KFM Making A Difference For Autism Scholarship

KFM Making A Difference is an organization focused on spreading disability awareness and giving scholarships to students with autism to pursue a post-secondary education. Founded in 2009 by CEO and President Kerry Magro, the organization hopes to make a difference in the lives of all of those with special needs.

Want to support Kerry Magro’s Scholarship Program? Kerry has helped provide 150 scholarships for students with autism over the past 11 years. Pay it forward by supporting the program and joining our community online.

Eligibility

All high school students with autism attending a post-secondary program in the 2026 to 2027 academic year may apply. In addition, all current college students with autism who will be attending a post-secondary program during the 2026–2027 academic year are also eligible. This scholarship has no geographic restrictions and is open to students in the U.S. and internationally. Graduate and doctoral students are also welcome to apply, provided they are enrolled during the 2026–2027 academic year.

Applicants who were selected in a previous year or who were not selected may reapply, as long as they are still attending a post-secondary program during the 2026–2027 academic year. All reapplications must include a new, original application and essay.

Scholarship Award

The winning applicant will receive a $500 scholarship to be used toward post-secondary education expenses.

Application Deadline

All scholarship applications must be fully completed and submitted no later than 12:00 AM (Midnight) EST on the deadline.

After submitting your application, if you do not receive a confirmation email within 72 hours, please message us via the KFM Making A Difference Facebook page so we can assist.

Requirements for Application

Part 1: Cover Letter (Must Include)

• Short Bio (250 words or less)
• Postsecondary Program accepted into or currently attending
• Autism Diagnosis (e.g., Asperger’s, PDD-NOS, ASD, and age of diagnosis)
• Full Name
• Address
• Phone Number
• Email Address

Part 2: Resume

Part 3: Letter of Reference

The letter must be a formal recommendation addressed to:

“Dear KFM Making A Difference Scholarship Committee”

Please include a contact email and/or phone number for follow-up questions.

Part 4: Essay Submission

To complete the essay portion, applicants must submit:

• At least 3 high-resolution photos (personal, childhood, family, or action photos)
• A title no longer than 70 characters (including spaces)
• A 2-4 sentence byline introducing yourself
• An essay in Microsoft Word format, between 750–1,000 words, describing your experience growing up on the autism spectrum

Essays should aim to educate, inspire, and/or motivate the autism community. Creativity and authenticity are strongly encouraged.

Applicants are encouraged to review essays written by scholarship founder Kerry Magro about his own autism journey, including:

• A Letter I Would Have Written For My Parents When I Was Nonverbal
  http://kerrymagro.com/letter-nonverbal/
• To Any Special Needs Parent Who Is Having One Of Those Days
  http://kerrymagro.com/to-any-special-needs-parent-whos-having-one-of-those-days/