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The economic future of Ohio is directly linked to the amount of scholarship funds available to our students. Below is information on the different types of scholarships and programs supported by The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges.

The Ohio Scholars Program®
Scholarship Gift Levels

The Ohio Scholars Program®

The Ohio Scholars Program is one of the largest and most diverse statewide scholarship management programs in Ohio. We assist corporations, foundations, organizations and individuals in providing scholarships for economically disadvantaged and academically deserving students.

Helping students from low to moderate income families attain access to higher education and to graduate is laudable, but managing the scholarship process is often viewed as a detailed and daunting task.

The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges manages The Ohio Scholars Program and assists donors by identifying and selecting students who match their strategic focus or meet their guidelines for giving, then monitors students' progress to ensure that academic and financial aid eligibility is maintained.

Donors may request selection of their scholars based on criteria such as geographic region or home town, specific high school attended, academic major, ethnicity, grade point average or a combination of criteria. Each scholarship will bear the donor's name and is designed to meet the donor's guidelines. OFIC provides statewide news releases recognizing the donor and the scholarship recipient unless the donor wishes to remain anonymous. Large corporations, small businesses, hospitals, family foundations, donor advised funds, individuals and others may all take advantage of The Ohio Scholars Program to meet their giving interests and establish their own scholarships.

Corporate Donors
Corporations that provide scholarship support are often making a strategic investment in the company's future. Establishing relationships with students may result in opportunities for internships and post graduate employment. As corporate scholars many of these young men and women may be provided a forum to meet with corporate leaders and other employees and develop a sense of partnership with the donor corporation. Investing in scholars today educates the work force of tomorrow, which is critical to the economic growth of our state. Scholarship gifts do make a significant difference.

Foundation Donors
Community foundations, donor advised funds, corporate foundations and family foundations appreciate OFIC's professional management of the scholarship process. OFIC will also handle the task of scholar identification and selection. Because 75% of Ohio's independent college-entering freshman qualify for financial assistance, OFIC easily identifies students who are both academically deserving and financially needy. Most foundations particularly appreciate being able to award scholarships to students from their own geographic regions, as they positively impact the local economy. Many of these students return after graduation to enrich their home communities.

Endowment Donors
Those who desire to see their scholarship gifts live in perpetuity may choose to establish an endowed fund that will forever serve to assist students who meet the donor's interests. Endowed funds may be established with a minimum gift of $25,000. Our largest endowed scholarship is currently in excess of one million dollars.

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Scholarship Gift Levels

Gifts of increasing amounts provide for additional numbers of scholarship recipients.

$100,000 and above*

$50,000 - $99,999*

$25,000 - $49,999
18 - 34 Scholars

$10,000 - $24,999
7 - 17 Scholars

$5,000 - $9,999
3 - 6 Scholars

$2,500 - $4,999
1 - 2 Scholars

* Donors at these levels may determine a wide range of criteria and funding amounts per student that best suit their interest.

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"At Oberlin you find people from diverse backgrounds but with a common love of learning and a desire to strive for greatness. The campus diversity, educational programs that cultivate intellectual curiosity and Oberlin's prestigious reputation were all factors in my decision to attend the college.

Throughout my studies I have been able to see the uniqueness that a small private college provides. I want to express my deepest gratitude to my scholarship donor, to OFIC and to Oberlin College for their investment in my education and future."

- Julius Hill, Oberlin College

"OFIC has professionally, efficiently and effectively handled the critically important scholarship management process for us."

- Charlotte Stanley, Executive Director, Sisler-McFawn Foundation

"The OFIC scholarships provided through The Ohio Scholars Program are a tremendous help to our students. These scholarships help make it possible for many of our students to complete their education and achieve their goals. This is a program of great significance in preparing tomorrow's workforce."

- Rebecca Shinaberry, Associate Director for Financial Aid, Ashland University

250 East Broad Street
Suite 1700
Columbus, OH 43215
Ph: (614) 469-1950
Fax: (614) 469-4733
ofic@ofic.org

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