Social work funding in Ohio comes from multiple sources—your school, workforce agencies, and community foundations. This guide helps you locate opportunities that match your situation, degree level, and career goals.
Use the sections below to narrow your search before reviewing the full list. Each situation explains what type of funding may apply to you and what your next step should be.
Jump to:
Stipends | Scholarships | Grants | Fellowships
After reviewing the situation-based guide above, use this table to compare the available opportunities by audience, amount, deadline, service obligation, and source link. Opportunity names jump to the detailed cards below, while the type column jumps to each funding section.
| Opportunity | Provider | Best for | Amount | Deadline | Service obligation | Type / section | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advertising Club of Toledo Scholarship | Greater Toledo Community Foundation | students checking eligibility requirements, school-based aid | $1,000.00 | February 11 | Not listed | Scholarships | Source |
| Allen Lloyd, Sr. Memorial Scholarship | Greater Toledo Community Foundation | students checking eligibility requirements, school-based aid | $4,500.00 | February 11 | Not listed | Scholarships | Source |
| Amir and Shaheda Khan Scholarship for Islamic Law Students | Greater Toledo Community Foundation | doctoral students, school-based aid | $1,000.00 | February 11 | Not listed | Scholarships | Source |
| Amir and Shaheda Khan Scholarship for Islamic Students | Greater Toledo Community Foundation | BSW / undergraduate students, MSW / graduate students, school-based aid | $1,000.00 | February 11 | Not listed | Scholarships | Source |
| Buckeye Broadband TV One Scholarship for African American Students | Greater Toledo Community Foundation | students checking eligibility requirements, general funding search | $1,500.00 | February 11 | Not listed | Scholarships | Source |
| Child Welfare University Partnership Program – Employment Incentive | Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) and Ohio University | BSW / undergraduate students, MSW / graduate students, child welfare career path, school-based aid | $5,000 per year of participation, maximum $10,000 for 2 years or $5,000 for 1 year | Not listed | Yes — see opportunity | Stipends | Source |
| Child Welfare University Partnership Program – Graduate Paid Placement | Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) and Ohio University | MSW / graduate students, child welfare career path, school-based aid | $4,000 per semester, capped at $12,000 total | Not listed | Yes — see opportunity | Stipends | Source |
| Child Welfare University Partnership Program – Undergraduate Paid Placement | Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) and Ohio University | BSW / undergraduate students, child welfare career path, school-based aid | $3,000 per semester, capped at $6,000 total | Not listed | Yes — see opportunity | Stipends | Source |
| University Partnership Program in Child Welfare Scholarship | State of Ohio / Cleveland State University School of Social Work | BSW / undergraduate students, child welfare career path, school-based aid | $5,000 – $10,000 | Not listed | Yes — see opportunity | Stipends | Source |
| Yellow Ribbon Grant | Malone University | students checking eligibility requirements, school-based aid | Up to 100% of tuition and fees, plus $1,000 per year for books and monthly housing allowance | Not listed | Not listed | Grants | Source |
| Dean's Scholarship | Ashland University College of Arts & Sciences | BSW / undergraduate students, school-based aid | $1,500 | Not listed | Not listed | Scholarships | Source |
| Financial Aid and Scholarships | Case Western Reserve University – Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences | MSW / graduate students, school-based aid | $6M+ | Not listed | Not listed | Scholarships | Source |
| University Partnership Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Program Employment Incentive | Youngstown State University College of Social Work | BSW / undergraduate students, child welfare career path, school-based aid | $5,000 – $10,000 | Not listed | Yes — see opportunity | Stipends | Contact provider |
| Christian High School Scholarship & Homeschool Scholarship | Malone University | students checking eligibility requirements, school-based aid | $1,500 per year | Not listed | Not listed | Grants | Contact provider |
| Evangelical Friends Scholarship | Malone University | students checking eligibility requirements, school-based aid | $5,000 per year | Not listed | Not listed | Grants | Contact provider |
| Premier Partner School Grant | Malone University | students checking eligibility requirements, school-based aid | $5,000 per year | Not listed | Not listed | Grants | Contact provider |
| ScholarshipCONNECT Scholarships | The Dayton Foundation | students checking eligibility requirements, school-based aid | Not listed | Applications due beginning of March | Not listed | Scholarships | Source |
| Southern Ohio Behavioral Health Initiative | Ohio University College of Health Sciences and Professions | BSW / undergraduate students, behavioral health career path, school-based aid | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Stipends | Source |
| Leadership Fellows Program | Case Western Reserve University – Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences | MSW / graduate students, school-based aid | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Fellowships | Source |
| Fellowships and Partnerships | Case Western Reserve University – Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences | students checking eligibility requirements, school-based aid | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Scholarships | Source |
| Scholarship Opportunities | Case Western Reserve University – Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences | students checking eligibility requirements, school-based aid | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Scholarships | Source |
| Service Corps Partnership Scholarships | Case Western Reserve University – Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences | MSW / graduate students, school-based aid | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Scholarships | Source |
| Workforce Partnerships | Case Western Reserve University – Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences | MSW / graduate students, public service / workforce path, school-based aid | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Scholarships | Source |
| Social Work Scholarships | Ohio University Department of Social Work | students checking eligibility requirements, school-based aid | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Scholarships | Source |
| School of Social Work Scholarships | University of Akron | students checking eligibility requirements, school-based aid | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Scholarships | Source |
| Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program (BHWET) | Ohio State University College of Social Work | MSW / graduate students, behavioral health career path, public service / workforce path, school-based aid | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Stipends | Source |
Provider:
Greater Toledo Community Foundation
Best for:
students checking eligibility requirements, school-based aid
Type:
Scholarships, School-specific, school-based aid
Amount:
$1,000.00
Eligibility:
Graduating high school seniors and current college students residing in northwest Ohio pursuing a degree in communications, marketing, public relations or related field at an accredited post-secondary institution in Ohio or Michigan.
Deadline:
February 11
More information:
Provider:
Greater Toledo Community Foundation
Best for:
students checking eligibility requirements, school-based aid
Type:
Scholarships, School-specific, school-based aid
Amount:
$4,500.00
Eligibility:
Graduating high school seniors & current college students from Toledo Public Schools who are pursuing a degree at an accredited post-secondary institution.
Deadline:
February 11
More information:
Provider:
Greater Toledo Community Foundation
Best for:
doctoral students, school-based aid
Type:
Scholarships, School-specific, school-based aid
Amount:
$1,000.00
Eligibility:
College students of Islamic faith who are pursuing a full-time Juris Doctor (JD) degree at Case Western Reserve University, Michigan State University, The Ohio State University, University of Dayton, University of Michigan, or The University of Toledo.
Deadline:
February 11
More information:
Provider:
Greater Toledo Community Foundation
Best for:
BSW / undergraduate students, MSW / graduate students, school-based aid
Type:
Scholarships, School-specific, school-based aid
Amount:
$1,000.00
Eligibility:
College undergraduate and graduate students of Islamic faith who are pursuing a full-time degree in journalism, communications, broadcasting, media, film, public relations, business, accounting, finance, economics or related field.
Deadline:
February 11
More information:
Provider:
Greater Toledo Community Foundation
Best for:
students checking eligibility requirements, general funding search
Type:
Scholarships, Ohio-specific, general funding search
Amount:
$1,500.00
Eligibility:
Graduating high school seniors who are black or African American and reside in Buckeye Broadband service area pursuing a degree at an accredited post-secondary institution.
Deadline:
February 11
More information:
Provider:
Ashland University College of Arts & Sciences
Best for:
BSW / undergraduate students, school-based aid
Type:
Scholarships, School-specific, school-based aid
Amount:
$1,500
Eligibility:
New first-time and transfer students enrolled in a major within the College of Arts & Sciences
More information:
Provider:
The Dayton Foundation
Best for:
students checking eligibility requirements, school-based aid
Type:
Scholarships, School-specific, school-based aid
Eligibility:
Graduating high school seniors and current college students from the Greater Dayton region of Ohio (Montgomery, Miami, Greene, Darke, Preble and northern Warren counties)
Deadline:
Applications due beginning of March
More information:
Provider:
Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) and Ohio University
Best for:
BSW / undergraduate students, MSW / graduate students, child welfare career path, school-based aid
Type:
Stipends, School-specific, child welfare career path, school-based aid
Amount:
$5,000 per year of participation, maximum $10,000 for 2 years or $5,000 for 1 year
Eligibility:
Social work graduates (BSW or MSW) who completed the UPP program and are hired as caseworkers or supervisors in one of Ohio's 85 Public Children Service Agencies
Service obligation:
Must be hired as a public children service agency caseworker or supervisor within 180 days after graduation and remain employed at an Ohio Public Children Service Agency for each year of participation. If employment is terminated before the duration of commitment, student must repay prorated amount of employment incentive minus time employed.
More information:
Provider:
Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) and Ohio University
Best for:
MSW / graduate students, child welfare career path, school-based aid
Type:
Stipends, School-specific, child welfare career path, school-based aid
Amount:
$4,000 per semester, capped at $12,000 total
Eligibility:
Master of Social Work students enrolled in MSW degree program who apply and are accepted into the UPP program
Service obligation:
Students must complete field placement in a public children service agency and work as a caseworker or supervisor within 180 days after graduation
More information:
Provider:
Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) and Ohio University
Best for:
BSW / undergraduate students, child welfare career path, school-based aid
Type:
Stipends, School-specific, child welfare career path, school-based aid
Amount:
$3,000 per semester, capped at $6,000 total
Eligibility:
Undergraduate social work students enrolled in Bachelor of Social Work degree program who apply and are accepted into the UPP program
Service obligation:
Students must complete field placement in a public children service agency and work as a caseworker or supervisor within 180 days after graduation
More information:
Provider:
Ohio University College of Health Sciences and Professions
Best for:
BSW / undergraduate students, behavioral health career path, school-based aid
Type:
Stipends, School-specific, behavioral health career path, school-based aid
Eligibility:
Undergraduate and graduate social work students, high school students
More information:
Provider:
Malone University
Best for:
students checking eligibility requirements, school-based aid
Type:
Grants, School-specific, school-based aid
Amount:
Up to 100% of tuition and fees, plus $1,000 per year for books and monthly housing allowance
Eligibility:
U.S. armed forces members who served since 9/11
More information:
Provider:
Malone University
Best for:
students checking eligibility requirements, school-based aid
Type:
Grants, School-specific, school-based aid
Amount:
$1,500 per year
Eligibility:
Graduates from Christian high schools or homeschooled students
Provider:
Malone University
Best for:
students checking eligibility requirements, school-based aid
Type:
Grants, School-specific, school-based aid
Amount:
$5,000 per year
Eligibility:
Incoming first-time freshmen attending Evangelical Friends churches
Provider:
Malone University
Best for:
students checking eligibility requirements, school-based aid
Type:
Grants, School-specific, school-based aid
Amount:
$5,000 per year
Eligibility:
Graduates from Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, Lake Center Christian School, Lutheran High School East, or Lutheran High School West
Finding funding often means checking multiple sources. This guide brings together opportunities from your school’s financial aid office, partner agencies, workforce programs, and community foundations—but the landscape changes. Your next step is to match opportunities to your specific situation.
Start with your school and degree level. Most of these opportunities are school-specific, so begin by reviewing funding available through your institution’s financial aid office or social work program. Then check whether each opportunity supports your degree level: undergraduate (BSW), graduate (MSW), or doctoral study. Some awards apply across multiple levels, while others target a specific stage of your education.
Consider career pathways and service obligations. Several opportunities are tied to workforce needs or specific career tracks—such as child welfare, behavioral health, or public service roles. Before you apply, read whether the award includes a service obligation or commitment to work in a particular setting or region. Service obligations affect your post-graduation plans and should factor into your decision.
Verify details before applying. Award amounts and deadlines change yearly. Use the source links provided to confirm current funding levels, application deadlines, and eligibility rules. If a page is unclear or doesn’t answer your questions, contact the provider directly—they can clarify what they’re looking for and whether you qualify.
Layer this with your other funding sources. This resource works best alongside FAFSA completion, your school’s institutional aid, and conversations with your program advisor or financial aid office. Your advisor can also help you prioritize applications based on timing and your financial need.
Funding details can change. Use the source links to confirm current award amounts, deadlines, eligibility rules, and service obligations before applying.
