Live Your Dream Awards

The Live Your Dream Awards are educational grants from Soroptimist International of Lincoln that help women who are primary financial supporters of their families improve their education, skills, and job prospects by covering costs such as tuition, books, childcare, and transportation. Applicants must be enrolled in vocational training or an undergraduate program and demonstrate financial need, with awards progressing from local (around $1,000) to regional ($3,000-$5,000) and potentially major international awards (up to $10,000, with finalists potentially reaching $16,000 total). 

Who is eligible?

• Women who are the primary financial support for themselves and dependents (children, spouse, siblings, parents).
• Those with financial need.
• Enrolled in or accepted to a vocational/skills training or undergraduate degree program.
• Not a Soroptimist member, employee, or immediate family of either, and not a previous recipient.

How much can you receive?

• Local: Around $1,000 on average, with first-place winners advancing.
• Regional: $3,000 or $5,000 for first-place winners from local clubs.
• International: Finalists can receive up to $10,000; some reach up to $16,000 in total from all levels. 

How to apply

• Applications are submitted through this portal to local Soroptimist clubs during an annual window, typically August 1 – November 15.
• You’ll need to provide references as part of the application.

What the funds can be used for

• Tuition, books, and course fees.
• Childcare and transportation.
• Other costs are directly related to education or job training.