Scholarships from congregations and faith groups
Congregations and the larger faith organizations around them hold scholarship funds for students in their communities. Read on to see who manages that money, what proof of membership or service a committee may ask for and how these awards sit beside the rest of your aid.
Who manages the fund
A single congregation may keep a scholarship fund built from members' gifts or from a bequest, and its board or an education committee chooses the recipients. Regional bodies such as a diocese, a synod, a conference or a federation often run larger funds open to students from many congregations. National denominational foundations add a third layer, sometimes with awards for students heading to a college affiliated with the faith.
Each layer writes its own rules. A local fund may ask only that the student or a parent belong to the congregation, while a regional award may ask for a set period of membership and active involvement. Some funds are open to any student in the community regardless of faith, so read the terms before ruling one out.
What a committee asks for
Applications commonly include an essay, a transcript and a letter from a clergy member, a youth leader or a lay leader who knows the student. Some ask about volunteer work through the congregation, such as teaching younger children, helping with meals or joining service trips. A few ask for a statement about how faith shapes the student's plans, and others ask nothing about belief at all.
Ask the clergy member for a letter at least a month before the deadline, and give them a short list of what you have done with the community. A committee that sees you every week still benefits from a clear written record.
Some funds are open to any student in the community regardless of faith, so read the terms before ruling one out.
Timing and payment
Local awards are often announced in late spring, sometimes during a service or a graduation recognition. Many are paid to the college, and some pay once while others continue if you stay enrolled. Awards tied to an affiliated college may be usable only at that college or at a short list of schools.
Report each award to your college's aid office, and keep the committee's contact details so you can send a thank-you letter and any renewal forms. Some congregations ask recipients for a short update at the end of the year, which helps the fund keep its donors.
Steps to take this week
- Ask your congregation's office whether it keeps a scholarship fund
- Look up awards from your regional and national faith bodies
- Ask a clergy member or youth leader for a letter early
- Write down any rule about length of membership
Who decides
The congregation's office or the faith group's education foundation
Faith-based awards come from several layers, from the local congregation to national foundations, and each layer sets its own rules.
