Ease the Burden
of Student Debt

The Aunt Betty Fund's nonprofit mission is to reduce the burden of student debt taken on to pay for higher education. Our secure platform helps steer scholarships, grants and gifts to students and borrowers most in need.

  Give Help  

Help Family & Friends

Do you want to ease the burden on a family member or friend who took out loans to pursue their education?  Recent graduates often need help, but don’t ask. The Aunt Betty Fund makes it easy to send a one-time gift or start a monthly contribution toward your loved one’s student loans. We make sure 100% of your donation goes directly to the student loan servicer.

The Student Debt Problem

Burden on Students After College

The average American who earns a bachelor’s degree takes on $40,000 in debt and pays $350 a month for 10 to 20 years. The result has been a generational postponement of life’s big goals, like getting married, having children, buying a home or car, even launching a start-up.

Impact on Our Economy

The amount of student debt hanging over the U.S. economy is now greater than total credit card debt or total car loans. The financial well-being of 43,000,000 borrowers - and their ability to contribute to the economy by growing families and spending and investing – has been seriously damaged.

Federal Loan Forgiveness Programs

The current Administration substantially curtailed previous federal student loan forgiveness and income-based repayment programs that benefited public sector employees and low income borrowers. Several new or revised programs, announced in 2025, are more restrictive in eligibility and benefits than the programs they replaced. The anticipated result will be a substantial uptick in student loan delinquencies and defaults, with a major adverse impact on affected borrowers and potentially on the economy as a whole.

Borrowers Still Need Help

Many student loan borrowers are unlikely ever to benefit from a federal forgiveness program.  Even those who do qualify – particularly those working in the public sector or with low income – will have to continue making loan payments, month after month, year after year, until they receive notification that some or all of their debt will be cancelled. 

Make a Tax-Deductible Donation

Give one-time or monthly to help borrowers with demonstrated financial need get out of student debt faster. The Aunt Betty Fund is a federally approved public charity under Section 501(c)(3).



Financial Grade
Security

Leading-edge encryption technology and secure cloud architecture keep your information protected

Funds Go Directly to
Pay Down Student Loans

Funds are sent directly to the loan servicer to pay down the debt, unless you instruct otherwise

Fraud
Protection

The Aunt Betty Fund verifies the identity and loan details of fund recipients before paying down student loans


Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Aunt Betty Fund?

The Aunt Betty Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to reducing the burden of student debt taken on to pay for higher education. We provide an online platform with innovative programs to steer financial assistance to students and graduates most in need.

The Aunt Betty Fund has 501(c)(3) donor-funded scholarship and grant programs that reduce the student debt burden of deserving students and graduates based on demonstrated need. Additionally, beginning in June 2026, our platform lets family and friends send payments directly to loan servicers to pay down the debt of loved ones.

Why Is It Called the Aunt Betty Fund?

Aunt Betty personifies a family member who stands out for their kindness and generosity.

The Aunt Betty Fund was named for our founder’s great aunt, Elizabeth Butler. She was raised in an orphanage and, as fortune had it, became a single mom. Late in life her retirement check of $125 a month was barely enough to cover food and rent. Into her eighties, she had to work at Goodwill Industries to pay her other expenses. Still she managed to stuff $20 into each birthday card. Aunt Betty was generous beyond her means. And happier for it.

How Can I Get Help With My Student Loan Debt?
If you are a student loan borrower who is seeking help with your debt, the first step is to register. In your account dashboard, you can add your personal information and your loan information. Beginning in June 2026, you can invite family and friends to sponsor your student loan paydown campaign. You can use your account page to apply for one of our need-based grant programs.
How Do I Help My Friends and Family With Their Student Loan Debt?
Student loans are not often discussed outside of one’s immediate family – sometimes the first step is simply to ask if your loved ones have student loans, and if they need help. If you would like to begin sending payments through the Aunt Betty Fund, the first step is to register an account. Beginning in late 2026, you can invite friends and family to create accounts, and then set up one-time or recurring payments.
Can Student Loan Borrowers Get Loan Forgiveness Instead of Getting Support from the Aunt Betty Fund?
Historically certain categories of borrowers with Federal loans could apply for student loan forgiveness and have all or a portion of their debt cancelled. It's important to remember that these options do not apply to borrowers with private student loans, which often come with higher interest rates than Federal loans. Over the past few years, the prospect of obtaining loan forgiveness has diminished substantially as a result of court decisions and less generous policies announced by the Trump Administration. You can learn about forgiveness options on the Department of Education's website. It has been reported that fewer than 10% of federal loans outstanding have ever been forgiven. And even if a borrower's loans may be forgiven in the future, they will still have to keep making payments for up to 10 or more years through to the month of forgiveness. Depending on their situation, these “lucky ones” may still need help with their monthly payments through a Family & Friends program (scheduled to be launched in June 2026) of The Aunt Betty Fund.
How Does the Aunt Betty Fund Verify My Loans and Identity?
When you set up your account as a student loan borrower, you will be asked for personal information as well as information about your loans. The information you provide may be verified through a soft pull of your credit report, which has no impact on your credit score. Additionally, if you apply for one of the Aunt Betty Fund’s scholarship, gift or grant programs, you will be asked to upload supporting documentation such as a government-issued ID, paystubs, a tax return or other items.
Does the Aunt Betty Fund Charge Any Fees?
There are no fees for student loan borrowers or donors on The Aunt Betty Fund platform. For donors to scholarship or gift programs, Aunt Betty covers all overhead and transaction fees, so that 100% of your donation goes directly to the recipients’ financial aid or student loan accounts.