The Stanford FLI Student Success Center Opportunity Fund is here to help you thrive. We provide financial support to empower you in navigating and maximizing your undergraduate experience. Whether you're facing an unexpected financial challenge or seeking funding for academic or professional growth, we’re here to support you. Our goal is to help you access meaningful opportunities as you pursue your goals and shape your unique path at Stanford. Each application is reviewed through a thorough, holistic process that values your experiences, potential, and aspirations.
Here's What to Expect When Applying to The Opportunity Fund
You've submitted a request to the Opportunity Fund, now what? Here you can learn about what to expect during the process. If you are having an emergency, please don't hesitate to email us so that a staff member can provide support.
- Please review all updated policies for 2025-26 before applying, including eligibility requirements. Due to the high volume of requests that we receive through the Opportunity Fund, it can take up to two weeks to receive a response. Please be sure to include all supporting materials with your application to prevent a delay in processing.
- Summer Medical / Dental Expenses - Please note that summer medical/dental reimbursements will not be processed after the conclusion of the summer term. Students must submit their reimbursement requests and receive reimbursement by the end of the summer Opportunity Fund cycle. We encourage all students to review the summer cycle application deadline carefully to ensure timely submission and processing.
- Summer Storage - Please note that summer storage reimbursements will not be processed after the conclusion of the summer term. Students must submit their reimbursement requests and receive reimbursement by the end of the summer Opportunity Fund cycle. We encourage all students to review the summer cycle application deadline carefully to ensure timely submission and processing.
- Complete Canvas Course, in order for your application to be considered.
- Submit your application the Opportunity Fund.
- A member of the Opportunity Fund Manager will review your application, usually within one week.
- If there is missing documentation or more information is needed, the Opportunity Fund Manager will contact you. You will have two weeks from the day you receive that email to provide the additional information or documentation to us before your application is withdrawn.
- Once your application is approved by the FLISSC, it will be sent to the Financial Aid Office for review.
- The Financial Aid Office will approve your application and submit it to Student Financial Services for disbursement. There are reasons the Financial Aid Office might not approve a request:
- A student being on a leave of absence.
- Already having received funding for the request previously.
- Usually in the case of a laptop.
- Not having room in your budget.
- Or similar reason.
- Student Financial Services disburses your award. You will receive your grant in the same form of disbursement you would normally receive aid, direct deposit or paper check in the mail.
- If you requested the funds prior, submit your receipt to the Opportunity Fund via our Receipt Tracker on the FLISSC website.
The Stanford FLI Student Success Center Opportunity Fund provides assistance for a variety of situations students may experience. Here you can learn more about what is and is not funded.
Though the Stanford FLI Student Success Center Opportunity Fund is designed to financially assist undergraduate students, there are some limitations to what we can fund. Here you can find information about what this entails.
Opportunity Fund eligible students must have a parent contribution of $3,500 or less. Check your most recent Financial Aid Notification to see if you are eligible. To be eligible for the Opportunity Fund, a student must be actively enrolled in classes and completed the annual Opportunity Fund canvas course. Students who are on a Leave of Absence are not eligible to receive any type of funding through the Opportunity Fund.
The Opportunity Fund is a limited resource and funding is not guaranteed. Before completing any purchases, please be sure to apply to the Opportunity Fund and wait for your approval email. The Opportunity Fund can only reimburse expenses incurred during the current academic quarter; expenses from prior quarters are not eligible for reimbursement.
The Opportunity Fund does not provide reimbursement for any summer expenses incurred by newly admitted students prior to their first quarter of enrollment at Stanford. Support through the Opportunity Fund begins only on the first official day of classes.
The Opportunity Fund is not available to graduate or co-terminal students. Graduate and co-term students who are experiencing a financial emergency or unanticipated expenses may inquire with the Financial Aid Office about the Emergency Grant-in-Aid program. This program provides grants—rather than loans—to reimburse actual expenses in cases of economic hardship that may impact academic progress.
The last day to apply to the Opportunity Fund for funding is Sunday, March 29th, 2026. Please keep this date in mind and get any and all requests for eligible expenses in by that date. We are not accepting any applications, regardless of the request, after this date, unless there is an emergency. If you will be participating in graduation/commencement but are not conferring your degree at the end of spring and will be continuing your undergraduate studies in following quarters, the deadline for support for graduation related expenses is still March 29th, 2026.
We will support up to the cost needed to cover your regalia rental expenses. We will need a receipt or a screenshot of cart with your name in it. We cannot support with shipping costs.
- Cap & Gown
- One (1) Tassel
- One (1) Stole of Gratitude
- The Opportunity Fund does not cover class rings, announcements, diploma cases, etc.
The Opportunity Fund can support eligible students and with having their family travel to campus for their graduation.
Total Funding Available
Graduating seniors may receive up to:
- $1,000 for domestic travel
- $1,500 for international travel
Note: These amounts are not cumulative and may not be combined.
Eligible Travel & Lodging Criteria
- Purpose: Family must be traveling specifically for graduation
- Location: Family must fly into SFO, OAK, or SJC, and lodging must be within a 25-mile radius of Stanford University
- Dates: Travel and accommodation receipts must correspond directly with official university commencement dates
Welcome to the Opportunity Fund receipts page! Please select the request and upload the necessary receipt to our system. If you've completed multiple purchases, please complete the file upload one at a time.
- The Fall 2025 quarter cycle is from Friday, October 10th through Friday, December 5th, 2025.
- The Winter 2026 quarter cycle is from Friday, January 9th through Sunday, March 29th, 2026.
- The Spring 2026 quarter cycle is from Friday, April 4th to Sunday, May 31st, 2026.
- The Summer 2026 quarter cycle is from Wednesday, July 1st through Monday, August 31st, 2026.
Opportunity Fund Application
- To receive the fund disbursement, if approved for an Opportunity Fund grant, students will need to complete a Canvas course about the Opportunity Fund, which will take about 30-45 minutes to complete. You only need to complete this once during your Stanford career. The link to the course is available in the Opportunity Fund Application.
- Graduate and Co-Term Students should apply for support through Grant in Aid.
Summer Equity Grant
The Summer Equity Grant (SEG) provides support to students for living expenses not otherwise covered by their summer opportunity. Students interested in receiving funding from the Summer Equity Grant are required to pursue public service, internship, fellowship, or research opportunity (excluding thesis research) during the summer.
