Purpose

The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana, through the Frances Joseph Gaudet Scholarship Program, provides scholarships to advance the education of African American and BIPOC students attending Episcopal primary and secondary schools within the Diocese of Louisiana.

Schools submit applications on behalf of qualifying students. While schools are best positioned to understand their students’ circumstances and provide the necessary information, the Gaudet Fund awards scholarships to individual students based on its established eligibility and distribution criteria.

Recently, we have strengthened the scholarship process through an equity-centered framework that guides the distribution of available funds. Awards consider shared criteria, including household income, tuition burden, and a tiered approach to financial need.

Gaudet scholarships are intended to do more than provide general financial assistance. They are designed to meaningfully reduce tuition burden for families, with deeper support prioritized for students with the greatest demonstrated financial need and for whom the cost of tuition may create a significant barrier to attending or remaining in an Episcopal school.

This approach reflects our commitment to stewarding the Gaudet Fund with equity, care, and accountability—supporting access to education while advancing Beloved Community.

For questions or conversation, please contact:
Tamika Gerhardt
Gaudet Missioner for Congregational Vitality and Beloved Community
tgerhardt@edola.org

Scholarship Guidelines

Frances Joseph Gaudet Scholarships support the education of African American and BIPOC students attending Episcopal primary and secondary schools within the Diocese of Louisiana.

Schools submit applications on behalf of eligible students. The school’s role is to identify qualifying students, provide the required information, and help ensure that scholarship funds are applied appropriately to the student’s educational expenses. The Gaudet Fund does not provide a block grant to schools.

Individual scholarship awards are determined through an equity-centered framework that considers:

• Household income (up to $100,000)
• Tuition burden (minimum 15%)
• A tiered approach to prioritizing financial need
• The student’s remaining tuition balance after the school’s fullest available financial aid has been applied

The goal is to reduce the family’s remaining tuition burden to a more sustainable level, with priority given to students experiencing the greatest financial need.

Because available funds are limited, not every qualifying student will receive the same level of support. Awards are determined based on the established criteria and the funds available for the scholarship cycle.

Application Process

• Schools submit applications on behalf of eligible students using the official Gaudet Scholarship application.
• Applications must include the required student, household, financial aid, and tuition information necessary for the Gaudet Fund Committee to evaluate eligibility and determine awards.
• End-of-year reports are required prior to consideration for future scholarship awards and must be submitted using the designated report form.

For the 2026–2027 academic year, applications were due to the Gaudet Fund Committee no later than April 30, 2026.

Click here to complete the APPLICATION

Click here to submit the END-OF-YEAR REPORT

For Families

Families interested in Gaudet Scholarship support should contact their school’s admissions or financial aid office directly. Schools submit applications on behalf of eligible students and work with families to provide the information required for consideration.

Scholarship awards are determined by the Gaudet Fund Committee based on the established eligibility criteria, the student’s demonstrated financial need, and the funds available for the scholarship cycle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about the Gaudet Scholarship Program and our updated equity-centered model? We’ve answered common questions about eligibility, the application process, how individual scholarship awards are determined, and what this means for schools and families.

View Frequently Asked Questions