PRESENTATION HEADLINEPresentation Subhead

AAUW Local Scholarships: Best Practices for Best

ResultsGloria BlackwellVice President, Fellowships, Grants, and Global Programs

The Importance of Educational FundingStudents need support now more than ever.•Rising costs of tuition and other academic expenses.•Approximately two-thirds of all college students graduate with student loans with an average of $26,000 per borrower.•The Project on Student Debt estimates that 206,000 Americans graduated from college with more than $40,000 in student loan debt during 2011.•The unemployment rate for college graduates in 2011 was 8.8%.

– Four-year college graduates are experiencing less unemployment and earning higher salaries than their counterparts with only a high school diploma.

There is a process…

• Establish a committee• Decide what type of scholarship(s) should be offered

and their selection criteria • Funding Source • Recruitment & Application Process• Selection & Award• Alumnae Outreach & Program Assessment

Establish a committee

Role of the committee:•To set policies and guidelines.•To guide the criteria and process.•To define your mission and your goals so that the motivation and purpose of your program is clear and specific.

Type of scholarship(s) and selection criteria • Find out what other local funding exists and where gaps exist.• What level? High school, undergraduate, graduate, technical school, etc.• Based on financial need, academic achievement, high school attended,

intended major, and/or geographical location? • Will you provide assistance for tuition only, or with for expenses as well?• How long is the commitment--renewable, or single year award?• How many awards? • How much per award? • University-based?

Funding Source

• Need to raise funds annually? – Give out scholarship every two years?– Will this be a part of the committee’s role?

• Funded via a trust, endowment?– Endowment through College/University

Fundraising Best Practices

• Comply with IRS rules on charitable contributions: http://www.irs.gov/publications/p526/index.html

• Ensure that you are being transparent about your selection process

• Consider setting up relationships with local Colleges and Universities

• Remember: AAUW National is liable and responsible for the branches and their fundraising activities

Recruitment & Application Process• Plan your time frame for announcing the program,

distributing and accepting applications, and allocating awards.

• Criteria may determine outreach strategy (i.e., continuing student-advertise at local univ, HS student-go to HS guidance office).

• You want to fairly and fully publicize the applications process.• Decide on online application, receiving documents,

transcripts, etc., plus verification.

Selection & Awards

• Evaluation Committee• Evaluation Criteria• Notification of Awardees• Documentation and payment

Program Assessment & Alumnae Outreach • Staying in touch with Recipients

– Feature in newsletter– Invite to events– Spring break contact– Send holiday cards– Mentor/job advice– Solicit program feedback

• Networking with each other and AAUW • Use for applicant recruitment