2-weeks & under
Campus-Based
Climate & Sustainability
Eligible for rising 9th graders
Intensives & Workshops
New for 2025!
North America Based
Putney Classics
Science & Nature
Leadership
Travel programs with the Smithsonian Institution for grades 8–12
Challenge yourself academically at the world's most prestigious universities
Non-profit organization offering student travel scholarships
High school youth summit focused on public health, climate change, and equity
Campus-based climate change program for grades 9–12
The Putney Open Door Fund is a nonprofit foundation whose purpose is to eliminate barriers for young people seeking educational summer experiences. The Fund’s Board of Directors is committed to making the immeasurable benefits of transformative travel available to all students, regardless of their economic status.
Thank you for your interest in the Putney Open Door Fund. Scholarships are awarded annually. Every year, many applications are received and allocation is competitive. Before applying for a scholarship, please review eligibility requirements below.
Student must be a current resident of the United States (international students, including U.S. students living abroad, are not eligible to apply) and have a combined household income (adjusted gross income) of no more than the following income caps based on household size:
For each person in a household over 4 persons, we will increase the household income cap by $15,000.
Additionally, the applicant’s household will be expected to maintain few assets which will be assessed at the discretion of the PODF board. To verify income eligibility, we request a recent copy of a parent or guardian’s tax return Form 1040, line 11, showing adjusted gross income. If this is not available, other financial documentation must be provided.
If you meet the eligibility requirements above, we encourage you to complete a scholarship application (process outlined below). Application deposits are waived for all Putney Open Door Fund applicants. Please note that in order to maintain the equity of the scholarship process, late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Two completed educator references submitted digitally through this Google Form. (Applicants must send this link to educators to complete.)
Copy of parents’ or guardians’ most recent federal tax returns (fiscal year 2022 or 2023) and/or verification of non-taxable income (social security income, disability benefits, TANF, child support, etc.). Financial documentation from all contributing households is required. If the 1040 Tax Form submitted verifies income eligibility, no further documentation is required unless requested by the selection committee. This portion of the application must be sent by post mail to:
Putney Open Door Fund
345 Hickory Ridge Road
Putney, VT 05346
Applications must be received by February 15, 2024. An application is considered incomplete until we have received all required forms and documents.
2023 Board of Directors:
Emeritus Directors:
Providing immersive summer travel programs for middle & high school students since 1951.
Putney has been the leader in student travel and educational summers for more than 70 years. As a family-run organization, our decades of experience, our dedication to quality programs, and the personal service you receive are unmatched.
We invite you to subscribe to hear about new programs and upcoming events, and start your path to the summer of a lifetime.
