Stop searching. Get a personalized database of every scholarship you qualify for, with deadline alerts so you never miss an opportunity.
Scholarships matched to your aviation journey.
“To most people, the sky is the limit. To those who love aviation, the sky is home.”
Jerry Crawford
How We Got Here
Flight training is expensive. Anyone working toward a career in aviation knows that — and most of us have felt the weight of it. As a pilot progressing toward a commercial certificate, I’ve lived that reality firsthand. Funding each stage of training takes resourcefulness, persistence, and more than a little luck.
That luck changed for me when I found a scholarship that helped cover part of my commercial training. But finding it wasn’t easy. It took hours of searching across scattered, and sometimes outdated websites — I kept wondering how many other students were missing opportunities they’d never even heard of, simply because the information was so hard to find.
That question became Tailwind Scholarships. We track over 1,200 aviation scholarships and match each student to the ones they actually qualify for — based on their certificate level, flight hours, home state, and goals — with monthly deadline alerts so nothing slips through the cracks. The database we wished had existed when we were searching is now available to every student pilot who needs it.
If you’re working toward your wings and looking for funding to get there, you’re in the right place. Tailwind exists because of students like you — and every scholarship you find is exactly the kind of win this was built for.
Meet our team
Matthew McDermott
Founder, CEO, and Pilot
Rhye Moore
Engineering Manager
Helga Steiner
Architect
Ivan Lawrence
Project Manager
FAQs
How does Tailwind Scholarships find scholarships that match me?
When you sign up, you complete a short profile covering your certificate level, flight hours, home state, age, and training goals. We use that profile to filter our database of 1,200+ scholarships down to the ones you actually qualify for — removing anything you’re ineligible for based on geography, gender, certificate requirements, or other hard criteria. Your matched list updates monthly as new scholarships are added and eligibility criteria change, so you’re always seeing the most current opportunities.
How is this different from just searching Google or a free scholarship directory?
Free directories list every aviation scholarship regardless of whether you qualify. You still have to read each one, check the eligibility requirements, and figure out whether it applies to you — which takes hours and is easy to get wrong. Many have outdated information or scholarships that have been discontinued. Tailwind does that work automatically. We also track deadlines and send you alerts, so you don’t have to keep a spreadsheet or set reminders yourself. The database is verified monthly, which means you won’t waste time on scholarships that have closed or changed their requirements since they were last updated.
How many scholarships will I be matched to?
It depends on your profile — particularly your state of residence, certificate level, and whether you belong to any aviation organisations. Most students see between 8 and 20 matches. Students in states with active aviation communities (Florida, Texas, California) or who are members of organisations like EAA, OBAP, or the Ninety-Nines typically see more matches. You’ll see your exact match count during the free profile setup, before you’re asked to subscribe.
How often is the database updated, and how will I know if something new is available?
We review and update the database every month. When a new scholarship is added that matches your profile, you’ll receive an email notification. You’ll also receive a monthly digest showing upcoming deadlines across all your matches. If you’re a Plus member, new scholarships appear in your dashboard 48 hours before Standard members see them.