One perk of volunteering in your community that you may not be aware of is the possibility of receiving scholarship money as a result of your efforts. You may be eligible for community service scholarships if you have a history of charitable acts.
Thirteen scholarships for community service have been established.
To assist you with your education expenses, the following are a few examples of volunteer-related scholarships:
1. DoSomething.org has several simple scholarships available.
By completing one of DoSomething.org’s programs, you may receive a substantial scholarship if you’re under the age of 25. Other ideas include creating cards for military personnel or drawing superheroes to encourage young people.
After completing an easy scholarship campaign, you’ll need to submit a photo (you may enter more than one). In each campaign, DoSomething.org will randomly choose a winner or winners. This usually happens within three to four weeks of the campaign ending.
Scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000 were given to 2022 campaigns.
2. The Scholarship for Equitable Excellence
According to GADCapital in Toledo More than $30 million in community service scholarships have been given out by the Equitable Foundation to deserving college students.
Accomplished Equilibrium Students who “display bravery, power, and wisdom as shown via community impact through voluntary work” are eligible for a scholarship.
Scholarships of $2,500, $10,000, or $25,000 are available to graduating high school graduates. A $1,000 prize is also given to the winners’ schools.
3. For Young Heroes, there is the Gloria Barron Award.
It is given to children and teenagers between the ages of 8 and 18 who have made a difference in the lives of others around them and the environment.
Winners recently include:
- Donated food, school materials, and other necessities to communities in need
- Started a non-profit organization to deliver classroom aquariums of native fish
- Research into uncommon pediatric disorders was funded via a fundraising campaign.
Scholarships totaling $10,000 are awarded to 25 recipients each year for community service.
4. AmeriCorps Education Award
You may be eligible for the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award if you complete an appropriate term of service in specific AmeriCorps programs.
Included in the programs that qualify you for AmeriCorps are:
- The National Community Service Corps of the United States of America
- State and national AmeriCorps
- AmeriCorps VISTA. (Payment may be made in cash if desired)
Award recipients can receive a Pell Grant up to $6,345 in 2021-2022.
The prize may be used to pay for school costs or repay certain debts. However, there are some conditions attached to the usage of this money.
5. Prudent’s Spirit of Community Awards
More than 140,000 students have been honored for their community work via the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program since its inception in 1995.
A split of grants depending on the kind of scholarship awardee is shown in the following table:
- An all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the state honoree (or a virtual event, depending on circumstances)
- Scholarship of $5,000 and a donation of $5,000 to a charity of their choosing for national honorees.
Students in grades five through 12 are eligible to apply. Students from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Brazil have also been recognized for their volunteer work.
6. The Bonner Leadership Program
There are scholarships and work-study opportunities for students in the four-year Bonner Leader Program. Along with a stipend, you’ll have a chance to participate in leadership and social justice training.
To learn more, contact one of the program’s campus partners directly. In Danville, Va., Averett University provides a $1,200 yearly stipend to graduate students.
7. The Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship
About 30,000 students have received Comcast community service scholarships since 2001.
Each year, Comcast gives a one-time grant of $2,500 to one or more deserving high school seniors who apply for the Leaders and Achievers Scholarship program.
Candidates for the Comcast award are evaluated on various factors, including their grades, extracurricular activities, and leadership abilities.
8. The Jesse Brown Youth Scholarship Program was established in his honor.
Students under 21 who have volunteered at least 100 hours at a Veterans Affairs medical facility are eligible for the Jesse Brown Memorial Youth Scholarship Program.
The following sums are given to deserving volunteers: $5,000, $7,500, $10,000, $15,000, and $20,000, respectively.
9. In Race Relations, the Princeton Prize
The Princeton Prize in Racial Relations honors students who have made a difference in improving race relations in their schools and communities through their work. Applicants must be enrolled in high school and sponsored by a teacher, adviser, or community leader, among other people, to be eligible for the prize.
Attendance at the university’s annual Symposium on Race is compensated for by a $1,000 scholarship and travel expenses.
10. Scholarships offered by the GE-Reagan Foundation
The GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program awards grants to students who participate in community service and voluntary work.
Students on U.S. military bases or those who are home-schooled may apply as long as they show “exemplary leadership, drive, honesty, and citizenship,” according to the criteria.
Up to $40,000 in total, winners get $10,000 each year for tuition, fees, books, supplies, or housing and board (up to $10,000 per year).
11. YWPA Award for Excellence in Public Service to Women
There have been 819 women who have received 971 scholarships from the Zonta International Foundation since 1990.
The Young Women in Public Affairs Award is open to women between the ages of 16 and 19 who live in Zonta districts and regions or are residents of a Zonta nation. Among the honors, below is a more detailed breakdown:
- Recipients from each section earn $1,500.
- An additional $5,000 is given to 10 foreign beneficiaries (chosen from the district recipients).
Recipients must have a track record of success as a leader.
12. Young People’s Choice Awards
You might earn a Brower Youth Award if you’re dedicated to safeguarding the environment.
The recipients of these awards must be between 13 and 22. Among the six winners, each receives a $3,000 reward, a professionally-produced short film about their work, and a weeklong vacation to the San Francisco Bay Area.
13. Scholarship Fund for Davis-Putter Students
Those committed to social justice are given scholarships through the Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund.
Winners are picked based on their social involvement and documented financial necessity. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $15,000, the latter being the most common.
Browse local and national community service scholarships.
This list of community service scholarships is a beautiful place to start, but there are many more awards available, both locally and nationally. Find other scholarship possibilities by using scholarship search tools and contacting your school counselor or Rotary Club.
It’s not only about making the world a better place; it’s about helping you pay for college.
