Create a Scholarship

Discover the lifetime impact the SMC scholarship program has for students and their families. Your commitment and support of the SMC scholarship program allows students to focus on their important educational journey with the confidence of knowing someone believes in them and is investing in their future.

Named scholarships are a meaningful way to support Santa Monica College students and honor or memorialize a special individual. If you want to create a scholarship you can choose from two different options:

Annual Scholarship

Annual scholarships are awarded a single time. Donations to annual scholarships are a minimum of $1,000 donation with a 4% administrative fee required (minimum $1,040). The funds are not invested and are completely distributed in the next available annual scholarship cycle.

Link to Annual Scholarship Set-up Form

Endowed Scholarship

Endowed Scholarships require a minimum $25,000 donation and are invested to produce at least one $1,000 scholarship annually in perpetuity with the Foundation receiving a 2% annual administrative fee from the annual return.

Link to Endowed Scholarship Set-up Form

Take a look at some frequently asked questions regarding the scholarship creation process.

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How do I start the process of creating a scholarship?

To create a scholarship, please:

Contact us at Katherine Moe at (310) 434-8583 to discuss your vision and goals.
Decide on the scholarship’s criteria, amount, and terms.
Review and complete the scholarship initiation form (Annual or Endowded) with the help of SMC Foundation staff.
Make an initial contribution to fund the scholarship.

What is the minimum amount required to establish a scholarship?

What is the difference between an Annual Scholarship and an Endowed Scholarship?

Annual Scholarship: This type of scholarship is funded on a yearly basis. The money for the scholarship comes from donations or budget allocations made each year. Each year, the fund needs to be replenished to continue providing scholarships. Annual scholarships are typically established by individuals, organizations, or institutions for a specific period, but they do not have permanent funding. Once the funds are used up, they need to be renewed or re-donated for the following year.
Endowed Scholarship: This type of scholarship is funded through a permanent endowment. An endowment is a large sum of money that is invested to generate income over time. The principal amount of the endowment remains intact, and the income generated from it is used to fund the scholarship. Endowed scholarships are designed to provide support indefinitely, as the investment income can support the scholarship in perpetuity. Establishing an endowed scholarship at SMC requires an initial investment of $25,000, but it ensures long-term sustainability.

Can I add criteria to ensure my scholarship is awarded to a specific gender or race?

No. In accordance with the United States Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, and Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin in any education program or activity operated by a recipient of federal financial assistance. Santa Monica College and Santa Monica College Foundation are subject to Title VI and Title IX and are committed to a fair and equitable experience for all SMC students.

Are there opportunities to increase the scholarship fund in the future?

Can the scholarship be named after me or someone else?

How is the scholarship administered?

Once established, the scholarship is administered by the SMC Foundation and SMC Financial Aid Office. This includes:

Promoting the scholarship
Reviewing and selecting recipients based on the criteria
Disbursing the funds to the recipients

Can I remain involved in the scholarship process?

Yes! Although the the selection process is handled by committees at SMC, you will have the opportunity to meet your scholarship recipient at our annual Donor & Scholarship Recognition Luncheon. This year's event is scheduled for May 16th, 2025.

Can a student receive multiple scholarships?

Yes, a student can receive multiple scholarships but there is an award limit of $10,000.

To maximize opportunities for a broader number of students, effective with the 2022-23 award year, students may be eligible for multiple awards that total up to $10,000.00. If a student receives a single scholarship valued at $10,000.00 or higher, the student is ineligible for additional scholarship awards. Read more here.

What are the tax benefits of establishing a scholarship?

How can I get more information or discuss my ideas?

SMC Scholarship recipient Victor Teran

Give to an Existing Scholarship

Donations to Santa Monica College Foundation are tax deductible.
SMC Foundation is an IRS-recognized 501c3 nonprofit organization, ID# 95-6047779.