The 2025 GBU Foundation Scholarship and Grants
January 21, 2025
GBU Life (GBU) established the GBU Foundation in 1963 to offer academic scholarships to its members. Through 2024,
the GBU Foundation has awarded over 4,000 scholarships totaling almost $3,000,000 to members attending two-year,
four-year and graduate programs. Visit gbufoundation.awardspring.com for the latest information about GBU Foundation scholarships.
GBU Foundation Scholarships
GBU Foundation Scholarships
Freshman Scholarships (4 years)
- For eligible GBU members entering four-year programs leading to a bachelor’s degree.
- $1,500 per year, renewable for up to three years.
Bert Waltenberger Memorial Scholarship
- Applicant must be involved in German-related programs and sports activities to be eligible to receive this award.
- $1,500 per year, renewable for up to three years.
Clarence O. Affelt Architecture/Fine Art Memorial Scholarship
- Applicant must have a declared major in architecture or the fine arts to be considered for this award.
- $1,000 in the first year, with $500 per year, renewable for up to three years.
Two-Year Scholarships (2 years)
- For eligible GBU members entering or enrolled in degree, certificate or trade programs up to two years in duration offered by vocational/technical schools, nursing schools, community colleges and similar institutions.
- $1,000 per year, renewable for up to one year.
Undergraduate Scholarships (3 years)
- For eligible GBU members in college programs leading to a bachelor’s degree.
- $1,000 per year, renewable for up to two years.
Graduate Scholarships (2 years)
- For eligible GBU members entering or enrolled in college graduate degree programs leading to advanced degrees.
- $1,000 per year, renewable for up to one year.
All eligible applicants who do not receive a GBU Foundation Scholarship are entered in a random drawing for a predetermined number of one-time $500–$1,000 GBU Foundation grants.
Scholarships Offered to GBU District Members
Scholarships Offered to GBU District Members
- Fritz Bertz Scholarship (District 510 — Toledo, OH)
- District 146 — Johnstown, PA, Scholarship
- District 291 — Summerhill-Lilly, PA, Scholarship
- District 510 — Toledo, OH, Scholarship
- District 1000 — LFA Scholarship
- District 2000 — ULS Scholarships
- District 3000 — HRFA Scholarship
- District 4000 — Sokol USA Milan Getting Scholarship (Visit sokolusa.org/scholarship to apply.)
- For eligible District 5000 — IOV high school senior members who have received confirmation of acceptance from an institution of higher learning.
- Must hold either a junior or senior membership in the IOV for at least six months prior to the date of application.
- $1,750 nonrenewable scholarship. Apply November 1, 2024 — March 1, 2025.
- The GBU High School Freshman Grant Program is designed to assist eighth-grade GBU members with associated costs in their transition into the high school curriculum. High School Freshman Grants of $250 are to be used for expenses necessary for the student’s educational needs. For more information, please contact the GBU Foundation at gbufoundation@gbu.org.
September marks National Life Insurance Awareness month and GBU Life is partnering with Optimity to bring our members a financial wellness check-in.
District 684 Brentwood, Pennsylvania and District 699 Frankenmuth, Michigan
A Life Dedicated to Heritage, Fellowship, and Service
The GBU Life Scholarship Awards support students in college, trade programs, non-college programs, and graduate school, helping them achieve their dreams, setting them on a career path and realizing life goals. Since its founding, the GBU Foundation has awarded 4,500 scholarships and educational grants totaling more than $3.2 million. In 2025, 215 members received $226,000 to support their two‑year, four‑year and graduate studies. Here’s a look at where the rubber meets the road — as we check in on past grantees to see how their scholarship awards have helped them stay on course, where they are now, and where they hope to be in the future.
The GBU Foundation, established by GBU Life in 1963 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, empowers donors to turn generosity into meaningful community impact.
To celebrate our 134th anniversary, GBU Life launched the Birthday Bash initiative, calling upon the GBU Life community to honor our fraternal legacy through service. GBU Life invited members, producers, and community leaders to assemble and deliver shelf-stable cake kits for individuals and families who may otherwise go without a birthday celebration. What can seem like a simple act of service could be the spark of hope someone needed.
GBU Life is expanding the power of your member benefits with an enhancement to LawAssure, the easy‑to‑use online service that helps you prepare essential legal documents from home.
A guide for navigating miscarriage, stillbirth, and the grief that follows.
There’s something about summer that makes even the simplest meal feel like a celebration.
Summer vacation is an exciting time packed with trips, camps, and sports, but we’ve all reached that point where we hear those dreaded words: “I’m bored!” With GBU Life’s Give Back Group benefit, you can keep your family busy while helping others without the pressure of covering project costs.