• Grants
  • What We Fund
  • Competitive Funds
    • Competitive Funds Calendar
  • Application Process
  • Inquiry Form
    • Electronic Grant Applications
    • Tips for Applying
  • For Our Grantees
  • Recent Grants
    • 2010 Grantees
    • 2010 Grantee Story - Damiano Center
    • 2010 Grantees - Morgan Fund
  • FAQs
  • Grantee Resources
• Scholarships
  • Scholarship Funds
  • Scholarship Application Process
    • Forms & Applications
  • Recent Recipients
  • FAQs and Tips

Application Process

The following process is recommended when filling out the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation Common Application.

• Research the scholarships available by utilizing the Scholarship Fund database, the 2011-2012 Scholarship Grid, and other background information available in the scholarship portion of this Web site. Pay special attention to the various criteria to determine what scholarships best match your academic, financial and post-graduation plans. Check out the school-specific Scholarship Grids as well. If your school isn't listed here, contact us and we will customize a grid for you.

• Consider your own situation and what/where you want to study. Determine what scholarships are the best match. This goes both ways - the Scholarship Committee frowns upon applicants who apply for scholarships they clearly aren’t qualified for, but they also wonder why students don't apply for scholarships they do meet all the requirements for. Don't take yourself out of the running! It's just another check box at the top of page one.
• Download the appropriate application(s) located on our applications page. Read over all the questions and start to think about how you will answer them. Of course, the name and address questions don’t take much thought, but think seriously about the short answer and essay questions. This is where you will either impress or bore the selection committee. 
• Determine and confirm who will write your recommendations for you. Ask them NOW. The recommendation form is online for them to complete at their convenience, or they can mail it to the Community Foundation. Be sure to supply them a stamped envelope if they prefer mailing it. We strongly urge you to do this by Thanksgiving at the latest.
• Return Scholarship Transcript Release Form to school guidance office. While you’re there, confirm if the scholarships you will apply for need an interview. Schedule it if necessary.
• If you are applying for financial need-based scholarships, start working with your parents to fill out the FAFSA application. The deadline is March 1, 2012. You need data from your 2011 taxes to do it correctly, but let your parents know this is coming up and urge them to be on top of it too. This process can take two or three weeks so start early!
• Write, write and rewrite. Spend time crafting responses, particularly in the longer answers and essays that truly highlight your talent and differentiate you from the hundreds of other applications the Community Foundation receives. Then, be sure to share your application with family, friends and mentors to ensure proper grammar and clarity.
• Send. Prior to sending the Community Foundation the final application, print the application one last time to confirm that all answers appear exactly as you want. Using the ‘save as’ function, include your name and 'application' in the file name. This is your copy of the application. Then create an email to "scholarships @ dsacommunityfoundation.com" (remove spaces). Again, put your name and ‘application’ in the Subject: line. Attach the saved PDF appliction and any supporting documents (photo, extra essays). Click send. Do it before the January 15th deadline!
• Watch for the confirming email from our office. Notification that we received the form should arrive to you within three business days of the time you sent it. Call if you don't get the email.
• Collect/confirm remaining materials mentioned in the Checklist on the last page of the application and email them to scholarships @ dsacommunityfoundation.com (remove spaces). Recommendations and transcripts can arrive separately but must be received prior to the application deadline.
• Follow through on the FAFSA form and email your FAFSA Student Aid Report to our office by March 1st by emailing scholarships @ dsacommunityfoundation.com (remove spaces).

To access the Community Foundation's electronic applications, please follow this link.