Drug rehab scholarships: who offers them and how to apply
By Robby Patrick, President and Founder, The Blackburn Foundation. Published . Updated .
Drug rehab scholarships are offered by nonprofit scholarship funds, by some treatment programs themselves, and through state and county funded care. The Blackburn Foundation, a Los Angeles 501(c)(3), is one nonprofit fund: it pays for rehab, detox and sober living case by case, for people across the United States. Call (888) 305-5422.
Quick facts: drug rehab scholarships
- What it is: charitable funding that pays for some or all of a person’s treatment. It does not have to be paid back.
- Who offers them: nonprofit funds, treatment programs, recovery housing groups and community or faith groups. Public funding comes through Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) and state and county programs.
- What they can cover: detox, residential and outpatient treatment, sober living and aftercare, depending on the program.
- Cost to apply: a real scholarship program never charges an application fee.
- The Blackburn Foundation: more than $1.65 million awarded and more than 100 people helped into treatment since November 2023 (as of October 2026). EIN 36-5017255.
Who offers drug rehab scholarships?
No single list covers every scholarship, because most are small and local. These are the kinds of programs that fund treatment, and how each one usually works.
| Source | Who runs it | What it usually pays for | How to find it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofit treatment scholarship funds | 501(c)(3) charities, such as The Blackburn Foundation | Part or all of treatment or sober living at a program the person chooses with their care team | Search the charity’s site for an application; check its EIN |
| Treatment program scholarships | Some rehab programs set aside reduced-cost or donated spots | A stay at that program only | Ask the admissions team directly |
| Sliding-fee care | Clinics and programs that price care by income | A lower rate rather than a grant | Ask each provider, as SAMHSA advises |
| Public funding | Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California), plus state and county programs supported in part by federal SAMHSA block grants | Treatment at participating programs, often at no cost | FindTreatment.gov, SAMHSA’s National Helpline 1-800-662-4357, or your county line (LA County: 1-844-804-7500) |
| Recovery housing scholarships | Local nonprofits and some sober living operators | Rent at a sober living home for a set time | Ask treatment staff for local options; see sober living scholarships |
| Community and faith groups | Congregations, service clubs and community funds | One-time help with a specific cost | Ask directly; many do not advertise |
How does The Blackburn Foundation’s scholarship work?
The Blackburn Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity based at 12326 Venice Blvd in Los Angeles. Its treatment scholarship fund exists for the gap that opens when insurance or savings run out before care is done, and for people with no coverage at all. Every scholarship is decided case by case. Depending on need, it can help pay for intervention, detox, residential treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, sober living and transitional housing, therapy and psychiatry, mentoring and spiritual counseling, and aftercare.
- Apply or refer. Fill out the online application or call (888) 305-5422. You can apply for yourself, someone you love, or a client.
- A conversation. The team learns what is needed and what is already in place.
- A plan. The Foundation looks at the level of care that fits and works with you and the treatment team to build it.
The Foundation funds care. It is not a treatment provider, and it does not pay for referrals.
How do I choose a scholarship program? A checklist
- Is it a registered charity? A nonprofit fund should give its legal name and EIN. You can look up any EIN with the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.
- Is the application free? It should be. Walk away from any fee to apply.
- Can you choose the program? Some scholarships pay only for one program. Know that before you apply.
- Does it say what it can pay for? Detox, residential, outpatient, sober living and aftercare are different costs.
- Does it say how decisions are made? Look for plain words about review, timing and privacy.
- Does anyone offer you money, travel or gifts to go to a certain program? That is a warning sign, not a scholarship. Paying for patient referrals to treatment can be a federal crime under the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act (source 4).
What do I need to apply for a rehab scholarship?
Most applications ask for the same things, so gather them before you start:
- Contact details for the person who needs care, and for you if you are applying for them.
- A short description of the substance use and any mental health concerns.
- Insurance or Medi-Cal details, and what coverage has already paid or denied.
- The level of care being considered and, if chosen, the program and its contact.
- A plain account of the financial need.
The Blackburn Foundation’s online application takes about 20 to 30 minutes and has 7 short sections.
Should I try insurance or public funding first?
Usually, yes. Scholarship funds are small compared with the cost of care, so most work best alongside coverage. Start with insurance or Medicaid, ask about sliding fees, and use a scholarship for what is left. Read how to pay for addiction treatment, and if you are in Los Angeles, help paying for rehab in Los Angeles.
Sources
- SAMHSA, Find free or low-cost treatment.
- SAMHSA, Block grants.
- SAMHSA, FindTreatment.gov, and National Helpline, 1-800-662-4357.
- 18 U.S.C. 220, Illegal remunerations for referrals to recovery homes, clinical treatment facilities, and laboratories (Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act of 2018).
- Internal Revenue Service, Tax Exempt Organization Search.
- Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Substance Abuse Prevention and Control, No-cost treatment services eligibility.
If this is an emergency.
If you or someone near you is in danger now, call 911. For a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or chat at 988lifeline.org. It is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day.
This guide is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice. Talk with a qualified professional about your situation. How we write and source our guides: Editorial Policy.
Questions
Who offers scholarships for drug rehab?
Nonprofit treatment scholarship funds such as The Blackburn Foundation, some treatment programs with reduced-cost spots, recovery housing groups, and community or faith groups. Public funding through Medicaid and state and county programs can also make treatment free.
Are there sober living scholarships?
Yes. Some nonprofits and local groups help pay for sober living. The Blackburn Foundation’s treatment scholarships can help pay for sober living and transitional housing, decided case by case.
Is there a treatment scholarship nonprofit in California?
Yes. The Blackburn Foundation is a California 501(c)(3) based in Los Angeles, EIN 36-5017255, that awards addiction treatment scholarships. Apply online or call (888) 305-5422.
Do rehab scholarships have to be paid back?
No. A scholarship is charitable funding, not a loan. Some programs pay only part of the cost, so ask what is covered.
Does applying guarantee a scholarship?
No. At The Blackburn Foundation every scholarship is decided case by case, and submitting an application does not guarantee one.
Related guides
All resources- 01
What is a treatment scholarship?
What a scholarship pays for, who it is for, and how to apply.
Read - 02
Help paying for rehab in Los Angeles
County care, insurance appeals, sliding fees and scholarships, in order.
Read - 03
Sober living scholarships
Help paying for sober living and transitional housing.
Read - 04
How to pay for addiction treatment
Insurance, Medicaid, free and low-cost programs, and scholarships.
Read