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Open a Scholarship Fund
Benefits of Scholarship Funds
Personal Approach
Not only do we help you personalize your scholarship fund, our team provides direct support for each scholar.
Participation
Choose your personal preferences regarding involvement in the selection process, correspondence and more.
Student Impact
Our expert staff provides insights to help you increase the impact of your scholarship based on student needs.
Flexibility
Design a scholarship to support a variety of schools or interests and adjust criteria if your focus or purpose evolves over time.
How Scholarship Funds Work
Design
Our team will explore your goals and share insights to establish eligibility and selection criteria that reflect your purpose and address student needs.
Donate
Make your tax-deductible donation to the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington. See what you can give.
Disburse
Serve on the selection committee or tap our trained volunteers. Either way, we ensure awards are made on time and according to IRS rules.
Support Our General Scholarship Fund
Common Questions
Do scholarship funds only support college students?
No. Donors can design a scholarship fund for any educational purpose, beginning in early childhood education and spanning through higher education or adult continuing education. Scholarships can also be awarded to students pursuing a vocational or technical certificate.
Can the donor specify the requirements for selection?
Yes. Our staff assists you in developing meaningful selection criteria, whether that involves awarding to particular schools, geographic areas or fields of study. You can even specify service activities, leadership development and financial need.
Are students required to maintain good academic standing?
Yes. If they do not meet “academic good standing” criteria of the college, the funds for the next semester may be awarded on a probationary basis. If the student fails to meet the standards in consecutive terms, the scholarship remainder may be returned to the fund.
When are scholarships awarded from my fund?
Every year you may award as many scholarships as you want from your fund balance or from your amount available to spend. Awards are distributed once a year between May and August for the coming academic year—unless there is a stated exception.
What size of scholarship should I award?
The size of each scholarship award is entirely up to you. However, we highly recommend a minimum award of $2,500.
Am I required to have a selection committee?
Yes. A selection committee of at least three individuals must review all applications and select award recipients based on a competitive process with established criteria. Committees are approved and managed by the Community Foundation.
How involved can I be in the selection process?
Selection procedures must meet objective and non-discriminatory standards outlined by the IRS. For this reason, we advise donors to limit their involvement in the selection process. Legally, selection committees must include a majority of members who are not donors, related parties, or individuals designated or appointed by the donor.
How are selection committee members appointed?
The Community Foundation approves and manages committee members. If desired, you can serve as a committee member or name individuals, or specific professional positions, to serve on your selection committee.
Will I hear from the students who receive awards?
Yes. Many scholars write "thank you" notes and other correspondence. We will forward these to you at the end of each scholarship season, so you can see the impact your awards create in students’ lives. You also have the option to remain anonymous. For other questions, contact our Scholarship Manager.
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