In 1986, the CFDA established an endowed scholarship at Parsons School of Design, in memory of member and previous president Perry Ellis.

In 1996, the CFDA Scholarship Program was created to award annual merit-based scholarship grants to students in their junior year of study in a four-year, full-time college level fashion design program. The program is highly competitive, and entrants represent the best and brightest from the country’s top design colleges and universities. Since the program’s inception, the CFDA Scholarship Committee has awarded 128 scholarships totaling $455,000.

In 2003, the Visiting Designers Program was established. Members involved in the CFDA’s Educational Initiatives visit participating schools to present the CFDA’s programs and review and critique the students’ work.

In 2007, a generous $2,500,000 endowment from the Geoffrey Beene Foundation expanded CFDA‘s core scholarship program, significantly increasing CFDA’s scholarship grants, and funded the establishment of the merit-based GEOFFREY BEENE DESIGN SCHOLAR AWARD.

This prestigious design award program brings the work of the legendary American fashion designer Geoffrey Beene into classrooms at the country’s leading design colleges and universities. A specialized teaching curriculum designed for the GEOFFREY BEENE DESIGN SCHOLAR AWARD challenges students to look beyond conforming to trends and the practicality of business in order to advance the art form.

This supplemental design competition will identify the most exemplary, innovative women’s wear design student, based on specific guidelines. Only the top two (2) junior students from each of the participating schools will be invited to submit a portfolio for consideration.

Each year, the GEOFFREY BEENE DESIGN SCHOLAR will receive $25,000 to help defray senior year tuition and educational expenses. This competitive award is based solely on merit as judged by a prestigious panel of industry experts. The winner and the award is officially announced and presented at the annual CFDA Fashion Awards.

Also in 2007, the Clara Hancox Scholarship Fund was established to support the next generation of menswear designers. Clara Hancox reported for the Daily News Record (DNR) from 1944-1993, and was a great friend to the menswear industry. Each year, the CFDA will select one aspiring menswear design student from the applicants within its existing Scholarship Program to receive the Clara Hancox Scholarship Award.

The CFDA Scholarship Program is in partnership with GEOFFREY BEENE and supported by designer Joseph Abboud.