Scholarship Funds

Investing in the continued success of our community’s students is a forward-thinking investment in the future. The Community Foundation offers scholarship funds to help donors magnify the way they offer support to future generations of learners and leaders.

“My late husband Larry Carter dreamed of providing financial assistance to African American students seeking higher education. Our fund at the Community Foundation will continue his legacy and make a difference in the lives of students for many years to come."

- Linda Carter-Lewis

Benefits of a Scholarship Fund

How Can a Scholarship Fund Be Personalized?
Scholarship funds can be established in honor or memory of a loved one to recognize their legacy. Scholarship funds can also be named to recognize your family, business or an area of interest.
How are Scholarship Funds Lasting?
You can make a permanent impact on the lives of recipients, who may be inspired by this act of generosity to consider ways to continue this tradition of giving.
What Can I Contribute?
You can establish a scholarship fund now or through your estate plan. We work alongside you and your professional advisors to consider tax-wise giving strategies to support your scholarship fund in the ways that best suit you. The Community Foundation can accept gifts of many types, including appreciated securities, real estate, business interests, personal tangible property, retirement plans, life insurance and agricultural assets. There is also the possibility of accessing unique tax-wise giving strategies like the Endow Iowa Tax Credit, a 25% state tax credit, for those who contribute to the fund.

Learn more about Scholarship Funds

Financial Facts

  • The minimum amount required to establish a scholarship fund is $50,000 and all scholarship funds must be endowed. 
  • The ability to combine funds into professionally managed portfolios allows greater diversification of investments and access to investment vehicles that would not be possible for individual funds. 
  • Each fund is charged an administrative fee based on the balance of the fund.