Navigating Scholarships with the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation: A Comprehensive Guide
The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation stands as the largest provider of publicly available scholarships in New Hampshire. Each year, it awards more than $8 million to nearly 2,000 students. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding the scholarship opportunities offered by the Foundation, eligibility requirements, and the application process. The scholarship funds at the Foundation were created by generous donors who wanted to help New Hampshire students reach their full potential. Scholarships are awarded to students for certificates, licensing programs, apprenticeships, two- and four-year degree programs and graduate school.
Understanding the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation is a vital resource for New Hampshire students seeking financial assistance for their education. The Foundation administers over 100 scholarships established by generous donors. With so many scholarships available, one will surely be right for you. In Fall 2025, the Foundation awarded 600 scholarships totaling $487,000. A portion of their scholarships is reserved for students in New England.
Types of Scholarships Offered
The Foundation offers a diverse array of scholarships to cater to different student needs and academic pursuits. These include:
- Need-based Scholarships: These scholarships consider the applicant's financial situation to determine eligibility.
- Merit-based Scholarships: These scholarships reward students for their academic achievements and overall potential.
- Major-Specific Scholarships: These scholarships are designed for students pursuing specific fields of study.
- Location-Specific Scholarships: These scholarships target students from particular towns or regions.
Specific Scholarship Examples
Medallion Fund Scholarship Program
Also known as the Medallion Fund Scholarship program, this opportunity is for students of any age who are pursuing short-term vocational or technical studies in fields such as automotive technology, plumbing, heating, construction, advanced manufacturing, computer repair, licensed nursing assistant, etc.
Selection criteria
The selection committee gives preference to the following:
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- Applicants whose fields are in the traditional manufacturing trade sector such as plumbing, electrical, construction, machining, etc.
- Applicants who have a clear vision for how their education will help them achieve or improve their employment and career goals.
- Applicants who have had little or no other educational or training opportunities.
- Applicants who have made a commitment to their educational program both financially and otherwise.
Citizenship is not taken into consideration when making awarding decisions.
Award decisions
Applicants will be notified of the results within six weeks after submission.
Two-year or associate degree program
If you are attending one of New Hampshire’s Community Colleges, you should also apply for scholarship aid through the Community College System’s award portal.
Selection criteria
Academic excellence is not a factor in selecting candidates for awards; however, we do expect students to demonstrate reasonable achievement and a commitment to their chosen field of study.
Preference is given to students who have previously received funding and successfully completed prior educational work or for students entering high-demand professions, including but not limited to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields: computer science, advanced manufacturing, clinical health care, engineering, engineering technology, graphic design (CAD), etc.
Read also: Affording SNHU
Citizenship is not taken into consideration when making awarding decisions.
Determining financial need
Candidates are required to submit a copy of the FAFSA Submission Summary which is the result of filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which determines what a particular family can reasonably afford for education or the student aid index (SAI). In addition, finalists will be asked to supply a copy of the financial aid package offered by the institution to be attended.
Award decisions
Awards will range from $100 to $3,500 depending on financial need.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility criteria vary depending on the specific scholarship. However, some general requirements may include:
- Residency in New Hampshire
- Enrollment in a certificate, licensing program, apprenticeship, two- or four-year degree program, or graduate school
- Demonstrated financial need
- Academic achievement and commitment to chosen field of study
Application Process
Fortunately, you do not have to submit multiple scholarship applications. You will complete a General Scholarship Application in AwardSpring, which automatically matches your answers to criteria from over 100 scholarships. The application takes less than TEN minutes because your essential information (e.g., name, address, degree, major, etc.) is automatically transferred. Some scholarships may require additional information (e.g., short essays, letters of recommendation, etc.). Let’s get started! Click the link below to complete the general scholarship application, and AwardSpring will connect you to eligible scholarship opportunities. Are you new to AwardSpring?
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The Foundation offers three scholarship cycles, and students must apply each semester to be considered for support.
Key Steps in Applying
- Complete the General Scholarship Application: This application, found on AwardSpring, gathers essential information about the applicant.
- Submit Required Documents: Some scholarships may require additional documents such as essays, letters of recommendation, and transcripts.
- FAFSA Submission: Candidates are required to submit a copy of the FAFSA Submission Summary which is the result of filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which determines what a particular family can reasonably afford for education or the student aid index (SAI). In addition, finalists will be asked to supply a copy of the financial aid package offered by the institution to be attended.
Important Considerations
- FAFSA is not always required: Not all scholarships require a FAFSA.
- Pell Grant Eligibility: Receiving a Pell Grant does not disqualify you from receiving a scholarship.
- Academic Excellence: Absolutely! We have several scholarships that support academic excellence.
- Award Disbursement: Scholarship awards are posted directly to your student account. If your account is fully paid, you may receive a refund to support other college expenses.
Additional Scholarship Resources
Besides the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, students can explore other scholarship opportunities:
- TechForce Foundation: TechForce Foundation is a national resource that awards $4M annually in scholarships and grants to financially disadvantaged students seeking a technical education.
- The Maine Community Foundation: The Maine Community Foundation provides scholarships to Maine residents, regardless of citizenship status.
- The Curtis Fund: The Curtis Fund provides scholarship support to Vermont students pursuing a two-year or four-year degree program, and scholarships for students pursuing a Certificate of Value (CoV) training program.
- Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship: The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education.
- The "Be Bold" Scholarship: The "Be Bold" Scholarship is a no-essay scholarship that will be awarded to the applicant with the boldest profile.
- ScholarshipOwl: ScholarshipOwl is your source of relief from the dreaded application process.
- Niche: Niche can help with every step of the college search including paying for it.
- The Christian Connector: The Christian Connector offers various scholarship drawings for Christian/Faith Based colleges and universities.
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