Investor Advocacy Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Securities Fraud Attorneys
Introduction
Investment frauds — from Ponzi schemes to other deceptive offerings — continue to harm everyday investors. These scams increasingly involve sophisticated instruments such as stocks, bonds, real estate, and cryptocurrency. At Securities Fraud Attorneys, we believe investors are entitled to complete transparency from the companies they back: clear information about costs, risks, and the people managing their money. We also emphasize educating investors to recognize warning signs and understand how disputes are resolved, including class action litigation, securities arbitration, and SEC whistleblower claims.
About Securities Fraud Attorneys and Scott Silver
Securities Fraud Attorneys is led by Scott Silver, a nationally recognized advocate for investors and an experienced securities and investment fraud lawyer. Scott serves as chair of the Securities Fraud Group for the American Association for Justice and sits on the board of PIABA (Public Investors Advocate Bar Association). He has been named to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and holds a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating. Scott and his team have recovered millions for cheated investors through class actions, securities arbitration, and SEC whistleblower claims.
2026 Investor Advocacy Scholarship
Because investment opportunities are becoming easier for younger people to access every year, we are pleased to offer the 2026 Investor Advocacy Scholarship. This is a single $1,000 award for a current or incoming college student who is committed to investor education and advocacy. Interested applicants should review the eligibility and application requirements below and submit their materials by the application deadline: August 31, 2026.
Award Amount
- $1,000
Eligibility
- Open to U.S. legal residents living in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia.
- Applicants must be a current high school senior, vocational student, college student, or graduate student who will be enrolled in a vocational program or a two- to four-year post-secondary institution for the Spring 2026 semester.
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and in good academic standing.
- Employees of Securities Fraud Attorneys, their immediate family members (parent, child, sibling, spouse), and anyone residing in the same household as those employees (whether related or not) are not eligible.
- Preference will be given to applicants who are from or attending secondary school in the state.
Application Requirements
All applicants must submit the following by the August 31, 2026 deadline:
1. Completed application form (include all requested information).
2. Essay (750–1,000 words) responding to this prompt: Describe why you think investor advocacy matters and how it could be strengthened in the future.
- All essays will be screened for AI-generated content. Applications will be denied if AI writing is detected.
3. Professional résumé outlining academic and relevant work or volunteer experience.
4. Academic transcript from your current institution:
- First-year college students, graduate students, and recent transfers may submit an unofficial transcript from their current school plus the most recent official transcript from their prior school.
- High school applicants may provide proof of acceptance to their college or university.
Selection and Notification
The scholarship recipient will be selected during the month following the application deadline. Decisions will be based on eligibility, academic standing, the essay, and supporting materials.
Questions
We cannot respond to scholarship inquiries by phone. Please direct all questions through the contact form.