The Chad Faaborg Scholarship for Entrepreneurs

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The Chad Faaborg Scholarship for Entrepreneurs is a $1,000 annual award given to one student who demonstrates entrepreneurial thinking, personal resilience, and a genuine vision for creating something meaningful in the world.

This scholarship is inspired by Chad Faaborg’s own journey — a career that reinvented itself twice, crossed industries, spanned coasts, and never stopped moving forward. Chad believes that the most important traits for success aren’t taught in any single classroom. They’re forged through curiosity, adaptability, and the guts to try something new.

Whether you’re launching a business, solving a community problem, developing a new skill, or simply working your way through school with big ideas in your back pocket — we want to hear your story.

Scholarship Overview

The Chad Faaborg Scholarship for Entrepreneurs awards $1,000 to one deserving recipient per application cycle. Unlike many scholarships, this award is intentionally open — there is no minimum GPA requirement and no restriction on major or field of study. Whether you are pursuing a degree in business, healthcare, agriculture, design, education, or anything else entirely, you are welcome to apply. The scholarship is available to currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students at any accredited college, university, or trade school. Applications are essay-based, because we believe your story and your thinking matter far more than your transcript.

Criteria

To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Be currently enrolled (full-time or part-time) at an accredited college, university, trade school, or graduate program
  • Be at least 18 years of age at the time of application
  • Demonstrate an entrepreneurial mindset, initiative, or experience — formal business ownership is not required
  • Be a U.S. resident or citizen
  • Submit all required application materials by the stated deadline

Applicants must submit one original essay (500–700 words) responding to the following prompt:

Chad Faaborg built two entirely different careers over the course of his life — shifting from architectural design to chiropractic medicine, from managing million-dollar installations to practicing in small-town Iowa. His path was shaped not by a single plan, but by a willingness to adapt, start over, and find opportunity in unexpected places.

Describe a time you identified a problem, need, or opportunity and took initiative to address it. What did you do? What did you learn? How does that experience reflect your entrepreneurial vision for the future — in your career, your community, or your field of study?

Essays are evaluated on clarity of thinking, strength of personal narrative, entrepreneurial insight, and originality. There is no “right” answer — we’re looking for authenticity and ambition.

Amount

One time award of $1,000

Deadline

The deadline to apply for the scholarship is November 15, 2026.

Winner Announced

The winner of the scholarship will be announced on December 15, 2026.

How to Apply

Send the following to [email protected]:

  • Subject Line: Chad Faaborg Scholarship Application — [Your Full Name]
  • Your full name, school name, current year of study, and field of study
  • Your essay (500–700 words) as a PDF or Word document
  • A brief statement (2–3 sentences) describing your post-graduation goals

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The award recipient will be notified by email. Only complete applications will be considered.

Questions? Reach out any time at [email protected]

Along with the essay, please provide the following information:

  • Full Name
  • Phone Number
  • Address
  • Email Address
  • Name of High School and Graduation Date
  • The University that you are currently enrolled in.
  • Personal Bio
  • GPA