The Rumi Mind Scholarship is the cornerstone program of the Rumi Mind Foundation, created to support individuals whose potential and life trajectory have been disrupted by mental health challenges and financial instability. Built on two pillars: financial stability and meaningful mentorship. The scholarship provides multi-year support that helps recipients rebuild their lives, regain momentum, and eventually pay their experience forward. The program invests in those who show both genuine need and the capacity to create positive impact in their communities once stabilized.
Scope
Scholarship support is designed to provide the stability necessary for recovery, growth, and reintegration into work, school, or community life.
Support includes:
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Flexible financial assistance that may be used for essential living expenses (housing, utilities, groceries, transportation), wellness, education, childcare, and other costs that directly support recovery.
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Longitudinal mentorship, including a primary mentor who oversees the scholar’s overall progress and secondary mentors who provide targeted support in areas such as academics, career planning, practical life decisions, or project-specific needs.
The scholarship’s structure ensures recipients receive both the practical and intellectual support required to establish lasting stability.
Duration
The scholarship is a multi-year program, tailored to the pace of each scholar’s recovery and goals.
There is no fixed end date. Instead, scholars and the Foundation jointly determine when financial support is no longer essential.
After the scholarship phase, recipients transition into the Circle Fellowship, where mentorship continues and scholars begin to give back by supporting future applicants and strengthening the Rumi’s Circle community.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
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Active engagement in mental health treatment, verified by a licensed provider.
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Demonstrated financial hardship that limits their ability to maintain treatment or basic stability.
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A history of capability or positive trajectory—academically, professionally, creatively, or in service to others—before or despite illness.
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Alignment with the Foundation’s “pay-it-forward” philosophy, including a genuine desire to contribute to community, advocacy, or mentorship in the future.
The scholarship is inclusive and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and life circumstances.
Selection Process
Applications are reviewed through a structured, multi-step process:
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Clinical verification confirming treatment engagement.
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Eligibility screening to ensure the applicant meets financial, clinical, and mission-alignment criteria.
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Committee/Board review using a rubric that evaluates need, readiness, resilience, potential for impact, and values alignment.
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Interviews, when needed, to better understand the applicant’s goals and fit with the program.
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Final selection, determined by the Program Committee or Board.
Preference is given to individuals who demonstrate both deep need and strong potential to create positive, multiplying impact once they recover.
Next Steps
As scholars reach a point of sustained stability—financially, clinically, and personally—they transition from the scholarship phase into the Circle Fellowship. This next stage is designed to maintain momentum, deepen mentorship, and foster a spirit of reciprocity.
In the Fellowship, scholars:
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Continue receiving mentorship, now oriented toward long-term growth, career development, and personal goals.
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Become part of a lifelong community, connecting with other scholars and fellows for support, collaboration, and shared purpose.
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Begin giving back, offering guidance to new scholarship recipients, participating in mentorship activities, or contributing to community initiatives aligned with the Foundation’s mission.
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May access limited incidental support, similar to the Bridge Fund, for situational needs related to professional development, emergencies, or outreach efforts.
The Fellowship closes the loop of Rumi’s Circle—transforming recipients into contributors and helping each scholar extend the impact of their own healing to others.
How to Apply
THE APPLICATION WINDOW IS CURRENTLY CLOSED. However you or your provider can use the form below to be added to the list to be informed when the next round of applications open up.
The first step in applying for the Rumi Mind Scholarship is a referral from your treating provider. Your clinician should email a brief referral letter to referral@rm.foundation, confirming your engagement in treatment and recommending you for consideration.
Once the referral is received, the Foundation will contact both you and your provider with the next steps, which may include completing an application, submitting a personal statement, and providing brief documentation of financial circumstances. Our team will guide you through each part of the process and ensure you have the support needed to complete your application.