NLHA Education Fund
Scholarship Sponsored by National Leased Housing Association
About the NLHA Education Fund
The NLHA Education Fund is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit created to raise money for education grants and scholarships. Its purpose is to support low-income people who live in federally assisted rental housing that is owned, managed, or administered by members of the National Leased Housing Association (NLHA). The National Leased Housing Association itself is a nonprofit organization committed to the creation, preservation, and stewardship of safe, decent, affordable rental housing.
Who may apply
Applicants must be low-income residents of privately owned, federally assisted rental housing (for example, properties assisted through Section 8 or low-income housing tax credits) or recipients of Section 8 voucher assistance. All applicants are required to demonstrate both academic or vocational merit and financial need.
Application period and how to apply
Online applications open November 1. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, March 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. All applications must be submitted electronically using the link provided on the application page.
Selecting a scholarship
When applying, you must choose only one of the four scholarship categories below.
Scholarship opportunities
- Air Gives Opportunity Scholarship
- Established to honor AIR Communities for its nationwide role in supplying quality apartment homes and for its commitment to corporate citizenship.
- Intended for eligible applicants from affordable housing who demonstrate merit and need and who are pursuing an undergraduate degree.
- William F. Gandert Memorial Vocational Scholarship
- Named for William F. (Bill) Gandert, a key figure in forming many public housing authorities in Ohio who served as general counsel to several and as Executive Director for the Mansfield, Crawford, Huron, Marion, and Seneca County Metropolitan Housing Authorities. Bill was a staunch advocate for low-income populations, helped initiate multiple poverty programs in Ohio, and served as NLHA’s 7th President.
- This award supports an eligible graduating high school senior or a returning student who shows both merit and need and plans to pursue training in a specific trade or vocation.
- Mary Lou Manzie Memorial Scholarship
- In memory of Mary Lou Manzie, who spent her career advancing safe, decent, affordable housing and who was an active NLHA member from 1975 until her passing in 2006, serving as an Officer and Director.
- Designed for non-traditional students who demonstrate merit and financial need and who seek higher education or training that will improve their employment prospects.
- Neil Churchill Graduate Studies Scholarship
- Honoring Neil Churchill, a former NLHA President and longtime Section 8 proponent who worked at HUD early in his career and later served as a developer, bond underwriter, FHA specialist, and Vice President at GMAC before his death in 2003. He devoted his life to affordable housing causes.
- Available to eligible applicants who have completed an undergraduate degree and are pursuing graduate-level study (or otherwise seeking a graduate education) and who show both merit and need.
If you have questions about eligibility, the application process, or which scholarship best fits your situation, contact the NLHA Education Fund through the information provided on the application page.