The National Military Family Association (NMFA), a nonprofit that works to strengthen and protect military families, is now accepting applications for its Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship, Career, and Business Funds Program. The program is expanding its application period to 15 weeks to allow more time for spouses to apply.

Since the program’s inception in 2004, NMFA has awarded nearly $4 million in scholarship funds to more than 4,000 military spouses. Scholarships of $500 to $2,500 are awarded to military spouses pursuing various levels of education or career advancement efforts.