Program Overview
Who is eligible to apply?
Who is eligible to apply?
To be eligible for this award, you must:
Be employed at a KFC restaurant participating in the KFC Foundation’s 2025 Franchise Donation Program. Restaurant general managers, assistant managers, shift supervisors, and team members may apply.
All KFC Corporate-owned restaurants participate in the KFC Foundation's Franchise Donation Program. Most franchise-owned restaurants participate, but not all of them do. If your restaurant pops up when you type your restaurant address in the employment information section of the application, you are eligible to apply. If your restaurant does not appear, please follow the instructions on that page to find out whether or not your store is participating in the Franchise Donation Program.
Be a high school senior (graduating spring/summer 2025), high school graduate or equivalent (regardless of when you graduated), a current undergraduate or graduate student, or a trade/ vocational school student. Students of any age may apply.
Have a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale to be eligible for a $2,500 or a $5,000 scholarship. Have a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale to be eligible for a $10,000 or a $20,000 scholarship.
Enroll either full-time or part-time in the 2025 fall term at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or trade/vocational school.
Be employed at a participating KFC Restaurant at the time scholarship recipients are selected in April 2025.
Note: Jan. 10 – Feb. 17 is the only Scholarship application period in 2025.
When is the application deadline?
When is the application deadline?
February 17, 2025
What is the program timeline?
What is the program timeline?
Application Open: January 10, 2025
Application Deadline: February 17, 2025
All applicants notified of selection results: April 2025
Scholarship acceptance deadline: May 4, 2025
Scholarship disbursed: June 2025
Deadlines are firm and will not be extended.
Is this award renewable?
Is this award renewable?
No, but recipients may reapply for funds each year, given they continue to meet the eligibility criteria.
Who administers this program?
Who administers this program?
To ensure complete impartiality in the selection of recipients and to maintain a high level of professionalism and security, the program is administered by Kaleidoscope Group, a company that specializes in designing, administering, and hosting scholarship and grant programs on a cloud-based management platform.
Award Details
What are the selection criteria?
What are the selection criteria?
An independent selection committee will evaluate all complete, submitted applications and select recipients considering:
Timeliness (all application requirements completed by the deadline)
Completeness of the application
Adherence to all eligibility criteria
Response to essay prompt, in your choice of video or written format. The video and written essays will be graded on how well you answer the prompt provided. Winners will be selected based on their video or written essay score.
What are the details of the award?
What are the details of the award?
Scholarship funds may be used at any accredited two- or four-year college, university, or trade/vocational school in the United States.
Scholarship funds are to be applied towards tuition, required fees, and textbooks from the university bookstore for the 2025-2026 academic year.
If funds from the KFC Foundation Scholarship need to be applied towards on campus housing and meal plans, the recipient is required by law to complete a 1099 tax form and claim the funds used as income.
Are there other awards available?
Are there other awards available?
The KFC Foundation will also award the Janet L. Kuhn Scholarship, which provides an opportunity for one Scholarship recipient per year to DOUBLE their $2,500 or $5,000 scholarship award. That means the Janet L. Kuhn Scholarship winner would receive either $5,000 or $10,000 total, including their scholarship award! To be considered for this award, applicants must complete an additional essay during the scholarship application process.
What are my responsibilities if I am chosen as a recipient?
What are my responsibilities if I am chosen as a recipient?
You must enroll as a full-time or part-time student for the Fall 2025 semester at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or trade/vocational school, notify Kaleidoscope should your payment not come through, and continue the entire academic year without interruption unless approved by scholarship sponsor
When are funds issues?
When are funds issues?
Scholarship disbursements will be issued in June 2025.
How do I change my college choice?
How do I change my college choice?
Navigate to app.mykaleidoscope.com/login and login using your email and password. Once you have entered your profile, scroll down the KFC Scholarship application. Select the application and navigate to the education tab to change your selection. Changes can only be made prior to submission. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to make changes after submission
Application Details
Which school should I list on the application if I have not made a final decision?
Which school should I list on the application if I have not made a final decision?
You should list your first-choice school on the application. You can change your college choice any time prior to submission. If selected as a scholarship recipient, you will be asked to confirm your final school choice during the scholarship acceptance period.
What are the differences between Official and Unofficial Transcripts?
What are the differences between Official and Unofficial Transcripts?
Official transcripts must be obtained through your high school administration office or your college registrar office. Transcripts are normally printed on official letterhead and/or state that they are official. Transcripts may contain or require a signature.
Unofficial transcripts may be accessed through your school’s online student portal. These pages must still be converted to one of the acceptable file formats. Unofficial transcripts must contain your name.
What documentation is required for this application?
What documentation is required for this application?
Short video or written essay
Headshot photo
Either a:
High school transcript
GED Certificate (if applicable) or
College/University Transcript, if you've completed at least one semester of college. You may upload either an official or unofficial transcript. Your full name, school name, and contact information must be visible on any transcript.
Where and when should I send my required documents?
Where and when should I send my required documents?
All required documents must be uploaded to your online application by the application deadline. If you do not follow the upload instructions exactly, your application may remain incomplete. Documents that meet the criteria required for this application and are uploaded by the deadline will be processed and considered on time.