Scholarship FAQ’s

The resources below appear elsewhere in our scholarship section pages but are included here for easy access.

For Students

  • Our online scholarship portal to access our Consolidated Scholarship Application and a few other scholarship opportunities.
  • Scholarship Terms and Conditions (PDF): In addition to the description and eligibility criteria, each scholarship follows these scholarship terms and conditions. By accepting a Community Foundation scholarship, you are agreeing to abide by these rules and requirements.

For Teachers, Counselors, and Others

  • Nominators: Please contact scholarships@racf.org to receive the application link to be shared with nominees.

For Scholarship Caretakers/Facilitators

FAQ’s

Do all scholarships have the same eligibility requirements?
No. Each scholarship fund has specific eligibility criteria that was defined by the donor when the fund was established. These requirements are noted in the information provided for each RACF scholarship. Please reference the Eligibility Criteria section of each scholarship pages on our website to determine the scholarships for which you meet the criteria.

Do I have to attend a college in the Rochester area?
Many of our post-secondary scholarships are for attendance in Monroe County, but not all of them. RACF scholarship recipients attend accredited colleges, universities, and technical/trade schools across the United States.

Can I apply for a scholarship if I don’t know where I’ll be going to school?
Yes. If you don’t know which school you’re going to attend, you can still apply for most RACF scholarships. Provide the name of the school you’re most likely to attend; changes can be made after awards are determined (with a few exceptions for those scholarships that are specific to certain colleges).

I don’t have the best grades. Can I still be considered for a scholarship?
Yes. Most of our scholarships take grades into consideration, but some emphasize other areas of performance as well. Good grades help, but they’re not the only requirement for RACF scholarship support.

I’m planning to go to trade school, not college. Can I still apply for a scholarship?
Yes. A few of our scholarships include students planning to attend a technical or trade school.

I don’t live in the Rochester area.
Can I apply for a Rochester Community Foundation scholarship? Almost all

When can I find out what scholarships are available through the Rochester Area Community Foundation?
Scholarship listings are available year-round on our website. Details get updated annually in the fall. We host our Consolidated Scholarship Application and several other single applications in our Scholarship Portal from December 1 – February 28 annually.

How do I apply for a scholarship?
Review the scholarship listings on our website to identify scholarships for which you’re eligible. Either follow the provided link to our online Scholarship Portal, download the scholarship application or take note of where you need to go (e.g., your high school guidance office) to pick up an application. If we don’t have the application, we have provided contact information for applying under the Application Process section of each scholarship page.

How much does it cost to apply?
There is never any charge to apply for RACF scholarships.

Is there just one application to fill out?
No. Although the online Scholarship Portal hosts the Consolidated Scholarship Application with 55+ scholarship opportunities. Additionally, there are individual applications available in the Scholarship Portal and locally at area high schools, colleges and community organizations.

How long does it take to complete a scholarship application?
It varies depending on the scholarship. It will probably take an hour or two to complete the application, write any required essays, and request other required materials such as a letter of recommendation and your unofficial transcript from your school.

Can I send a physical copy or e-mail my application?
Our Consolidated Scholarship Application is in the Scholarship Portal, and we do not accept paper or email attachments of transcripts or recommendations. If you are using the Scholarship Portal, all documents must be uploaded.

Please contact us at Scholarships@racf.org for technical assistance with your application in the Scholarship Portal.

Other applications processes, through schools and community organizations, may accept a paper application. For more details on how to apply, read the Application Process section of each scholarship page.

Can I submit late materials?
Our Consolidated Scholarship Application requires that everything be uploaded and complete to submit. We typically do not accept late applications or request for extensions.

Some of the scholarship opportunities in our Consolidated Scholarship Application require supplemental materials like a specific essay or recommendation. Be sure to review those requirements are submit them before the deadline.

Can I apply for more than one scholarship?
Yes. You can apply for as many scholarships as you are eligible for.

What’s the deadline for applying?
Each scholarship has its own application deadline. This deadline is noted on the scholarship page of our website and on the application. Please note that for paper applications our deadlines are postmark deadlines — your application and all required documents must be postmarked by the given date.

In the Scholarship Portal, you may submit your application right up to 11:59 PM the day of the deadline.

IMPORTANT NOTE: We highly recommend submitting your Consolidated Scholarship Application well before the deadline to find out if the scholarships you qualify for require supplemental materials.

Can I request an extension if I need one?
No. Because we receive so many applications, we are typically unable to extend the deadline for any reason. Our online system does not permit submissions past the deadline.

Where do I send my paper application?
All paper applications are reviewed by Scholarship Committees organized by our Scholarship Caretakers. Submit it to the address listed on the application.

Who makes the award decisions?
Each scholarship has its own review process and committee comprised of local volunteers, RACF staff and donors who read and evaluate each application. They make their decisions based on the fund’s guidelines.

How does the Rochester Area Community Foundation define financial need?
We consider that you have financial need if your expected family contribution (EFC) is lower than the school’s cost of attendance (COA). Even if you haven’t completed the FAFSA, you can use the estimator tool or answer based on your family’s assets and income available to pay for school vs. the total cost of attendance (COA).

When will I find out if I’m a scholarship recipient, and will you let me know if I have not?
All eligible applicants using our Scholarship Portal are notified via email as to whether they received an award. You should receive an email from administrator@grantinterface.com in the spring.

If you completed the Consolidated Scholarship Application and did not see any named scholarships listed on your Dashboard of the Scholarship Portal, then you did not qualify for any opportunities, and we will not send you an email notification.

What happens if I am selected as a scholarship recipient?
You will receive an email notifying you of your award and the amount of the scholarship. This communication will include instructions on how to accept or decline the scholarship through an assigned follow up form in the Scholarship Portal.

Can I receive more than one scholarship?
Yes. You can receive multiple scholarships.

What expenses can the scholarship pay?
Scholarship funds can cover direct educational expenses charged to the student by the college or university, including tuition and fees, room and board, books, and other mandatory equipment. Colleges determine a total Cost of Attendance, including travel, health insurance, and fees that scholarships can also cover.

Please note that IRS regulations state that scholarship awards not used to cover tuition, fees, books, supplies, or equipment are considered taxable income. If you have any questions about how your scholarship might affect your income taxes, please consult your family’s tax advisor.

How large are scholarship awards?
Award amounts vary based on the funds available, the number of recipients selected, and individual financial need. Some scholarships are single payments of $250 and others $40,000 paid as $10,000 over four years.

Will a Rochester Area Community Foundation scholarship give me enough money to pay for my entire cost of my college education?
No, our scholarships are intended to provide partial support; therefore, we encourage you to investigate other financial aid resources such as federal grants, loans, work-study awards and other scholarships. Your school will put together a financial aid package for you, which may include one or more of these types of support.

Do you notify my college of my scholarship?
No. It is your responsibility to notify your school. Most colleges require that you let them know of any outside scholarships. You can also send them a copy of the award letter we send you so that they have that information on file.

Will I receive a check for my scholarship?
It depends on which scholarship you receive. Be sure to review the Award Announcement and Payment section of the scholarship page you have been awarded for details of the payment.

Most of our scholarship payments (95%) are mailed directly to the school’s financial aid office. In that case your scholarship check will be made payable to the college for your benefit.

What happens if I move or change schools after I’ve been awarded a scholarship?
You must notify us if you move or transfer to a new school. Contact scholarships@racf.org as soon as you have made your decision to transfer, and we will work with you to adjust your scholarship.

I received a scholarship and I’d like to send a thank-you note. Where should I send it?
There is a place in your acceptance follow up form to write an electronic thank you note. Handwritten notes can be sent to Scholarship Committee, Rochester Area Community Foundation, 500 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607. We will forward all communication to the committee and/or donor(s).

Questions?

Email Scholarships@racf.org or call 585.341.4350 for assistance.