The Application Portal is Open October 1 – February 1 each year
Welcome to the Credit Union Scholarship Resource Center, and thank you for your interest in applying for a scholarship! The purpose of this page is to assist you as you prepare your credit union scholarship application.
On this page you will find more information about the following topics:
- Scholarship funds managed by the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation through our partnerships with credit unions in North Carolina and South Carolina.
- Scholarship eligibility criteria.
- The information you’ll need to submit your application, as well as tips for submitting a quality application.
- Free financial education opportunities available for scholarship recipients through our partner Zogo
Learn how to submit an application that stands out in this video!
Scholarship Funds We Manage
For 30 years, the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation has served as a partner in philanthropy to credit unions, with a mission to empower and inspire credit unions in the Carolinas through collaborative opportunities to enrich our communities. A great example of this collaborative philanthropy is our scholarship program.
More than 20 credit unions in North Carolina and South Carolina have active managed funds at the Foundation. The generosity of these credit unions helps hundreds of high school seniors as well as undergraduate and graduate students receive scholarship funds each year.
As a member of any of the following credit unions, you may apply for a scholarship.
Please click on each credit union fund for scholarship details.
- Acclaim Federal Credit Union Ed Thomas Community Service Scholarship Fund
- Allegacy Federal Credit Union Scholarship Fund
- Blue Flame Credit Union Scholarship Fund
- Bragg Mutual Federal Credit Union Scholarship Fund
- Carolina Foothills Federal Credit Union Scholarship Fund
- Carolina Trust Federal Credit Union Community Service Scholarship and Legacy Scholarship
- Carolinas Telco Federal Credit Union Legacy Scholarship Fund
- Champion Credit Union A. Roland Leatherwood Memorial Scholarship
- Coastal Credit Union Scholarship Fund
- Greenville Federal Credit Union Scholarship Fund
- Lion's Share Federal Credit Union Scholarship Fund
- Local Government Federal Credit Union Scholarship Fund
- Members Credit Union’s Betty Stevenson Scholarship Fund & General Scholarship Fund
- MTC Federal Credit Union Scholarship Fund
- Neighbors United Federal Credit Union Scholarship Fund
- Palmetto Citizens Scholarship Fund
- Piedmont Advantage Credit Union Scholarship Fund
- Revity Federal Credit Union Scholarship Fund
- SAFE FCU Scholarship Fund
- Sharonview Team Phil Abrams Scholarship Fund & Sharonview CARES Paul Paliyenko Scholarship Fund
- Skyla Credit Union Herman Hoose Scholarship
- SPC Credit Union Scholarship Fund
- Summit Credit Union’s Elizabeth Hamilton Scholarship Fund
- Telco Community Credit Union Scholarship Fund
- Truliant Federal Credit Union’s Fred Sarda Scholarship Fund
- Vision Financial Federal Scholarship Fund
All Credit Union Members in the Carolinas Can Qualify!
In addition to the credit union scholarships awarded, the Foundation likewise awards scholarships to eligible applicants each year. You must be a member in good standing at any North Carolina or South Carolina credit union to qualify for a scholarship from the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation. Available scholarships range from $500 to $5,000 and include those based on academic achievement, financial need and attendance at a community college. The Foundation added two additional scholarship categories in 2023. The Foundation Opportunity Scholarship recognizes students breaking barriers of access, such as first-generation college students, women planning to study typically male-dominated fields, or those serving and supporting underserved populations. Additionally, the Foundation Social Responsibility Scholarship helps those planning to pursue degrees promoting social good or welfare, including teaching, social work, or nonprofit studies.
Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
- Possess a 3.0 GPA or above on a 4-point (non-weighted) scale.
- Be a credit union member in good standing. (Memberships of parents or other immediate family members do not qualify.)
- Be enrolled or plan to be enrolled as a full-time student in the upcoming year.
Scholarship Application Timeline
- October 1 – February 1: applications accepted.
- February – March: applications scored and winners selected.
- April: winners notified.
- April - May: return verification forms completed by winners in order to process scholarship checks.
- June - July: scholarship checks mailed.
Application information you’ll need and how to make your application stand out:
- Applicant and parent contact information.
- High school and/or college transcripts.
- Your non-weighted (4.0 scale) GPA.
- Credit union membership(s) and last four of your member number.
- College or university you plan to attend and degree you plan to pursue (this is non-binding, so if you are not sure, list your most likely choice).
- Details stating financial need (if applicable). This includes household income and other factors that you think we should know about your family’s financial situation.
- Community and school activities. Be as thorough as possible!
- Work history (if applicable).
- Essay question answer.
As you complete your application, keep in mind that we focus on four key areas:
- Your grade point average.
A score is automatically assigned based on your non-weighted (4.0 scale) GPA. The higher your GPA, the higher your score in this particular category. - Your school clubs and activities.
Your involvement in school clubs and on-campus volunteer activities carries considerable weight. Please be specific in describing the clubs you were a part of and why they were important to you, as well as the activities you participated in with the club(s). - Your community and volunteer involvement.
People Helping People is a motto and core value of credit unions throughout the world. So, it is only natural that we salute young men and women who are active in volunteering in their community, and trying to make the world a better place. Please list your recent volunteer and community activities thoughtfully and carefully, as this is a key part of the application process that can help you stand out! - The answer to your essay question.
Each year, the Foundation asks applicants to write a short essay based on a question or topic we select. While just a few paragraphs will do, we do encourage you to give careful thought to your essay, and keep your essay focused on answering the question. The essay question section is not a space for you to tell us why you deserve a scholarship.
- Household income.
- Other scholarships you’ve received.
- Access to financial aid (federal and state).
- Savings.
- How much your family will contribute to your tuition this year.
- Circumstances your family is facing that pose a strain on finances. Please be as specific as possible when filling out this section.
Free, FUN Financial Education Opportunity from Our Partner Zogo
In 2021, the Foundation entered into a partnership with Zogo, a free financial education app developed by Duke University students. These students developed Zogo to provide a fun way for Gen Z to learn how to manage their finances.
Zogo includes more than 300 modules providing education on a wide variety of financial topics. These include budgeting, saving, investing, cryptocurrencies, and much more! Along the way, you score points that can be turned into gift cards at major retailers! With university attendance and early adulthood comes many critical financial decisions that will shape your life in years to come. With this in mind, we hope you’ll give Zogo a try!
All scholarship winners will receive an invitation to join Zogo. Look for more details in the months to come. In the meantime, you can learn more about Zogo here.
