Scholarship applications are NOW OPEN!

 

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation believes the community members who will have the most impact in our communities are
young learners who are prepared for success. We believe students must take advantage of all education opportunities presented to them.

That’s why we encourage applicants to look for every scholarship for which they are eligible in an efficient and
convenient platform, which we are providing as service to our scholarship funds.

You can find out which scholarships you qualify for by taking our eligibility quiz once you create or login to your account.

 

Already received a scholarship and need to access your account? Click here.

Ready to apply for scholarships? Start here.

For questions about scholarships, please email: scholarships@nwmf.org

Need to claim your scholarship?

If you are a scholarship recipient and you want to claim your award, please take note of the following.

Your scholarship award will be distributed directly to your college or university at the beginning of your
second semester upon your submission of the following through our online portal:

  • Proof of successful completion of your first semester with a cumulative grade point of 2.00 “C” average or higher
  • Proof of your enrollment for the second semester
It is your responsibility to upload the necessary requirements no later than February 1st, 2022!

Your scholarship may be used for tuition and direct educational expenses.

If your educational plans have changed or you have failed to meet the minimum grade point average your first semester, please contact our office (218-759-2057). The scholarship selection committee may allow a grace period during which you can raise your cumulative grade point average and have the scholarship distributed accordingly.

Follow these steps to complete the form:

  1. Log in with your username and password.
  2. Once logged in, you will be on the Applicant Dashboard.
  3. Below your application, you will see that it reads “Scholarship Master Grades and Registration”.
    Click on the blue “Edit” link to the right of the form to access the form.
    You can save the form as often as you need but remember to submit by the due date, February 1, 2022.
  4. Submit necessary information as needed.

You will also have another opportunity to submit a thank you note to the donor and/or selection committee of the scholarship you received or share a success story from your college experience.

Helpful hints for completing scholarship applications
  • Once you are ready to apply for an online scholarship, review the tutorial and start the eligibility quiz.
  • Review criteria to ensure you are eligible.
  • Collect items needed to complete applications. Prepare essays in advance.
  • Online applications typically require a profile setup with an email address.
  • Anticipate that all information will be communicated via email; use a valid email address that you use on regular basis (not your high school e-mail).
Tips on how to write a thank you note to a donor
An important piece to accepting a scholarship is writing a thank you note to the donor who has generously given their money to support the educational endeavors of students like you.  We ask that you please write a thank you note to the donor at your earliest convenience and mail it back to our office.  We will then pass the thank you onto the donor and/or scholarship selection committee.

 

Tips for writing a thank you note:

Use proper spelling, capitalization and punctuation and try to cover these 5 points:

  • Tell the reader who you are and where you come from.
  • Thank the donor for their generosity in providing a scholarship.
  • Tell the reader one or two ways this scholarship will benefit you.
  • Tell the reader how it made you feel to be selected for a scholarship.
  • End with a final thank you and your full name.

 

Optional: An extra special way of thanking a donor for the scholarship you have received, would be to include a photo of you with the thank you note.  We invite you to get creative!  Ideas include holding a sign or poster that says “Thank You” or another meaningful quote.  A photo could be one from your graduation or your graduation announcement.  It could be a photo of you doing something you enjoy.  Either way, putting a face to your name can be a very meaningful way to say Thank You.  Email your photo to scholarships@nwmf.org with your name and the name of the scholarship you were awarded.

What to do when you are awarded a scholarship
  • Review award letter carefully.
  • Most scholarships require additional information such as a scholarship agreement and information about the college.
  • All scholarships require transcripts to be submitted.
  • Complete any additional documents and note any other deadlines.
  • Most scholarships only pay after the first semester has been completed and the following items are received by NMF: a transcript showing your grades, proof of registration for the next semester, and your Student Identification Number.
  • Multi-year scholarships typically require transcript submittal.
  • Inform your college financial aid office of the scholarship.
  • Send a thank you note to the donor.

Scholarship Committee Members

VIEW THE REVIEWER TUTORIAL

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

REVIEW SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

Looking to apply for a scholarship?

Establish a Scholarship Endowment Fund at NMF

Donors may establish a scholarship fund in their name or the name of a loved one. The distributions from the fund are used to provide educational opportunities for individuals chosen by an independent scholarship committee. Scholarships are a meaningful way to promote community philanthropy and support the next generation of leaders.

A scholarship endowment fund requires a minimum of $10,000 to establish.

For additional information, please contact one of our development officers and they will be happy to assist you:

Kelly Martinka

Serving: Lake of the Woods, Clearwater, Hubbard and East Polk counties.

kellym@nwmf.org

(218) 759-2057

Dawn Ganje

Serving: Kittson, Marshall, West Roseau, Pennington, West Polk, Norman, Mahnomen, and Red Lake counties.

dawng@nwmf.org

(218) 759-2057

Ashley Johnson

Serving: East Roseau and Beltrami counties.

ashleyj@nwmf.org

(218) 759-2057