Veterans Stipend Program
The Recycling Education and Research Foundation is committed to supporting the nations veterans. The Foundation funds and supports programs that advance recycling through education, research, workforce development, and public awareness initiatives.
Guidelines & Eligibility
The Veterans Stipend is open to military veterans with an honorable discharge who are enrolled in a professional development program. Please fill out the online application and submit in it’s entirety by September 30, 2026
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
- All application materials must be submitted to RERF no later than September 30, 2026.
- Only the Winning Applicant(s) will be notified in early November.
- The stipend of $2,500 shall be paid directly to the individual(s).
- Application materials will not be returned; please keep a copy for your records.
- Emailed applications will not be accepted.
- Incomplete applications will not be considered.
HOW TO APPLY
Please use the online application form to apply. Upload the following items within the form. All hardcopy mail submissions must be postmarked by September 30, 2026.
- Completed Veterans Stipend Application and Release Form, signed and dated.
- A copy of Form DD-214 Discharge and Separation Document (please black out your SSN) showing an honorable discharge.
- Answers to the following essay questions. Please limit each response to 500 words or less.
- Describer your roles and responsibilities in the military, and how it has impacted your life.
- How will the program you are enrolled in directly assist in reaching your personal and professional pursuits?
- The recycling industry funds this stipend; In what ways does the recycling industry impact your
local community, state, or on a larger scale? (Include any of the following factors: social, environmental, economic, industrial, and financial).
- Your personal resume.
- Two letters of recommendation describing the personal or professional connection to the candidate without reference to financial need, signed and dated within the last 12 months.
- Proof of enrollment in a formal training or licensing program. Acceptable forms of documentation include, but aren’t limited to, enrollment confirmation, or receipt of tuition.
DEADLINE & SUBMISSION
All application materials must be postmarked by September 30, 2026. Emailed submissions will not be accepted. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
Recycling Education & Research Foundation
Attention: Rickey Dana
1250 H Street NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20005
FAQs
Not at all. Professional development can include community college classes, trade school, an apprenticeship, or a certificate/license needed to start a job.
Please email us at info@rerfoundation.org if you feel your professional development is not covered above.
Nope! All fields of study are eligible as most fields are applicable to the recycling industry. Feel free to reach out to us if you’d like help with job placement within the recycling industry.
Please name your files with the file name, followed by your last name and first initial. (i.e., DD-214_SmithJ)
A recommendation letter should provide details of accomplishments, and explicitly explain how your character and goals align with the scholarship’s criteria.
These should be on letterhead and can come from a fellow soldier, co-worker, teacher, or other professional; not from your spouse or parent.
Yes! At the bottom of each section, there is a button that says “Save and Resume Later.”
No. All documents must be an uploaded file. An uploaded screenshot or picture is acceptable.
Unfortunately, no. We get hundreds of submissions – please check your work carefully before hitting submit.
Yes. Immediate family members (spouse, parents, siblings, and children) and dependents of RERF and ReMA employees, board members, or selection committee members are not eligible to apply.
