The Foundation's Donor Services team works with donors and/or their financial advisors to establish the fund. Once the details have been discussed, a fund agreement letter is drafted and signed, and then assets may be transferred to establish the fund.

Separately named scholarship funds can be established with gifts of $30,000 or more, allowing a minimum annual scholarship award of $1,000 or more. That balance may be reached over several years with a fundraising/donation plan approved by the Foundation. Endowed scholarships will be awarded in the first available scholarship cycle that occurs after a period of twelve months from the date the fund minimum is reached, unless otherwise approved.

Donations of any size are welcome to the Foundation's General Scholarship Fund, an endowed fund.

Greater Worcester Community Foundation offers several types of philanthropic funds to help donors achieve a wide range of charitable goals. Administrative fees are charged by the Foundation to help cover the cost of operations. Fees for a scholarship fund is set at 1.95%, and amounts above $5,000,000 are assessed at 1.00% annually. Administrative fees are charged monthly and withdrawn from the fund’s assets.

A single application enables students to access the more than 140 scholarship funds managed by the Foundation. Scholarships are primarily awarded to residents of Worcester County for full-time and part-time undergraduate study at accredited institutions of higher education who fulfill all application requirements. Scholarship awards are paid to the college or university after enrollment has been verified.

All scholarship funds must adhere to these criteria:

• Eligible Students: Graduating high school seniors attending college in the upcoming fall. Residence Home address within Worcester County.

Donor's Choice Criteria may include:

• College Major: Intended Field of Study
• High School: Specific high school attended
• City or Town: Specific place of residence within Worcester County
• Academic Achievement: ranking, standardized test scores, etc.
• Involvement: Sports, employment, school activities, community service, etc.
• Affiliation: Connection to a specific club or organization, church, etc.
• Personal Background: May include national heritage, ethnicity, survivor of illness, etc.
• Financial Need: Family's ability to pay for college
• College Limitation: College choice cannot be a selection criterion. When students apply in March, most do not yet know where they will enroll. We confirm each student's final college choice before we mail scholarship checks in July.