Please make sure you have completed the following required documentation online in order to initiate the release of your scholarship payment to your school:
- Submit your scholarship recipient form by July 1.
- Send a thank you note to Madison Community Foundation. If you do not know the donor’s name please write to “Scholarship Donors.” MCF will forward the notes onto the donors. This is due by July 1.
- Submit proof of enrollment by September 15 for fall semester scholarships and January 15 for spring semester scholarships.
Once we have received all the necessary documentation, we will mail a check directly to the school you are attending. Allow up to two weeks for the check to be processed by the school and reach your student account.
Proof of enrollment must have your name, name of the school you are attending and your student ID number. Acceptable forms include a tuition bill, class schedule or unofficial transcript. You can check with your school's Registrar’s Office to get proof of enrollment if it's not easily available online.
You should write a thank you note on a quality sheet of paper or a card and addressed to the donor of the scholarship, which you can find in the original email you received from Madison Community Foundation. If the donor is anonymous or unknown please address your thank you to “Scholarship Donors.”
Thank the donors for the scholarship award you received, write a few sentences about yourself, which school you are attending and why, and anything else you’d like to write to show appreciation for being the recipient of the award. Be sure to sign your name. It is optional to include a graduation photo.
The card should be sent to:
Madison Community Foundation
Attn: Scholarships
111 N. Fairchild Street, Suite 260
Madison, WI 53703
No. A scholarship may only be paid to educational institutions in support of the recipient.
You can use the scholarship toward direct expenses: tuition, fees, books and school supplies.
A scholarship award used for tuition, fees, books and supplies is not taxable. Any portion of the scholarship that is used for room and board or miscellaneous expenses is taxable. We recommend that students check with their college or tax accountant regarding this matter.
Financial aid packages may be adjusted to reflect scholarships other than those granted by the school. Usually a school will first use an outside scholarship to replace unmet needs, or reduce the amount of loans or work study before adjusting grants or scholarships. However, policies vary at each school and students should check with the Financial Aid Office at the school they are attending.
Yes, all students receiving a multi-semester scholarship will need to submit documents after each completed semester which could include the following: transcript, class schedule and a progress letter. Please refer to your original email from MCF that you received when you were awarded the scholarship. If you change schools or addresses, please notify scholarships@madisongives.org right away.
If you need to defer your scholarship for any reason you will need prior approval from MCF. Please email scholarships@madisongives.org and provide: your name, current mailing and email addresses, name of scholarship, school the scholarship was awarded by, amount of award, school attending or planning to attend, and the reason and duration of deferment.
Please contact MCF at scholarships@madisongives.org to discuss deferring the scholarship. Please include: your name, current mailing and email addresses, name of scholarship, school the scholarship was awarded by, amount of award, and when you anticipate that you’ll transfer to college level courses.