Schaoilarships are one of the first thoughts that business owners have when they think about being more accessible and inclusive. If you’re offering scholarships or if you’re thinking of offering one… this blog’s for you.
Recently finished creating the questions for my scholarship recipient surveys for the Inclusion Creators Collective, and it reminded me of something really important that often gets overlooked.
Scholarships aren’t just entry into your program.
They’re a responsibility.
What Most Business Owners Miss
A lot of us offer scholarships because we genuinely want to create opportunities for people from marginalised communities to join our programs.
But good intentions alone don’t make scholarships inclusive.
When we invite someone into our space (especially someone who has experienced exclusion, bias, or harm elsewhere) we take on a responsibility to make sure they feel:
- Safe being in that space.
- Supported in navigating barriers that might come up.
- Empowered to participate and succeed.
And that support doesn’t end once the scholarship spot is accepted.
Inclusion is ongoing care.
Why I Use A Three-Scholarship Survey Framework
For my 6-month Inclusion Creators Collective scholarships, I use three simple surveys that keep me connected, accountable, and responsive to my recipients’ needs.
✨ 1. Start-of-Scholarship Survey – Safety
This one’s all about understanding the person behind the scholarship.
It helps me learn about:
- Their inclusion goals and what they hope to achieve.
- Any access, learning, or cultural safety needs.
- What support will help them participate fully.
It’s not about checking boxes; it’s about making sure they feel seen, respected, and set up for success.
✨ 2. Mid-Scholarship Survey – Support
This one’s a check-in to make sure everything still feels right.
It helps me:
- See if they feel safe and supported.
- Adjust support if something isn’t working.
- Stay aware of any new barriers that might have appeared.
Because inclusion isn’t a “set and forget” thing, it’s intentional and responsive.
✨ 3. End-of-Scholarship Survey – Success
This final survey is for reflection time.
It helps me understand:
- What transformation they experienced.
- What parts of the experience felt empowering or challenging.
- How I can improve for next time.
It’s not just about collecting testimonials, it’s about accountability (for myself and the recipient) and growth.
The Bigger Picture
If you’re offering scholarships (or thinking about it), your recipients are trusting you with their time, energy, and vulnerability.
They’re stepping into a space that you’ve created.
And it’s your responsibility to make that space safe, inclusive, and supportive enough for them to thrive.
Surveys help you do that.
They’re not just admin tasks, they’re tools for reflection, responsiveness, and relational care.
They help you move from “I hope this is inclusive” to “I know I’m showing up inclusively, because I’m listening, adjusting, and caring along the way.”
Ready to Build Your Own Inclusive Scholarship Surveys?
Every business is unique, so your questions might look different from mine.
But you can use these three survey stages (Safety, Support, and Success) as a framework for your own scholarship program.
If you’d like help designing culturally appropriate and supportive scholarship surveys, I’d love to help.
DM me on Instagram HERE so we can start co-create something beautiful, safe, and inclusive together. 💜
Until next time, let’s get intentional about our responsibilities of facilitating a scholarship program!
Louise O’Reilly is a social impact business coach helping values-driven leaders transform their businesses into beacons of inclusion, equity, and impact… Where diverse communities thrive and business excellence is inevitable.