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Scholarship and Award Funds

The Oklahoma City Community Foundation administers the state's largest independent scholarship award program. The more than 80 funds in the program were established by a wide variety of donors, orgnaizations and families.

These funds are distinguished by having the benefit usually go to an individual for educational purposes or as a competitive or recognition award. Scholarship and award funds provide an efficient way for donors to help students with educational needs or to recognize achievement. The biggest challenge to donors and sponsoring organizations is the long-term administration of the fund and the process. That is why the Oklahoma City Community Foundation is ideally suited to assist the donors and to continue the process in perpetuity.

How to Establish A Fund
A permanent scholarship or award fund may be established with a minimum amount of $20,000 which can be accumulated over an agreed upon time period. A permanent named scholarship that is administered as part of an existing Oklahoma City Community Foundation scholarship program or another larger program may be established with a minimum amount of $10,000. The funds are invested in the Oklahoma City Community Foundation’s general investment pool and benefit from the accounting, administrative, and development services at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. The earnings on the fund are utilized each year for the scholarship or award according to criteria established by the donor or sponsoring organization. The Oklahoma City Community Foundation also administers scholarship and award funds established through wills or trusts.

The Oklahoma City Community Foundation can work with donors to help them establish appropriate criteria and forms, can help promote the scholarships through the Oklahoma County Guidance Counselor Network and the Scholarship Center on this web site, and can administer a selection process if needed.

The Oklahoma City Community Foundation currently administers the state's largest independent scholarship program with more than 70 different scholarship programs. A full-time scholarship coordinator works with both donors and recipients to ensure that funds are utilized effectively and all legal and tax requirements are met. During 2006-07, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation made more than 500 scholarship awards.

Who Should Consider a Scholarship Fund?
The Oklahoma City Community Foundation’s scholarship program is an ideal choice for:

• Donors who wish to establish funds which allow students to attend a number of schools.
• Donors who need assistance with the selection and administration process.
• Donors who are no longer in Oklahoma but want to benefit local students.
• Organizations which want visibility for their scholarship programs.
• Scholarship sponsors who want to participate in the selection but not the other administrative details.
• Scholarship funds which would like the benefit of professional investment services and want to develop additional donors.
• Donors who wish to establish a fund as a memorial and want visibility for the fund.

Scholarship Fund Guidelines and Agreement Form
Scholarship Endowment Fund Guidelines
Permanent Scholarship Fund Agreement, Part I of III

NOTE: To complete Part I of the fund agreement, please save the document to your computer and insert information into text boxes. Once you have completed Part I, please contact Anna-Faye Rose at 405.606.2902 to finalize the agreement.

For more information on establishing a permanent scholarship or award fund at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, please contact Anna-Faye Rose at 405.606.2902.

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