How to Start a Scholarship Fund

A common misconception is that scholarship funds can only be created by government entities, universities or corporations.

The truth is, individuals and families can set up scholarship funds through college universities, private foundations or community foundations.

Individuals set up scholarship funds for a variety of reasons, such as supporting educational opportunities and college attainment, wanting to honor or memorialize a loved one, establishing a family legacy of giving, or supporting an educational institution.

Many philanthropists turn to community foundations to start their scholarship funds for simplicity and ease. Community foundations provide staff assistance, community expertise and a variety of services that help donors set up and award scholarship dollars to students. They’re also not tied to a particular educational institution.

In 2020, for example, San Diego Foundation donors awarded $3.3 million in scholarships to more than 1,000 students. Among the 2020 scholarships recipients, 63 percent were first-generation college students and 83 percent were from low-income households, based on Expected Family Contribution data.

If you’re considering establishing a scholarship fund, where do you begin? Our philanthropic experts have outlined simple steps to help get you started.

How to Set Up a Scholarship Fund

Starting a scholarship fund is easy if you follow these simple steps:

1. Identify who you want to support

Are you interested in helping underrepresented populations obtain college degrees? Or, maybe you have a passion for supporting female adults in science and technology? The first step in setting up a scholarship fund is identifying the students you want to support. Community foundations are great resources if you need information on community needs and opportunities.

2. Decide what to give

Almost any kind of asset may be used to start your scholarship fund, including cash, publicly traded securities, closely held stock, interests in limited partnerships, real estate, life insurance, personal property and private foundation assets. Tax deductions are earned at the time of your gift, while scholarships awarded continue into the future.

3. Define your scholarship timeline

Your scholarship can be a one-time gift or an annual fund that you award once every year. Another option is to create a scholarship endowment fund, which is permanent.

4. Choose your eligibility requirements

Community foundation staff assists with establishing scholarship eligibility requirements and criteria that reflect your passions and priorities. At The Foundation, we use our experience and expertise to identify the best criteria to attract the most qualified applicants.

5. Name your scholarship fund

Scholarship funds can be created to honor or memorialize someone special, to honor the passions of an individual, or on behalf of a business or organization. Whatever the reason, your scholarship will carry the name you choose. If you prefer anonymity through a community foundation, you can choose a name that reflects your charitable purpose(s).

6. Create a selection process

You can be as involved as you like in the recipient selection process. Community foundations offer scholarship selection committees comprised of experts in education, who can put their years of experience to work for you.

Learn More

Since establishing our Community Scholarship Program in 1997, our generous scholarship donors have awarded nearly $40 million to more than 10,000 San Diego students who help fuel our local economy – making our program the largest private non-university scholarship provider in San Diego County.

We partner with individuals, families, corporations and nonprofit organizations to transform the lives of first-generation, low-middle-income and other deserving students through the gift of higher education.

Explore Scholarship Funds at SDF

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