By the Scholarship editorial desk · Last updated 25 June 2026 · Verified against official program sources · 4 min read
The Macy’s Mission Every One scholarship, administered by UNCF, supports Black students attending four-year Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Once known as the Macy’s Brighter Futures Scholarship, it is a need-based award aimed at students committed to creating brighter futures for others.
Core eligibility and award details
Recipients receive up to $5,000 toward the coming academic year, awarded on the basis of financial need. The number of awards has run from roughly 115 to 180 or more across cycles. Funds are need-based and one-time, and the application is handled through UNCF’s scholarship platform rather than Macy’s directly.
| Key detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Award | Up to $5,000 |
| Run by | UNCF (United Negro College Fund) |
| Who applies | Black or African American undergraduates |
| Schools | Accredited four-year HBCUs |
| GPA | 2.5 minimum, full-time enrolment |
| Need | FAFSA with demonstrated unmet need |
The award was previously known as the Macy’s Brighter Futures Scholarship and is delivered through UNCF in partnership with Macy’s. Recent cycles have funded between roughly 115 and 180 students at accredited four-year HBCUs, each receiving up to $5,000 toward the coming year. Awards are need-based, decided on the unmet financial need your institution reports to UNCF after you file the FAFSA.
Deadlines and timeline
The application generally opens in late spring and closes in early July; recent cycles closed around 7 to 8 July. As schedules shift each year, confirm the current deadline on the UNCF site. Decisions follow over the summer ahead of the fall term.
| Stage | When |
|---|---|
| Application opens | Late spring (around May) |
| Deadline | Early July (e.g. 7 to 8 July) |
| Selection | Over summer |
| Funds applied | Fall term |
How to apply, step by step
- Confirm you are a Black or African American student enrolled full time at a four-year HBCU.
- Complete the FAFSA so your unmet need can be reported by your institution.
- Create or log in to your UNCF account and open the scholarship application.
- Write the short activities statement and the required essays on your goals and impact.
- Submit your transcript and application before the July deadline.
Required documents
- UNCF account and application
- Completed FAFSA (demonstrated unmet need)
- Current transcript
- Short activities statement (75 to 150 words) and essays (300 to 500 words each)
Selection criteria and renewal conditions
Selection weighs financial need alongside your essays on how you will create brighter futures and make a positive impact in your community. The award is not renewable, so reapply in future cycles if you remain eligible. Because UNCF administers it, the process and eligibility are clearly defined and verifiable.
The essays ask how you will create brighter futures for others and make a positive impact in your community, so write them around concrete goals and the specific people you want to help. File the FAFSA early so your demonstrated need is on record with your school, and reapply in future cycles since the award is one-time. Keep a copy of your essays, because the prompts recur across cycles and a strong response can be refined and reused rather than rewritten from scratch. If you are unsure whether your school counts as an accredited four-year HBCU for the award, confirm it on the UNCF eligibility list before you invest time in the essays.
Official source and application link
Always apply through the official source below and confirm current-cycle dates there before you submit.
Supporting trust and usability notes
UNCF is a long-established, reputable administrator, which makes this a low-risk award for HBCU students. It sits well alongside other equity-focused and need-based programs such as the Coca-Cola First Generation scholarship, the Dell scholarship, and the Pedro Zamora Young Leaders scholarship for student activists.
