Local Business Scholarships

Local businesses can be a source of scholarship money for students in their communities.

Local business scholarships give young people the ability to acquire funding for their college education without having to compete with large numbers of applicants in nationwide programs. Check with business owners in your neighborhood to see if they have scholarship programs available, perhaps in conjunction with service organizations or nonprofit groups.

Grocery stores

Local grocery stores often provide jobs for high school and college students, and some offer scholarships even if you do not work for them. For example, the Wisconsin Grocers Association (WGA) allows local stores to create scholarships for students in their community. Applicants can apply through their local participating grocery chain, and the WGA will make final decisions.

Churches and family centers

Churches and family centers can be sources of funding for college students. Some scholarship programs require that you be a member of the organization or church body. You may be required to be an active participant who has participated in the group's programs. Be sure to ask for all of the requirements before applying for a scholarship.

Insurance and real estate brokerage firms

If you are interested in pursuing an education in either insurance or real estate, check local brokerages and their clients for scholarships they might provide. For example, the Illinois Real Estate Educational Foundation awards Cook Scholarships to students who are pursuing a career in management.

References

• Scholarships: Local Scholarships
• Wisconsin Grocers Scholarship
• Next Student: Church Scholarships
• College Scholarships: Real Estate Scholarships