Our scholarship application process opens on November 1st each year. Starting mid-October we’ll contact the counselors at each high school to let them know which scholarships are available from the PPSF and ask them to encourage students who fit the criteria to apply. These scholarships are then included on their school scholarship website.

Throughout the scholarship season we periodically ask the PPS high school principals to include the PPS Foundation scholarships information on the weekly Sunday phone call/e-mail, that goes directly to both students and parents.

As long as PPSF has a detailed scholarship agreement, PPSF can set up the scholarship application how the organization would like, chose the members of the evaluation committee, then just report out to the organization when PPSF selects a recipient.

If the organization would like to be more involved, PPSF can have the organization be part of the scholarship committee to help evaluate the applications. PPSF would need to make sure there are no conflict of interest of any group members if they would like to be on the evaluation committee (they might know an applicant or their family, etc). Typically, PPSF does ask that the organization setting up the scholarship raises the funds for the award. PPSF can help by creating an online donation link and sharing the fundraising effort on our website, social media, newsletter, etc. However, we do need the amount that the recipient is awarded raised by May 1st of the year that the organization is offering the scholarship.

If an organization fundraises an amount over $10,000, we can also help invest those funds at the Community Foundation of Central Illinois.

Yes! PPSF does not need the check right away as long as we have an understanding that your group will be fundraising, and we will have the award funds available by May 1st of the year that the recipient is selected.

Besides that, here is the criteria that is needed to start a scholarship agreement: 

– Official Scholarship Name 
-Background of the Scholarship 
– Award amount – we can always adjust the amount after the fundraising is completed
– Criteria/Eligibility to apply – certain GPA, involved in a certain sport, club, etc.

For most of our scholarships, students submit an online application with essay questions. Their submissions are evaluated by committee members chosen by the PPSF, but PPSF can be flexible with the format. 

Examples of what to consider includes GPA, financial need, volunteer activities, and work experience.
PPSF recommends including 1-3 essay questions. 

PPSF keeps very detailed accounting records that include the donor’s name, address, date and type of donation. PPSF ensures that these funds will be restricted for the scholarship that you are raising money for. PPSF will also send out donation receipts to all donors and let the organization know their address if the organization would like to send an additional thank you card.

If you’d like to endow a scholarship, PPSF would have you work with the Community Foundation of Central Illinois (CFCI) to invest those funds. The PPSF can still administer the scholarship, but the funds would be held at CFCI. For a $1,000 scholarship award, they need at least $20,000 invested and they typically do not recommended giving out an award for at least one year upon scholarship creation to allow the funds to grow. 

Holding your funds at the PPS Foundation will provide you with flexibility. We can give out a one-time scholarship award or an annual scholarship award as long as scholarship funds are provided.

There is no specific criteria. PPSF updates the list every year. An organization can list a scholarship for multiple years.