Start A Scholarship FundThe Arlington Community Foundation has a well-established Annual Scholarship Program. In 2019, the Foundation awarded more than $500,000 in college scholarships to nearly 200 students. Generous individuals, families, companies and organizations fund the scholarships, which have their own unique eligibility criteria.
Since our scholarship program began more than 20 years ago, generous donors and volunteers have helped make it possible for the Foundation to award more than $5 million in scholarship assistance.
Individuals and organizations can contribute in two ways – either by donating to the Community Scholarship Fund or by establishing their own scholarship. You may choose to establish a scholarship to honor a loved one or high-profile employee or community member.
Families and businesses may choose to establish a named scholarship that honors a loved one or high-profile employee or community member. The donor establishes the criteria for the scholarship and the Foundation’s Scholarship Committee manages the selection process. Criteria can be based on athletic skills, academic grades or community service.
A minimum initial contribution of $2,000 is required to establish a named scholarship. To support a permanent scholarship that awards at least $1,000 annually in perpetuity, a one-time gift of $25,000 is required.
The Foundation strongly encourages donors to establish named scholarships that are renewable and provide the student with at least $2,500 annually. As a scholarship funded for perpetuity, this requires a one-time gift of $175,000 or a combination of a one-time gift and annual contributions.
The Community Scholarship Fund offers one-year scholarships. The intent of this fund is to provide additional financial support to students who have already received scholarships from the Foundation. The Community Scholarship Fund also supports high school seniors of merit and financial need whom may not be eligible for one of named scholarships established by local families or businesses. The Community Scholarship Fund also offers a special scholarship for a student attending Northern Virginia Community College.
Donors can give any amount to support the Community Scholarship Fund.
For a list of current scholarships, click here.