THE CLEVELAND FOUNDATION

scholarships

THE POWER OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Cleveland Foundation scholarships are made possible by donors who believe in the power of education and who want to help worthy individuals who aspire to advance academically. Thanks to this generosity, the foundation’s scholarship program has awarded more than $50 million to recipients since 1987.

The foundation’s numerous scholarships have diverse criteria and support individuals pursuing a wide range of educational opportunities. While most scholarships are for graduating high school seniors attending colleges and universities, there are awards for professional, personal and vocational programs as well. Generally, Cleveland Foundation scholarships fall within a range of $1,000 to $3,000 per year, and some are renewable for up to four years. Depending on the criteria established for a specific scholarship, the foundation’s selection committee may choose recipients based on a combination of merit, financial need, community service and extracurricular activities. Certain scholarships designate requirements for a specific school, major, geography, organization or company. All Cleveland Foundation scholarships require applicants to be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.

How to apply: First, determine the type of application required for a specific scholarship by viewing our listings at www.clevelandfoundation.org/scholarships. To apply, candidates must register and log in via our Scholarship Gateway.

• General Application: Allows candidates to submit one application and be considered for multiple scholarships as applicable.

• Corporate/Group Application: Allows candidates to apply for a scholarship through an affiliated corporation or organization. Candidates applying for corporate/group scholarships may also submit a general application to be considered for additional awards.

• Renewal: Some scholarships, as described online, are renewable provided the student meets the requirements for continued support. Recipients of renewable scholarships are notified by email of their renewal requirements.

To apply for a scholarship that uses an External Application, contact the affiliated school or organization.

Cleveland Foundation Scholarship Deadlines:General Applications: March 15Renewals: April 1Corporate/Group Applications: April 15

Basic Requirements:All online scholarship applications require the following basic components to be considered complete and eligible for consideration. Some scholarships have additional requirements and/or request a topic-specific essay. Refer to the scholarship listings to identify any additional requirements beyond the following:

• Online application

• Official and current school transcript

• Essay/personal statement

• (2) Letters of recommendation

• FAFSA Student Aid Report showing your Expected Family Contribution

• Acceptance letter from the school you plan to attend – if available

Frequently Asked Questions:Who can apply for a scholarship from the Cleveland Foundation? The different scholarship funds have varied and diverse criteria for selecting applicants, so please read the individual scholarship descriptions for specific requirements. There are some universal requirements for all Cleveland Foundation scholarships. All applicants must:

• Have a minimum grade point average of 2.0 or equivalent GED score (Please note: some scholarships require GPAs above 2.0.)

• Be attending an accredited educational institution

• Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen based on the eligibility requirements of the U.S. Department of Education

Can I use the same application to apply for more than one scholarship?Yes. By submitting the general application, you will be considered for multiple scholarships according to eligibility.

Is filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) required?Yes. The FAFSA is a basic requirement for completion of our online scholarship applications. The majority, but not all, of our awards include financial need among other criteria for selection.

Can my references send their Letters of Recommendation directly to the Cleveland Foundation?It is preferable that you upload your own references to assure your application is complete by the deadline. However, if they prefer to send them to us directly, they must be emailed prior to the deadline to: TCFScholarships@clevefdn.org with your full name (as it appears on your application) and your application number, if available. We will upload emailed Letters of Recommendation to your application as soon as possible. Please allow time for processing at our end, particularly on or near the deadline when the volume of incoming applications and materials is extremely high.

How will I know if I am selected for an award?Selection Committee Meetings take place from April through June, and applicants chosen for an award will be notified primarily by email (U.S. mail in some cases) as soon as committee selection results are reported. We will notify all online and renewal applicants – including those declined – by email when the selection process concludes.

1422 Euclid Ave., Suite 1300 Cleveland, Ohio 44115

216.861.3810www.ClevelandFoundation.org

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