TACO BELL FOUNDATION OPENS LIVE MÁS SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS WITH MORE THAN $13 MILLION TO BACK THE NEXT BIG THING: YOU

With individual awards of up to $25,000, the Live Más Scholarship empowers Taco Bell fans and Team Members to fuel their education, pursue their passions, and bring their ambitions to life.

TLDR:

• Applications are open for Taco Bell Foundation's 12th annual Live Más Scholarship, with more than $13 million available for Taco Bell fans and Team Members ages 16–26.
• Scholarships of $5,000, $10,000 and $25,000 are up for grabs; no GPA or test scores required. Apply by January 5, 2027, with a two-minute video or 250–500-word essay.
• Taco Bell Team Member Jose Q. was surprised with a $25,000 Live Más Scholarship by Taco Bell CEO Sean Tresvant, making him the first recipient of the 2027 class and reigniting his dream of earning a college degree after financial barriers put his education on hold.
• Four-time Live Más Scholar Jamie M. is designing a custom Taco Bell crewneck with guidance from acclaimed fashion designer Willy Chavarria for the Foundation's Giving Tuesday efforts this December, showcasing how the scholarship opens doors beyond financial support.
• Live Más Scholarship assets can be found HERE.

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The next generation has big ideas for where they want to go, and Taco Bell Foundation wants to help them get there. Applications are officially open for the 12th annual Live Más Scholarship, with more than $13 million available to support young people, including Taco Bell fans and Team Members, as they pursue their passions through education.

Individual scholarships of $5,000, $10,000 and $25,000 will be awarded to students aged 16-26 who show what drives them and how they plan to use their education to make an impact. The Live Más Scholarship puts passion at the center: no GPAs, test scores or résumés are required. Instead, applicants submit a two-minute video or written essay (250–500 words) sharing the passion they're pursuing, where they hope it can take them, and the difference they want to make along the way. It's a chance for the next generation of Cultural Rebels to show what "Live Más" looks like to them.

"To Live Más is to believe that your dreams are worth pursuing and that your path to success is yours to define," said Morgan Tabor, Executive Director of the Taco Bell Foundation. "With our continued investment in the Live Más Scholarship, we're helping even more Taco Bell fans and Team Members pursue their passions, while surrounding them with the resources, community and support to turn their ambitions into reality."

A LAUNCHPAD FOR WHAT'S POSSIBLE

The Live Más Scholarship can make an ambition that once felt out of reach feel possible again. For Jose Q., a Taco Bell Team Member in Los Angeles, that ambition was to pursue a degree in computer engineering and business, a dream he shared with CEO Sean Tresvant when the two first met during one of Sean's first restaurant training shifts in 2024. When Sean returned for another shift this summer, he was surprised to see Jose again and learned that tuition costs had forced him to put his education on hold. Even though his plans had changed, Jose's spirit and optimism were just as Sean remembered.

Months later, Jose was invited to a Taco Bell company event, unaware of the surprise awaiting him. There, he was awarded a $25,000 Live Más Scholarship, with Sean delivering the exciting news and welcoming him as the first member of the 2027 Live Más Scholarship class.

"When I turned and saw the big check, I started crying, because I didn't think that would actually happen," shared Jose. "For those people that are applying for a Live Más Scholarship, advice I can give you would be: never give up. Always trust yourself. Don't let someone — or your own mind — let you down."

For Jamie M., a four-time Live Más Scholar and Taco Bell fan from Phoenix, the Live Más Scholarship has opened doors to opportunities that extend far beyond financial support. Most recently, that meant the chance to bring her creativity to life by designing a one-of-a-kind Taco Bell crewneck sweatshirt, with inspiration and guidance from acclaimed fashion designer and fellow Taco Bell fan Willy Chavarria.

Jamie's custom design will be featured as part of the Taco Bell Foundation's Giving Tuesday efforts this December. Her experience is one of the many ways the Foundation invests in scholars' futures, from mentorship and networking opportunities to career development resources and hands-on learning experiences that help scholars pursue their goals. This ongoing support is made possible in part by the generosity of Taco Bell fans who Round Up their orders. In 2025, donations averaging just 43 cents raised over $51 million for the Taco Bell Foundation, supporting scholarships, Community Grants, and other youth opportunities nationwide.

SCHOLARSHIPS THAT GO THE DISTANCE

Since launching in 2015, the Live Más Scholarship has awarded more than $78 million to thousands of Taco Bell fans and Team Members across all 50 states, supporting their educational journeys at universities, community colleges, vocational programs, and more. Scholars have pursued a wide range of passions, including food innovation, business, fashion & design, medical advancement, and sports management.

The program is designed to grow alongside students, with the opportunity to renew scholarships up to three times. In 2025, over 95% of eligible scholars who applied for renewal received continued support, giving their passions even more room to grow.

The 2026 application period is now open and will close on January 5, 2027. Recipients will be announced in Spring 2027. For more information, including eligibility requirements and frequently asked questions, or to apply, visit www.tacobellfoundation.org/live-mas-scholarship/.

About Taco Bell Foundation 

Taco Bell Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity that empowers the next generation to pursue their passions by breaking down barriers to education and providing resources to help young people chase their boldest ambitions. Since 1992, the Taco Bell Foundation has reached more than 13 million young people across the country and has awarded more than $278 million in grants and scholarships, focused on education and career readiness. For more information about the Taco Bell Foundation, visit www.tacobellfoundation.org. 

Courtney Pettaway – Taco Bell Foundation
[email protected] 

Chloe Leuthaeuser – Edelman 
[email protected]

SOURCE Taco Bell Corp.