Process

Opening Doors to Opportunity

Since 1985, the Community Foundation has offered both need- and merit-based scholarships with an aim to increase access to higher education and decrease the burden of debt for our area’s aspiring college students. Thanks to the generosity and vision of our donors, the Community Foundation hosts over 110 scholarships and our general scholarship application puts applicants into consideration for all of them.

Our Application Process
  • Applications open January 2024 for enrollment in summer and fall
  • The Community Foundation’s Scholarship Committee reviews applications and matches potential candidates to scholarship funds based on a variety of criteria
  • Several scholarships require interviews with external committee members
  • Scholarship Committee makes awardee recommendations to the Board of Directors
  • Board of Directors votes to approve scholarship funding
  • Funding is distributed to the college or university of the recipient on an annual basis
Timeline
  • January 2, 2024 – Applications open for five weeks
  • Week of January 31, 2024 – Reminders sent to students with incomplete applications
  • February 8, 2024 – Applications close at 6:00 PM EST
  • Week of May 13, 2024 – Recipients notified to start acceptance and verification process
  • July 15, 2024 – Funds distributed
Eligibility
  • 2.0+ GPA
  • Graduating high school student from Palm Beach or Martin County
  • Demonstrate financial need and/or academic achievement
  • Incoming students at a college, university, or vocational/trade school
Application Resources Required
  • Unofficial academic transcript
  • Completion of essay prompts 
  • One letter of recommendation (as required)
Things to Note

Selected students will be invited to participate in our interview process, which is not an indication a decision has been made. Undocumented students are welcome to apply.