Scholarship Personalization

A Need for Scholarship Support

More than half of all students graduating today have student loan debt averaging almost $18,000. This is a heavy burden to carry for these bright, talented students who are the treasure of America’s future and who are just getting started in their financial journey. Scholarships, awarded for academic merit and/or financial need, can motivate recipients toward higher levels of achievement and definitely ease their burden of large student loans.

Since 1983, First Command Educational Foundation (FCEF) has granted more than $3.5 million in college scholarships to more than 2,000 students. FCEF’s scholarships are developed and granted in partnership with community organizations, such as youth groups, nonprofits, Girls Scouts, Rotary Clubs, businesses, military units, and public universities. These partnerships broaden scholarship opportunities for young men and women across the country.

Individuals, families, corporations, churches, businesses, and other similar entities may give gifts of cash, stock, real property, other marketable assets, and planned gifts to fund scholarships through FCEF. Endowed and annual scholarships may be named in honor, tribute, or memorial to a loved one, family member, mentor, or friend. All scholarship funds are paid directly to the school in the recipient’s name and in accordance with FCEF’s scholarship policies and procedures.

Option One: Donations to the General Scholarship Endowment Fund

No Minimum Donation

Funded with gifts of any amount, your donation will go into the general scholarship endowment fund and will be disbursed according to FCEF scholarship guidelines. This may be a direct award through FCEF or disbursed through a partner agency.

Option Two: Annually Funded, Named Scholarships

Minimum Donation:  $3,000

Scholarships that are funded annually, and preferably over a 4-year period, can make a significant impact during a student’s college career. These scholarships may be merit, need based, or both. The donor has the option of designating the recipient be selected through a direct application process to FCEF or through one of FCEF’s partner agencies. Annually funded scholarships are developed with the FCEF statement of understanding that sets forth the donor’s wishes and responsibilities of both parties.

Option Three: Endowed, Named Scholarship

Minimum Donation - $50,000

Endowed funds differ from others because they are truly the gift that keeps on giving. Instead of the entire amount being spent outright, the total amount of the gift is invested. The donor will setup the funds, and will determine how the funds will be restricted as well as the recipient selection process. An endowment is a perpetual gift because only the endowment earnings are used to support FCEF while the principle (corpus) continues to grow. Endowed scholarships are developed with the FCEF statement of understanding that sets forth the donor’s wishes and responsibilities of both parties.

Endowed scholarships though First Command Educational Foundation may be funded with a one-time contribution or pledged amount over a period of years.  Recipients can normally be selected when the scholarship is funded, or other arrangements can be made to fund annual scholarships while the future endowment builds. Donors who establish scholarship endowments may receive substantial income and tax benefits.