What do Alicia Keys and 50 Cent have in common? Sure, they’re celebrities in the entertainment industry, and you might even been listening to their music right now. But they also are committed to community service and volunteering, and created scholarships for students who share their passion.
The most important thing to know about getting scholarships for community service is that actions speak louder than words. Scholarship committees will want to see proof of your service, hear from references and see that you are committed to continuing service. Unlike some other organizations that are more about your future goals, community service and volunteer scholarship committees want to know about what you are doing now. They will likely ask questions such as:
- Where are you currently volunteering?
- How long have you been active with the organization?
- Why have you chosen the specific organization/volunteer program?
- How do you plan to continue your involvement in this type of service?
These scholarships are intended for those who have a passion for service. While many high schools and colleges require community service as part of the regular curriculum, in order to qualify for a scholarship for community service, you’ll need to go above and beyond requirements.
Beyond celebrity foundations that offer community service scholarships, you can also find funding for your education from non-profit groups. The BRICK Awards are one such group, and provide grants on $5,000 and $10,000 to “change makers” every year.
The federal government also has a number of scholarship programs to promote community service nationwide through the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Corporations large and small also provide scholarships to volunteers and young community leaders to promote service within the community. Target, Hitachi, Nestle, Kohl’s and Discover Card are just a few of the companies that encourage young people to participate in and lead community service projects by providing scholarships for college.
If you are currently involved in any sort of volunteering, either through your school, a church group or on your own, you may qualify for some of the scholarships listed here.
If you are started your scholarship research early and are considering applying for one of these scholarships, there is still time to become even more involved in your volunteer activities – something you should start in 9th grade (or sooner). You won’t only be benefiting your volunteer organization and the community, but your efforts could drastically reduce the amount you have to pay for your college education.