Annual and Endowed Scholarships

Scholarships and Endowments

Interested in Establishing a Scholarship at Atlantic Cape?
Atlantic Cape Community College Foundation (Atlantic Cape Foundation) welcomes benefactors who invest in our vision to create opportunity for the residents of Atlantic and Cape May Counties. Each semester, we provide educational programs to more than 7,000 people and we are pleased to assist in the development of scholarships that will help our students.

Scholarship Process at Atlantic Cape
The Atlantic Cape Foundation solicits and manages scholarship funds.  The Financial Aid Office of the college administers the scholarship awards to students.  To be eligible for scholarships, students must complete the Scholarship Application and a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  The FAFSA is used to determine a student's level of financial need.  This is particularly important for scholarships that are deemed "need-based."  Once the scholarship cycle deadline has been reached, all scholarship applications are reviewed by an internal selection committee composed of college faculty and staff.  The committee matches applicants to scholarships based on the criteria set by donors.

Donors are encouraged to establish specific selection criteria, but if the criteria is too narrow ,the college may not be able to find an appropriate recipient.  The college discusses criteria with donors if an appropriate recipient cannot be identified.

How to Establish a Scholarship at Atlantic Cape

1. Determine the type of scholarship

   • Annual or one-time: award the entire scholarship fund in the year it is donated

   • Combination: award a portion of the funds and create an endowment with the remaining balance

   • Draw-down: a lump sum that is depleted over time

   • Endowment: an investment fund established through a donation of at least $15,000 whereas scholarship awards are the result of interest earnings

2. Set selection criteria, such as

   • Financial need

   • Minimum grade point average

   • Full-time or part-time student

   • Program of study

   • Incoming (new) or returning student

   • Resident requirement (ex. county of residence)

   • Determine the amount awarded and number of awards

3. Name the scholarship

   • Donors may name the scholarship in memory, in honor, or in recognition of a person or entity

Donors can establish a scholarship by completing the Pledge/Donation Form and returning it to the Atlantic Cape Foundation. Donors will subsequently complete a Scholarship Criteria Form to indicate the scholarship selection criteria.

For more information about establishing a scholarship, please contact Jean McAlister, Chief of Staff/Chief Advancement Officer, at (609) 343-4901 or mcaliste@atlanticcape.edu, or Chris Mularz, Advancement Officer, at (609) 463-3651 or cmularz@atlanticcape.edu.