What Is the Burger King Scholarship? (Quick Answer)
The Burger King Scholarship, run through the BK Scholars Program of the Burger King Foundation, awards $1,000 to $60,000 to high school seniors, Burger King employees, and employees’ family members across the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Applicants apply online through Scholarship America, submitting a transcript and other required documents.
This guide covers everything you need to know about the Burger King Scholarship:
- What Is the Burger King Scholarship (BK Scholarship)?
- Who Offers the Burger King Scholarship?
- Burger King Education Award Amount
- Burger King Education Funding Benefits
- BK Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
- Who Is Eligible?
- Who Is NOT Eligible?
- Required Documents
- How to Apply for the BK Scholarship
- How American Grant Experts Can Help
- Scholarship Selection Process
- Tips to Improve Your Chances
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Burger King Scholarship vs. Other Scholarships
- Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding BK Scholarship Program
College costs keep climbing, and for many families, that gap between savings and tuition bills feels wider every year. Scholarships help close that gap without adding to student debt, and corporate-sponsored programs like the Burger King Scholarship have quietly become one of the more generous options available to graduating seniors and working families alike.
The Burger King Scholars Program, administered by the Burger King Foundation, has supported tens of thousands of students since 2000. It’s open to a wider pool than most people assume, you don’t need to work at Burger King to qualify.
What Is the Burger King Education Award?
The Burger King Scholarship is the flagship initiative of the Burger King Foundation, a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Known as the BK Scholars Program, it was created in 2000 to honor Burger King co-founder James W. McLamore, whose commitment to education and philanthropy shaped the foundation’s mission.
The program provides one-time scholarship awards, not a single fixed amount, but a range of awards distributed across several named categories, including the James W. McLamore WHOPPER Scholarship, the Nancy McLamore Scholarship, King Awards, Hometown Scholarships, and general regional awards. Funds can go toward tuition, books, and other education-related costs at accredited two- or four-year colleges, universities, or vocational/technical schools.
Who Offers the BK Scholarship?
The scholarship is funded by the Burger King Foundation (sometimes referred to informally as the Burger King McLamore Foundation, reflecting its roots in James W. McLamore’s legacy), with support from participating Burger King franchisees. The foundation’s stated mission centers on empowerment through education, and it has directed the majority of its charitable giving toward the BK Scholars Program.
Since 2000, the program has awarded roughly $60–64 million to more than 51,000–55,000 students across North America, according to figures published by the BK Foundation and Scholarship America. The foundation’s stated goal is to fund one scholarship for every BK restaurant, an ambition worth roughly $7 million annually.
Always verify the latest award totals and program updates on the official Burger King Foundation website before applying, as figures are updated annually.
Burger King Scholarship Award Amount
Scholarship award amounts range from $1,000 to $60,000, depending on the specific award category. Most General Track and Employee-Based Track applicants compete for $1,000 awards, while a smaller number of highly qualified applicants are selected for larger, named scholarships:
|
Award Name
|
Reported Amount
|
Reported Amount
|
|---|---|---|
|
James W. McLamore WHOPPER Scholarship
|
$60,000
|
Up to 3 awarded annually
|
|
Nancy McLamore Scholarship
|
$20,000
|
1 awarded annually
|
|
King Awards
|
$15,000
|
Up to 7, one per region
|
|
Hometown Scholarships
|
$10,000
|
2 awarded annually
|
|
Regional Awards
|
$5,000
|
Up to 15, two per region
|
|
General Track / Employee-Based Track Awards
|
$1,000
|
Most common award level
|
In 2025, the foundation reported awarding over $4.4 million to more than 4,000 students. These figures are historical and reflect a specific award cycle, they are not a guarantee of future funding levels.
Always verify the latest award information on the official Burger King Foundation website before applying, since the number and value of awards depend on annual fundraising by participating franchisees.
Burger King Educational Funding Benefits
Beyond the dollar amount, the scholarship is designed to offset real educational expenses, including:
- Tuition costs at accredited colleges and universities
- Books and supplies
- Vocational and technical school tuition
- Enrichment courses for employees and their spouses (language, computer, accounting programs)
Checks are made payable directly to the recipient’s school rather than the student, and are typically mailed in August. Most awards are one-time scholarships and are not automatically renewable, though past recipients may reapply in future cycles.
Always verify the latest scholarship amount and benefit details on the official Burger King Foundation website before applying.
Key Takeaway: The Burger King educational award isn’t a single flat award, it’s a tiered program. Most applicants should realistically expect consideration for a $1,000 award, with a small number of highly competitive applicants selected for larger, named scholarships.
Burger King Grant Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility depends on which track you apply under: the General Track (high school seniors and past recipients) or the Employee-Based Track (Burger King employees and their families).
General Track
- Graduating high school senior or a past scholarship recipient now in college
- Living in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam, or Canada
- Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher (4.0 scale)
- Plans to enroll full-time at an accredited college, university, or vocational/technical school
Employee-Based Track
- Employee, spouse/domestic partner, or dependent child of a Burger King Company LLC employee or participating franchisee
- Employee must be active on payroll for a minimum period as of the deadline (verify current requirement)
- GPA of 2.0 or higher
- May enroll part-time or full-time, including enrichment programs
Who Is Eligible?
Eligibility Checklist
- I live in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam, or Canada
- I have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
- I am a graduating high school senior, current undergraduate, OR a Burger King employee/family member
- I plan to enroll at an accredited college, university, or technical school
- I can document work experience, community service, or extracurricular activities
- I can demonstrate financial need, where applicable
Who Is NOT Eligible?
Document Checklist
- Completed online application
- Current official or unofficial transcript
- Work experience and extracurricular activity details
- Financial information (for financial-need evaluation)
- Employee affiliation details, if applying under the Employee-Based Track
- Recommendation letter, if requested for specific award categories
Requirements can vary by cycle, verify the current document list on the official application portal before submitting.
Required Documents
Based on official program guidance, the following generally do not qualify:
- Students who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement
- Applicants planning to enroll less than part-time (outside the enrichment program pathway)
- Students attending non-accredited institutions
- Applicants outside the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam, or Canada
- Incomplete or late applications submitted after the deadline or application cap is reached
How to Apply for the Burger King Scholarship
Step 1: Check Eligibility
Confirm your track (General or Employee-Based) and GPA requirement. Use grant matching services to identify funding opportunities that match your eligibility, academic background, and goals.
Step 2: Create Account
Register on the official application portal and verify your email.
Step 3: Prepare Research Framework
Develop the research framework, naming the target system and transformation levers.
Step 3: Gather Documents
Gather documents, including transcript, financial information, and activity records. Access grant resource guidance services to get support in identifying required documents and preparing the materials needed for your application.
Step 4: Complete Online Application
Fill out all required fields using standard formatting.
Step 5: Detail Your Activities
Describe work experience, volunteer activities, and leadership experience.
Step 6: Review Carefully
Print a copy for your records before submitting.
Step 7: Submit Before Deadline
Applications typically close in mid-December or when the submission cap is reached.
Step 8: Monitor Your Status
Log back into your portal for updates; notifications are typically sent by email in May.
How American Grant Experts Can Help
Navigating the grant landscape can be challenging, especially when opportunities, eligibility requirements, application processes, and funding priorities vary widely across organizations. The American Grant Association helps individuals, nonprofits, and organizations better understand and approach grant opportunities by providing structured guidance throughout the funding journey.
Support may include:
- Grant research and opportunity discovery to identify funding sources that align with specific goals, programs, or organizational needs
- Grant matching guidance to help evaluate which opportunities are the best fit based on eligibility, mission alignment, and funding requirements
- Grant resource guidance to help applicants better understand application expectations, required materials, and common preparation steps
- Grant community support to provide access to shared knowledge, learning resources, and guidance that helps applicants stay informed about funding opportunities and best practices
Effective grant seeking requires preparation, research, and a clear understanding of what funders are looking for. Having the right information, resources, and guidance can help applicants approach opportunities with greater confidence and readiness.
Burger King Education Support Deadline
Historically, the application window has opened around October 15 and closed around December 15, or once a set number of applications (30,000 in recent cycles) is received, whichever comes first.
Always verify the latest application deadline on the official Burger King Foundation website, since exact dates and application caps are set annually and can change.
Scholarship Selection Process
Recipients are generally evaluated across three weighted categories:
- Academic record (GPA and performance)
- Activities, including community service, leadership experience, and work experience
- Financial need
Applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team on behalf of the Burger King Foundation. Not all eligible applicants receive an award.
Our Experience With Education Grant Applications
Over years of reviewing scholarship and education grant applications, a few patterns show up again and again, patterns that separate applications reviewers remember from applications that blend into the pile.
Alignment matters more than people think
Applicants often write a strong, generic essay and reuse it across every scholarship. Reviewers notice. The applications that stand out clearly connect the student’s goals, activities, and story to what that specific program actually values, whether that’s community involvement, financial need, or leadership experience.
Small inconsistencies destroy confidence
A GPA that doesn’t match the transcript, an activity date that doesn’t line up, or a name spelled differently across documents seems minor. To a reviewer sorting through hundreds of files, it reads as carelessness, and carelessness invites closer scrutiny of everything else in the application.
Numbers without context reduce credibility
“Volunteered 200 hours” means little on its own. Reviewers respond better when a number is tied to a specific role, organization, and outcome, such as how long, doing what, and why it mattered.
Local knowledge is a competitive advantage
Scholarship committees often serve a specific community or region. Applicants who understand that context, tend to feel more credible than applicants writing in generalities that could apply anywhere.
Reviewers reward realistic timelines more than aggressive promises
Overstated claims about future plans or impact can undercut trust. A clear, grounded plan for how a scholarship will actually be used, including tuition, books, reduced work hours, reads as more genuine than sweeping statements about changing the world.
"Need" alone rarely wins
Financial need is a real factor in many scholarship decisions, including the Burger King Scholarship’s selection criteria. But need on its own, without academic achievement, activity involvement, or a clear narrative, rarely carries an application across the finish line. The strongest submissions pair documented needs with evidence of effort and follow-through.
None of this guarantees an award, no honest advisor would claim that. But these patterns consistently separate applications that get a second look from those that don’t, and they’re the same principles we bring to every application we help prepare.
Tips to Improve Your Chances
- Start your application well before the deadline
- Follow every instruction exactly as written
- Be specific about leadership roles and measurable community impact
- Highlight sustained volunteer activities, not one-off events
- Request recommendation letters early
- Proofread every field for grammar and formatting errors
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid These Errors
- Missing the application deadline or submission cap
- Leaving required fields incomplete
- Submitting a blurry or incomplete transcript
- Failing to demonstrate financial need where required
- Rushed, generic descriptions of activities
- Skipping the final proofread
Avoiding these common application mistakes can help improve your chances of submitting a complete and competitive proposal. For more insights on identifying and preventing frequent grant application errors, read our guide on Common Mistakes in Grant Applications and How to Prevent Them.
BK Scholarship vs. Other Scholarships
|
Scholarship
|
Sponsor
|
Eligibility
|
Award Range
|
Verification
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Burger King Educational Award
|
Burger King Foundation
|
HS seniors, BK employees/family
|
$1,000–$60,000
|
Verify official site
|
|
Coca-Cola Foundation
|
HS seniors, leadership focus
|
Varies annually
|
Verify official site
|
|
|
McDonald's
|
Hispanic-heritage students
|
Varies annually
|
Verify official site
|
|
|
Taco Bell Foundation
|
Ages 16–24, any pursuit
|
Varies annually
|
Verify official site
|
|
|
Horatio Alger Association
|
Financial hardship, HS seniors
|
Varies annually
|
Verify official site
|
Conclusion
The Burger King Scholarship remains one of the more accessible corporate-sponsored funding sources for high school seniors, college students, and Burger King employees and their families. Because award amounts, deadlines, and requirements shift each cycle, the most important step any applicant can take is verifying current details directly with the Burger King Foundation before applying.
Need Help Finding Scholarships or Preparing a Winning Application?
American Grant Association helps students and families identify funding opportunities, prepare competitive applications, and strengthen essays and supporting documents. If you’d like support navigating the Burger King Funding or building a broader scholarship strategy, contact our team for guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Burger King Scholarship?
It’s a scholarship program run by the Burger King Foundation for high school seniors, Burger King employees, and their families.
How much is the scholarship worth?
Awards range from $1,000 to $60,000, depending on the award category.
Is the scholarship renewable?
Most awards are one-time, but past recipients may reapply in future cycles, subject to eligibility rules.
Can Burger King employees apply?
Yes, through the Employee-Based Track, along with spouses/domestic partners and dependent children.
What GPA is required?
A cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, based on published program guidance.
Is an essay required?
Past program guidance has not required a formal essay, though written activity descriptions are part of the application.
What documents are needed?
A transcript, activity details, and financial information; employee documentation if applicable.
Is financial need required?
Financial need is a factor in the selection process for most award tracks.
Can college students apply?
Yes, previous award recipients who are still enrolled as undergraduate students are eligible to submit a new application.
Can international students apply?
Eligibility is generally limited to residents of the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam, and Canada.
Note: This guide is for informational purposes only. Grant details, eligibility requirements, deadlines, and funding availability may change at any time. Always verify the most current program information through official sources before making any business or funding decisions.
