Increase Access to Education with a Scholarship Fund
Scholarship Fund
Change lives and promote economic security by helping Oregon students to get the education they need.
A scholarship fund allows you to make a charitable contribution, qualify for an immediate tax benefit and provide scholarships in perpetuity to Oregon students pursuing post-high school education.
Benefits of Working with OCF
PERSONAL SERVICE
Support the types of students you care about by setting purpose, selection and award criteria. We help you design a scholarship fund that will have the greatest impact on aspiring students. Once the fund is established and applications arrive, the OCF staff team — along with the Oregon Office of Student Access and Completion (for most scholarship funds) — supports the committee in its annual selection process.
PARTICIPATION
As a donor, you can participate on your fund’s selection committee. After the committee recommends scholarship awards, you can help notify the students, attend award ceremonies and receive correspondence from students.
INVESTMENT EXPERTISE
Your contributions to OCF are stewarded by our expert investment committee and professional managers to ensure the longevity and growth of the fund.
ENSURED LEGACY
Permanent OCF funds create a lasting legacy, helping generations of Oregon students achieve higher education.
How Scholarship Funds Work
- You establish and name the fund with a fund agreement and gift, assisted by an OCF charitable gift planner.
- You make a gift of cash or other assets to OCF to start the fund.
- You qualify for an immediate tax deduction for your charitable contribution.
- The fund is expertly invested.
- The fund has a selection committee, appointed by OCF, on which you may serve as a committee member.
- The fund’s selection committee reviews applications and recommends recipients that are approved by the OCF board in July.
- You may add to the fund at any time, including through your estate.
“Because of your generous contribution toward my education, you are helping me achieve a dream I have had for over 30 years.”
— OCF Scholarship Recipient
Frequently Asked Questions
The fund can be set up with a contribution of at least $50,000. You can also contribute a gift of any size to the Oregon Scholarship Fund, which makes awards statewide.
Once per year, between April and July for the coming academic year.
The minimum scholarship award is $1000.
Scholarship recipients may attend colleges outside Oregon if the donor chooses to support students attending out-of-state schools.
Scholarships are promoted within Oregon, but can be awarded to students attending high schools outside of the state if this is requested by the donor.
Most students apply for OCF scholarships online at oregonstudentaid.gov, the website for Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC). Some scholarships are handled through the school or college.
No. Scholarship awards are sent directly to the education institution.
You can play a role in helping OCF select committee members.
Funds are assessed an annual fee to offset the cost of administration. For more information on investments, fees, returns and policies, view the current fee schedule.
The amount that can be awarded depends on what is called a “payout rate” — a percent of the return on investment. OCF’s current payout rate is between 4% and 5% of the fair market value of the fund based on a 13-quarter trailing average.