meaning a middle school 8th grader can qualify — not just high schoolers. The application window is also unusually long: it opens February 1 and stays open through December 31, making it one of the longest continuous application windows in this directory rather than a single fixed deadline.

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Nationality & Residency Requirements

The Tommy Tranchin Award application doesn’t publish a US citizen requirement. Instead, eligibility depends on geographic residency: applicants must be a resident of North Texas. There’s no stated visa-status or citizenship clause — the deciding factor is North Texas residency combined with grade level and disability status.

Academic & GPA Eligibility Requirements

There is no Tommy Tranchin Award GPA requirement. This isn’t an academic merit scholarship — eligibility and selection are based on disability status, grade level, and the strength of the proposed activity or project, not grades or class rank.

Key eligibility criteria:

• Applicant must be a student in North Texas in grade level 8–12.
• Applicant must have a physical, emotional, or intellectual disability.
• Applicant must want to participate in an activity, program, or project that will help strengthen their skills in their particular area of interest — creative proposals for new work are specifically encouraged.
• If the applicant proposes to attend a specific institution or program, confirmation of the student’s enrollment will be required as part of the award process.
• After completing the proposed activity, recipients are required to submit a final report accounting for how the award funds were spent — a post-award accountability step that isn’t typical of standard scholarships.

Application Materials Needed

Before the application window closes, gather the following:

1. Completed online application, submitted through The Dallas Foundation’s grant portal (via grantinterface.com).
2. A proposed activity, program, or project description, explaining how it will strengthen your skills in your area of interest — new, creative proposals are especially encouraged.
3. Documentation of your disability status, as required by the Foundation.
4. Proof of North Texas residency and current grade level (8–12).
5. Enrollment confirmation, if your proposal involves attending a specific institution or program.
6. A plan for any requested travel, equipment, or related expense funding, since these can be included in your proposal alongside the core activity costs.

Step-by-Step How to Apply

1. Confirm your eligibility — North Texas residency, grade 8 through 12, and a physical, emotional, or intellectual disability.
2. Develop your activity or project proposal, focusing on how it will strengthen your skills in your particular field of interest. New, creative work is specifically encouraged over generic proposals.
3. Create your account through The Dallas Foundation’s online grant portal at grantinterface.com.
4. Complete and submit your application any time within the open window — typically February 1 through December 31 — rather than waiting for a single hard deadline.
5. If your proposal involves a specific institution or program, be prepared to provide confirmation of your enrollment once an award is under consideration.
6. If awarded, use the funds for your proposed activity, project, training, or related travel and equipment.
7. Submit your required final report after completing your proposed activity, detailing how the award funds were spent.

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Frequently Asked Questions

For more local grants, merit awards, and regional funding across all 50 states, check out our master USA State Scholarships Directory.

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