Scholarships

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Scholarship funds are charitable accounts established at the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona by individuals or organizations for the purpose of helping students pay for their higher education. Scholarships funds must comply with IRS guidelines. Scholarships do not need to be repaid by the recipients.

This depends on the specific scholarship. See the eligibility criteria for each scholarship on our website to determine who is eligible.  The CFSA General Scholarship is open to all graduates of Southern Arizona high schools from any year.

While CFSA would like to award a scholarship to all eligible applicants, the availability of funds limits the number of awards made each year. An applicant’s chance of receiving a scholarship depends on the number of applicants and the competitiveness of the applicant pool. These factors change each year. Meeting minimum eligibility requirements only guarantees that an applicant will be considered for the scholarship, not that they will receive one.

No. Scholarships are paid to the financial aid office of the recipient’s school upon return of a Scholarship Agreement. IRS guidelines prohibit CFSA from making awards directly to a recipient.

No. Fundholders are prohibited by IRS regulations from selecting scholarship recipients. All scholarship applications must be submitted directly to the Community Foundation and are reviewed by a committee of community members who determine the recipients.

CFSA uses the Student Aid Report from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as the primary determinant of financial need. Applicants also have the opportunity to provide additional information relevant to their financial need.

Applicants who are not eligible to complete the FAFSA may still apply for CFSA scholarships. Their financial need will be evaluated based on the additional information they provide.

• A current transcript (high school or university, as appropriate)
• The Student Aid Report (SAR) from the FAFSA, if available.
• The Estimated Cost of Attendance at your institution.
• For first-time applicants, a letter of recommendation.
• For corporate scholarships, proof of eligibility.

Applications typically open in January each year. Check back in December 2020 for information regarding the 2021-2022 school year application timeline.

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Notification of awards will be made in mid-May.

If selected to receive a scholarship, you will be notified by CFSA staff. You must complete a Scholarship Agreement which outlines the terms and conditions of the scholarship and confirms your enrollment information. We also ask for a digital photo and thank you letter that we may share with the scholarship donor(s).

Failure to return to Scholarship Agreement by the specified date will be interpreted as the recipient declining the scholarship.

Checks are issued directly to the financial aid office at the recipient’s institution upon receipt of the Scholarship Agreement. Checks are normally sent by June 30, though many universities will not apply the funds to a student’s account until the beginning of fall semester.

If you have not received your scholarship funds in your student account by the beginning of the semester, please contact first your financial aid office then, if necessary, the Community Foundation.