EPI Financial Aid Application

EPI Financial Aid Application
Ecology Project International (EPI) financial aid awards for our student participants are need-based and dependent on the number of applications we receive each year. We consider each application carefully and award the most qualified applicants between $200 and $600 toward their course tuition. Therefore, participation in the course should not be contingent on EPI’s financial aid paying for the majority of the course. Submitting an application does not guarantee financial aid will be awarded.

Important Information:
- The application deadline for this cycle is October 31st, 2025
- To be considered, the participant must be enrolled in a 2026 course with a paid enrollment deposit ($350).
- The applicant must submit supporting documents including:
  - 1040 tax returns. (Forms are required from the participant; or, if the participant is a minor and/or a dependent, then 1040 forms are required from all parents/guardians/head of household/etc.)
  - Any other relevant, explanatory, or supporting information that will help us in determining financial need.
- If you are an educator participating in a PD course, please apply for a PD scholarship here instead of completing this financial aid form.
Our objective is to obtain a clear picture of the financial need of each applicant. Because funding is limited, only complete applications submitted by the deadline will be considered.

Ecology Project International
315 S 4th Street East
Missoula, MT 59801
406-721-8784
Reply to Email
example@example.com

Application Checklist*

The participant is enrolled in a 2026 course and has submitted a $350 enrollment deposit.I understand I need to provide a digital or printed copy of recent completed 1040 tax form(s). Note: Parents who filed separately must each submit their 1040 tax form.I understand I can provide digital or printed copies of other relevant, explanatory or supporting documents that help to demonstrate my financial need.

Section 3: Income
- Please help us gain a picture of your family's annual income for the previous year.
- If a field does not apply, enter 0.
1. Parent/Guardian 1 Adjusted Gross Income*
2. Parent/Guardian 2 Adjusted Gross Income*
3. Participant's Adjusted Gross Income*
4. Participant's Spouse's Adjusted Gross Income *
5. Welfare Benefits and/or Veterans Benefits*
6. Disability Benefits and/or Worker's Compensation Benefits*
7. Dividends and/or Interest*
8. Alimony and/or Child Support*
9. Other*
Total Income
Will income for this calendar year be similar to what is reported above for the previous year?*

YesNo
Please explain how you anticipate your income will differ this year.*
Do you have funds in cash, savings, and/or CDs?*

YesNo
What is the present value of your cash, savings, and/or CDs?*
Do you have investments (stocks, bonds, etc.)?*

YesNo
What is the present value of your investments?*
Do you have a trust fund?*

YesNo
What is the present value of your trust fund?*
If you are a college student: Please further explain your income (i.e. Are you working full or part time for income? Are you using student loans, grants, or scholarships for living expenses? Are you receiving any financial support from others that are not reflected on your taxes or that you haven't already listed in this application?)
Do you have any additional information to provide regarding your income?:*
If applicable, use the space above to explain any additional information about your income.

Section 4: Expenses
Please help us gain a picture of your family's annual expenses for the last calendar year.
- Please enter the value as the total annual expense.
- If a field does not apply to your circumstances, enter 0.
- There is an explanation field at the end of this section. If there are unique circumstances around your/your family's expenses, please use that area to explain what EPI should know in order to fully understand your annual expenses.
1. Annual Food Expenses*
2. Annual Housing Expenses (rent, mortgage)*
3. Annual Utilities Expenses*
4. Annual Taxes*
5. Annual Medical Costs (health insurance, medical bills, and/or medical debt payments)*
6. Annual Auto Insurance *
7. Annual Auto Payments and/or Maintenance*
8. Annual Transportation Costs (gas/public transportation passes)*
9. Annual School Tuition Expenses (private school, college)*
10. Clubs, Memberships (>$200)*
11. Camps, Lessons, etc.*
12. Annual Student Loan Payments*
13. Other Annual Expenses*
14. Annual Credit Card and/or Credit Card Debt Payments (please exclude anything that you've already reported)*
Total Expenses
Is there anything else you would like EPI to know about your annual expenses? If yes, please provide specific and detailed information in the box below.*
Will expenses for this calendar year be approximately the same as what is reported above for the previous year?

YesNo
Please explain how your expenses have changed or how you expect they will change this year.*

Section 5: Disposable Family Income
Your disposable income (listed below) was calculated based on your Total Expenses (Section 4) and Total Income (Section 3).
- Your disposable family income is the difference between your income and expenses.
- We understand that this is not necessarily the total amount that can be contributed to the tuition, but that it represents disposable income after accounting for living expenses.
- A negative number would be indicative of living expenses exceeding income.
Disposable Family Income
Use this space to describe or explain anything else that you feel EPI should know about your financial situation. This can help illustrate circumstances that EPI should take into consideration when determining your financial need. (Answering this question is strongly encouraged!)

Section 6: Course Costs & Funding
What is your EPI course tuition?*
Tuition cost can be found on the Participant Login page.
Please use the space below to help EPI understand how you plan to fund your EPI course. Without including potential financial aid and scholarships, how do you plan to pay for your course?
- Estimate the approximate contribution from each source listed below.
- Indicate the approximate financial contribution in U.S. dollars.
- If a field is not applicable, enter 0.
Participant's parent(s)/guardian(s)*
Participant's parent(s)/guardian(s)
Participant*
Participant
Other family and/or friends*
Other family and/or friends
School*
School
Fundraising*
Fundraising
Total
Requested Financial Aid Amount*
Please keep in mind that awards range from $300 - $600. Therefore, the maximum request amount is $600.

Section 7: Supporting Documents
EPI requires a copy of the most recent 1040 tax forms from all relavent individuals/couples.
- This may include the 1040/1040 EZ form for the participant, parents/guardians, and/or any other individual who claimed the participant as a dependent.
Supporting documents are required for applications to be considered complete.
- Applications without supporting tax documents will not be considered.
- Please also use the upload boxes below to attach any other supporting documents that you would like EPI to review to fully understand your financial situation.
- If you choose not to upload your documents at the time of submission, your application will not be considered complete until the documents have been provided to EPI.
- The review team will do their best to inform applicants if their application is incomplete; however, it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure all supplemental documents and applications are submitted to EPI by the deadline.
Document Security:
- Application submission happens via a secure (https) browser session.
- Applications and uploaded documents are then stored in an encrypted database that only select EPI staff can access.
- Though applications are stored in this secure location, there is always some risk to sharing sensitive information. Thus, we ask that you block out or redact any sensitive information (e.g., Social Security Numbers) from your supporting documents.
- If you have difficulty uploading your documents, please contact our office.
You can submit documents by:
- Uploading them below
- Faxing them to 406-721-7060
- Emailing them to financialaid@ecologyproject.org
- Mailing printed documents to the following address:
Ecology Project International
ATTN: Admissions Department
Financial Aid Application
315 S 4th Street East
Missoula, MT 59801

For mailed or faxed documents, please include the participant's name on the first page of each document. Mailed documents must be postmarked before the deadline.
Signer's Signature

Clear
Most recent completed 1040 Tax Form

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Additional 1040 Tax Form, if applicable (example: participant and parent/guardian forms needed)

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Additional 1040 Tax Form, if applicable (example: participant and parent/guardian forms needed and parents/guardians filed separately)

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Other supporting document (if applicable)

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Other supporting document (if applicable)

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Other supporting document (if applicable)

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Should be Empty:

EPI Financial Aid Application

Section 1: Applicant Information

Section 2: Family Information

Section 3: Income

Section 4: Expenses

Section 5: Disposable Family Income

Section 6: Course Costs & Funding

Section 7: Supporting Documents