Is Bold.org a Scam?

If you’re thinking of using Bold.org, you need to know whether it’s safe. Is Bold.org a scam? 

Below, we explain whether Bold.org is a scam and discuss some steps you can take to improve your safety when using this scholarship platform. 

What Is Bold.org?

Bold.org is an online platform that matches students with scholarships, grants, and fellowships and offers a no-fee visa debit card for educational expenses.

The company launched in 2019 as a platform where donors can create tax‑deductible scholarship funds and students apply via a common application. 

Many of the most popular scholarships on Bold.org are “no-essay” or very short-form applications. These typically function like sweepstakes: the winner is chosen randomly or through broad criteria rather than merit. This means competition is extremely high and odds are low, even if the scholarship amount appears small.

In 2024, Bold.org added a debit card that rewards spending with points that can be converted into cash or scholarship entries. 

Bold.org’s business model relies on donor fees, grants, partnerships, sponsorships, and (in some cases) data sharing with marketing and analytics partners. Students don’t pay to apply, but the platform benefits from the scale of user data and donor engagement.

Is Bold.org a Scam?

No, Bold.org is not a scam. It’s a legitimate scholarship platform funded by donors and partnerships. 

Several third-party publications have reviewed Bold.org.

For example, NerdWallet lists Bold.org among its recommended scholarship websites. It notes that individuals and companies can create scholarships on the platform, and that students can build a profile or search for scholarships by keyword.

Business Insider’s 2025 list of best scholarship websites describes Bold.org as a partner‑driven platform with a sleek interface and exclusive scholarships not found elsewhere. 

User reviews of Bold.org are also largely positive. 

For instance, at the time of writing, the platform has a score of 4.6 out of 5.0 stars (from 265 reviews) on the App Store, though this rating applies to the app, not necessarily the website experience, which can differ.

On online forums like Reddit, people report varying experiences with Bold.org. 

People who work for financial aid offices have confirmed that Bold.org does send real scholarship checks to universities:

“I never personally won any scholarships from them, but working in Financial Aid for a university I have processed multiple scholarship checks that came from them so they’re certainly real.”

Multiple users in the thread also say they have won and received funds.

One person said: “Yes I’ve won 3 scholarships from them! They send the check to your school.” 

However, many people apply and never win.

One person wrote:

“Still haven’t won anything despite being on it for about 4 years now, but I have been a finalist for 5 of their no-essay scholarships.” 

Some people think the “Bold Points” system feels misleading. According to several individuals, points don’t meaningfully increase your odds for most scholarships:

“my advice is don’t worry too much about the points they don’t help you win. i see people on bold with 10x scholarship winners and their points are so low.”

Overall, users recommend prioritizing niche or small-audience scholarships (based on location, interests, background, major, or hobbies). These have fewer applicants and significantly better odds than the big “No-Essay” scholarships on the homepage. 

Bold.org is not Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredited (see our review of whether the BBB is a scam) at the time of writing. 

The organization has received a total of 6 complaints in the last 3 years, with 4 of these complaints being closed within the past 12 months. The complaints accuse Bold.org of unfair scholarship selection (Bold.org responded that selections are random and impartial), difficult or reduced rewards redemption tied to the Bold Card, unresponsive customer support, and problems with account data control and platform functionality.

Bold.org security

We were unable to find much information about Bold.org’s security.

In its privacy policy, Bold.org says the following: “we endeavor to process your information securely.” 

It does not give details as to what its endeavors entail. 

As of this writing, there have been no major data breaches associated with Bold.org. 

Bold.org privacy

Bold.org explains in its privacy policy the type of data it collects, why it collects it, and with whom it shares it.

It collects the following personal information: 

• Information you provide when applying for scholarships or donating (name, email, address, demographic details, education information, bank or loan details, etc.).
• Device data (IP address, browser type, cookies, and usage data).
• Information they may get from social media if you interact with Bold.org pages.

Some of the information Bold.org collects can be sensitive, such as:

• Citizenship status, gender, ethnicity, and religion.
• Financial and loan data.

The company uses your data to provide scholarship and donor services, determine eligibility for scholarships, communicate with you (email, phone, SMS, etc.), improve the website, detect fraud, create and manage your account and dashboard, and comply with legal obligations. 

Bold.org shares and, in some cases, sells your personal information to scholarship providers, educational institutions, marketing partners, analytics companies, advertisers, identity verification and fraud prevention vendors, and AI and data modeling partners (in aggregated or de-identified form). 

You may receive marketing messages from Bold.org and partners if you provide your contact information.

You can opt out of selling/sharing your data.

Bold does not store your financial data directly. Instead, payments and donations are handled by third-party processors. However, it may share your financial account information with these processors when needed to provide services. 

The company keeps your information as long as your account is active or as required by law.

Depending on where you live (especially in CA, CO, CT, MT, OR, TX, UT, VA), you may have the right to access your data, correct your data, delete your data, opt out of the sale/sharing of your data or targeted advertising, and request a copy of your data. You may need to verify your identity to make these requests.

Privacy investigations 

A 2024 investigation by law firm Migliaccio & Rathod LLP alleged that several scholarship platforms, including Bold.org, may have used tracking pixels that passed user data to companies like Facebook without explicit disclosure. 

So, Should You Use Bold.org?

Depends.

Bold.org is legitimate and safe to use, but your odds of winning scholarships vary widely, and the platform shares user data (usage patterns, profile information, and contact data) with partners, so use privacy precautions and apply strategically.

How to Use Bold.org Safely and Privately 

• Sign up with a dedicated email address and phone number. In its privacy policy, Bold.org says that if you provide your contact information, you may receive marketing messages from Bold.org and partners. Creating a dedicated email address or using a masked email and phone number can help you reduce the amount of spam you receive. 
• Unsubscribe from marketing texts. If you start receiving texts, reply “STOP” (standard method) and unsubscribe from email lists immediately.
• Only fill in the required fields on forms. Skip optional sensitive fields (race, religion, citizenship, income) unless they’re required for eligibility.
• Reject non-essential cookies on first visit. And block third-party cookies in your browser.
• Use private payment methods. If you need to connect bank/payment information for a dashboard or donation, opt for virtual/temporary payment methods, or use a payment card with limited funds. If you must link bank accounts, consider using an account with limited exposure (not your main checking account). 
• Opt out of the sale and sharing of your data. Do this immediately after creating your account by using Bold’s “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” link or emailing privacy@bold.org. 
• Apply strategically, not randomly. Your chances are very low for big no-essay scholarships. Instead, try to prioritize small/local awards, scholarships tied to your major, and niche identity/hobby/community grants.