COHASSET, Mass. — The Kulpa Foundation has opened applications for its Kulpa Health Innovations Scholarship, which supports students developing projects aimed at making healthcare more accessible and affordable.
The scholarship offers up to $1,000, with awards based on the scope and potential impact of each applicant’s project. Recipients will also receive mentorship and strategic guidance from professionals in healthcare and business development.
The program is open to students enrolled at accredited educational institutions who are pursuing a degree or certificate related to healthcare innovation. Applicants must be actively working on a project addressing issues such as medical debt and the cost of care, gaps in healthcare delivery or the intersection of technology and health services.
Applications will be evaluated based on innovation, feasibility, potential impact and alignment with the foundation’s mission. Shortlisted applicants may be invited to present their projects to a panel of healthcare and philanthropy experts before a recipient is selected.
“Navigating the financial side of a health crisis is overwhelming for any family,” said Jason Kulpa, Co-founder of the Kulpa Foundation. “We have seen up close how the system often fails people when they are at their most vulnerable. This scholarship is about backing the students who are building real solutions: the tools, ideas, and approaches that can make a difference for families facing those challenges.”
Students can apply through the foundation’s official Reddit thread, where full application instructions are available. Applicants are expected to describe their project and submit an essay about how health and financial challenges have shaped their goals.
The application deadline is Aug. 31.
The Kulpa Foundation was established in 2024 by Jason Kulpa and Melissa Anderson Kulpa. The 501(c)(3) organization focuses on reducing the financial burden of medical debt through direct assistance, educational programs and partnerships.
Jason Kulpa is the Founder and former Chief Executive Officer of UE.co, a San Diego technology company acquired by Digital Media Solutions in 2019. He and his wife founded the foundation following his father’s death from cancer, an experience that included managing the financial burden associated with his medical care.
Melissa Anderson Kulpa, a former Division I lacrosse player at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, helps direct the foundation’s work supporting young women in athletics and education.
