Ruritan National
             
ruriteen

Change Font Size Small Font Size Large Font Size student scholarship program

About $250,000 is given out annually

The Ruritan National Foundation annually provides financial assistance to students to furthur their education past high school.

Build Your Dollars Grant Program

The Build Your Dollars Educational grant program is one of the major grant programs of the Foundation. This program allows Ruritan clubs to contribute $300 to the Foundation and get an equal share of the net income of the Foundation the next year. Using criteria established by the club, a student may receive a grant based on the students’ financial need, community service, or academic achievement. The amount of the grant received by the club is based on the number of clubs that participate and the income available for distribution. The grant received by the club will always exceed the amount contributed by the club. Participation is limited to those clubs that contribute within the selected time period for contributions and that select a recipient within the required time period. Currently, the club has to donate their $300 between June 1 and September 1 and select a student by April 1 of the following year. If a club does not have a student selected by April 1, they must submit a request for an extension by April 1 and allow 45 days for completion of the grant process after submitting the application. The Foundation Trustees implemented a spending policy in 2007. The policy, in short, determines spending levels based on returns produced by the invested funds but has a stipulation that the trustees will make grants using 5% or $200,000 whichever is greater. Last year, income from the portfolio was under the $200,000 threshold and so $200,000 less expenses was used to make grants. Given the state of the market and projected earnings it is likely that $200,000 will be the appropriate amount during the 2009 grant making cycle.


Other Educational Grants

Ruritan National Foundation also issues regular grants, which are awarded to students on the basis of financial need, character, scholarship and the applicant’s desire for higher education Regular grants, unlike the Build Your Dollars program, are awarded to students who apply directly to and are selected by the Foundation Trustees. Download Grant Application

Eligibility

Any student pursuing a post secondary education is eligible to apply for a grant. The criteria for selection include financial need, good character, scholarship and academic promise. Any person that applies must have the endorsement of two Ruritan members.

Contacts

For more information contact the Ruritan National staff.