How Scholarship Programs Can Better Support Neurodiverse Students
Neurodivergence affects 1 in 5 students, including many of the first-gen and low-income students your scholarship was designed to serve. Here's what to look at in your application process, interview design, and year-round communications.
Why Scholars Who Feel Chosen Stay Connected (And How to Make That Happen)
Your award letter sets the tone for everything that follows: engagement, renewal, alumni connection. Here's why making scholars feel genuinely seen matters, and two simple things you can do this cycle to get there.
Why Scholarship Applications Go Unfinished (And What To Do About It)
Low application completion rates are rarely a student motivation problem. Here's what's actually driving drop-off, what it costs your program, and four practical fixes you can implement before your next cycle opens.
A Complete Guide to Managing Volunteer Selection Meetings Like a Pro
Your volunteer reviewers' experience determines whether they come back next year. Here's a step-by-step guide to running selection meetings that keep your committees engaged, efficient, and committed to your program.
Protecting Your Scholarship Program from Conflict of Interest Risk
Scholarship programs face real legal and fairness risks when committee conflicts of interest go unmanaged. Here's a simple three-step process to stay compliant and protect your organization.
A Lesson from Sri Lanka (and a Resolution for 2026)
Every interaction, even within broken systems, can and should protect individual dignity. For scholarship providers, this guiding principle turns the application process into a reputation strategy, requiring clarity, timely responses, and seeking reasons to say “Yes!”.
Get Ready for Next Cycle: 8 Ways to Streamline Your Scholarship Application
Get your scholarship application ready for the next cycle with these 8 actionable tips. Learn how to simplify your form, make it mobile-friendly, and use technology to streamline your process, saving time for both students and your organization.
Donor Involvement in Scholarship Selection: Q&A on Legal & Ethical Practices
Learn best legal and ethical practices for donor involvement in scholarship selection to ensure your program adheres to regulations and avoids common pitfalls.
The Basic Steps to Creating a 529 Pilot Program for Your Scholarship Recipients
Explore the major decisions and essential adjustments your organization will encounter when integrating 529 plans into your scholarship program, from defining your purpose to establishing accounts and training stakeholders.
Awarding Scholarships Using 529s: FAQs and Expert Insights
Learn about using 529 plans to award scholarships and the benefits they offer both providers and students. This guide answers common questions and provides essential tips for integrating them into your scholarship program. Updated July 2025 with what we’ve learned from our recent work with clients and from the 529 industry.
Injecting Joy: 7 Ways to Make Your Scholarship Program More Fun
Discover seven creative approaches to infusing fun and engagement into your scholarship program, delighting students, staff, and donors alike.
Beyond Tuition: What Financial Aid Misses at the Start of the Academic Year
Learn why non-tuition costs are a major burden for college students and explore a framework for implementing startup grants to support their essential needs.
Smart Scholarships: Using Opportunity Atlas Data to Boost Your Impact
Discover how to strategically target your scholarship funding using the Opportunity Atlas. This guide provides actionable steps for data-driven decision-making.
Navigating Shifting Sands: How Scholarship Providers Can Prepare for Potential Financial Aid Disruptions
Scholarship providers can prepare for potential disruptions to student financial aid by implementing key strategies that ensure students continue to access and persist in higher education despite legislative changes and financial uncertainty.
Beyond Audit-Ready: Strategic Insights for Scholarship Programs in Crisis
Learn essential compliance strategies and governance insights to strengthen your scholarship program against increased regulatory scrutiny while maximizing student impact in 2025's challenging landscape.
Donor Thank-Yous that Make Huge Impact
Your students' thank-you messages are the most powerful donor engagement tool you have. Here's how to collect them, share them, and build deeper donor connections without overcomplicating the process.
Donor Reporting Made Simple: Free Template for Scholarship Programs That Drives Retention
Download our free, customizable donor reporting template designed specifically for scholarship programs to effectively communicate impact, showcase student success stories, and inspire continued giving.
Supporting "Today's Students": 11 Ways to Make Meaningful Impact
Eleven actionable strategies for scholarship providers to evolve their programs and better support the diverse needs of today's college students, moving beyond traditional stereotypes.
10 Questions to Strengthen Your Scholarship Program
Understand the characteristics that separate good scholarship programs from great ones, plus 10 self-assessment questions to evaluate yours.
Why Your Scholarship Program Needs a Strong Policy in 2025
Navigate the evolving landscape of scholarship programs in 2025; learn why a robust policy is crucial for compliance, impact, and resilience amid regulatory shifts and attacks.
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