THE CHALLENGE

Notice Buys Time. It Does Not Buy Tuition.

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act requires employers with 100 or more employees to give at least 60 calendar days of advance written notice before a plant closing or a mass layoff affecting 50 or more employees at a single site. Notice goes to affected workers, to the state dislocated worker unit, and to the local chief elected official.

Advance warning exists so workers and their families have transition time to adjust, to seek other jobs, and where necessary to enter skill training or retraining that allows them to compete in the job market.

A transition scholarship is the piece that converts a compliance obligation into a funded commitment.

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Nearly six months is the average time an unemployed worker now spends looking for a job. Roughly one in four unemployed people has been searching for at least 27 weeks. That matters for your former employees for a practical reason: unemployment benefits in most states run out around the six-month mark. The people who most need retraining are often the people who can least afford it by the time they realize they need it.

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Why Companies Create Transition Scholarships

When workforce reductions are unavoidable, a transition scholarship gives your company a meaningful way to support affected employees while creating lasting impact.

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Support Employees

Help affected employees pursue education and retraining.

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Protect Your Reputation

Demonstrate your commitment during a difficult transition.

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Corporate Social Responsibility

Invest in the people and communities affected.

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Potential Tax Advantages

Certain program structures may offer tax advantages.

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Your Former Employees Are Job Searching in a Low-Hire Market

The headline unemployment rate looks stable. The experience of an individual job seeker does not match it.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics1, employers are separating workers at a steady clip and hiring cautiously at the same time.

The result is a longer, harder search once someone loses a role.

1.8M

layoffs in a single month (June 2026)

24.9

Average duration of unemployment in weeks

25.5%

share of unemployed works jobless 27+ weeks

1.7M

people experiencing permanent job loss
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The Scholarship America Difference

As the nation's largest scholarship administrator, we're here to help you every step of the way.

Experience & Expertise

Founded in 1958, Scholarship America is a globally trusted 501(c)(3) nonprofit, rated Four Stars by Charity Navigator and certified Platinum by Candid.

A True Partner

Every Scholarship America program has a dedicated Program Manager to coordinate the scholarship and handle administration and customer service.

Connecting to Students

Our Marketing Services team provides tailored solutions to ensure that the students you want to reach are aware of your scholarship.

Continued Optimization

Your Program Manager provides detailed reporting after each program cycle, celebrating wins and identifying ways to make a bigger impact.

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How It Works

Scholarship America makes launching and managing corporate scholarships easy, ensuring compliance, brand alignment, and measurable impact.

Step 1

Define Your Strategy

We help shape a scholarship program that supports employees, builds your talent pipeline, or benefits your community.

Step 2

Design & Launch Your Program

We handle setup, applications, and promotional materials to ensure a smooth, high-visibility launch.

Step 3

Manage Applications & Select Recipients

We oversee submissions, verify eligibility, and select recipients — all compliant and unbiased.

Step 4

Provide Ongoing Support & Impact Reporting

We manage renewals, student support, and provide impact reports that show your scholarship’s value.

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Efficient, impactful scholarship management

  • Full service onboarding. Your Senior Scholarship Advisor works to understand your industry, purpose and goals, ensuring your program makes the largest impact.

  • Fully customized scholarship programs. Custom design and implementation, including a branded landing page.

  • Comprehensive scholarship administration. We take care of the admin tasks, from application to evaluation to disbursement, so you can focus on the students, not the rules and regulations.

- Other DIY Solutions

Wasted time and energy navigating complex scholarships

  • Self service onboarding. You are required to set up your scholarship—including funding, award criteria and the application process—manually.

  • Cookie-cutter scholarship programs. Usually built with templates that have limited customization options, making it difficult to stand out and reach the right audience.

  • No assistance with scholarship administration. You may need to navigate financial aid rules and nonprofit regulations on your own.

How it works

The process, regulations and administration of a scholarship can be complex. Working with Scholarship America makes it simple. Our expertise means you don't have to figure it all out on your own.

Our Scholarship Design team is ready to work with you, whether you're seeking to help students in your hometown or around the globe. Here's how a collaboration with Scholarship America comes together.

Step 1

Define Your Strategy

We collaborate with you to shape a scholarship program aligned with your goals, whether you're supporting employees, their children, or a specific community or field of study.

Step 2

Design & Launch Your Program

Our experts handle the setup from start to finish, including custom applications, branded materials, and promotional support to ensure a smooth launch.

Step 3

Manage Applications & Select Recipients

We manage the full application cycle, from intake and eligibility screening to recipient selection and award notifications, providing hands-on support every step of the way.

Step 4

Provide Ongoing Support & Impact Reporting

We provide ongoing support through award renewals, student assistance, and program updates. You’ll also receive detailed reports that highlight key metrics and outcomes as we work to continuously strengthen your program.

1The data referenced on this page are cited from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.