The Opportunity Fund
The Stanford FLI Student Success Center Opportunity Fund is designed to financially assist undergraduate students who are experiencing an unexpected financial challenge or seeking funds for an opportunity related to their academic and/or professional development. The FLI Student Success Center completes a thorough, holistic review of each application.

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.
Process Details
- Submit your application the Opportunity Fund.
- A member of the FLISSC Team will review your application, usually within one week.
- If there is missing documentation or more information is needed, a FLISSC Team Member 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the day you receive that email to provide the additional information or documentation to us before your application is withdrawn.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.
What We Fund
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.
What We Don't Fund
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.
More About The Opportunity Fund
Please review all updated policies for 2024-25 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.
Check your most recent Financial Aid Notification to see if you are eligible. Students must be enrolled to receive funds through the Opportunity Fund. Students on Leave of Absence are able to apply for funding for expenses related to returning to being an enrolled student, which also includes citizenship/DACA/Visa fees. These will not be covered for students who have had 3 or more consecutive quarters of a Leave of Absence.
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. We are only able to reimburse up to the quarter prior to the current quarter (e.g.: Summer Quarter reimbursements processed in Autumn Quarter).
The only expense prior to your enrollment as a student that we can reimburse students for are laptops purchased on or after May 31. No other eligible expenses made prior to the first day of classes will be approved. No exceptions.
- Note: Frosh and new transfers, the only summer reimbursement requests that will be considered when the fund opens are computer purchases (only valid if purchased after May 31st, 2024).
If you need assistance with a laptop, there are a few options
- Students with outside awards can apply for support through the Financial Aid Office using their computer expense request form
- If you have a Welcome Grant, you will need to use that to help with your laptop purchase. Please contact your financial aid counselor for assistance.
- If you do not have the Welcome Grant, you may apply to the Opportunity Fund. Please note: laptop support is a one-time grant throughout your Stanford undergraduate career, regardless of the funding source.
Funds assist graduate students who experience a financial emergency or unanticipated expenses, causing economic hardship. This program is designed to assist in situations where the emergency may impede academic progress, and for those who cannot reasonably resolve their financial difficulty through fellowships, loans, or personal resources. Emergency Grant-in-Aid awards are grants that reimburse actual expenses. These awards are not loans and do not need to be repaid. Emergency Grant-in-Aid awards are taxable income.
The last day to apply to the Opportunity Fund for funding is April 15, 2025. 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 April 15, 2025.
We will support up to $75 for grad basics. We will need a receipt or a screenshot of cart with your name in it. We recommend the Stole Package as it includes all of these. We cannot support with shipping. You will need to request the funds prior and order from the bookstore if you are requesting after 4/17 and don't want to pay for the shipping.
- Cap & Gown
- One (1) Tassel
- One (1) Stole of Gratitude
- The Opportunity Fund does not cover class rings, announcements, diploma cases, etc.
We want your support system to join you on campus for this celebration! We will support travel for family to campus for graduation up to $1,000 for domestic travel and up to $1,500 for international travel.
- To Apply, Submit - To process this request, we will need a receipt or screenshot of the estimate for flights with full details including number of guests, origin and destination of travel, and total cost with taxes and fees, hotel details including receipts or screenshots of estimates with taxes and fees, and/or a map to and from campus for reimbursement.
Students applying for support with Fraternity or Sorority Life dues need to complete the FSL Opportunity Fund - Dues are not covered through the traditional Opportunity Fund application process. Please reach out to Christopher Carter with questions and next steps to be considered!
Access the Receipt Tracker here. 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. Failure to submit your receipt may negatively impact your eligibility for future Opportunity Fund awards.