Community Service Scholarships

• Home
• scholarships
• merit based
• community service scholarships

Can You Get a Scholarship for Community Service?

If you volunteer in your community, it may help you get a college scholarship. Community service scholarships often reward students with a record of service and leadership.

Some providers want to see you volunteered to support their cause. But others look at general accomplishments within your community.

For example the AXA Achievement Scholarship is a nationwide scholarship. Students from all 50 states, Washington DC and Puerto Rico may receive a $2,500, $10,000 or $25,000 scholarship. Applicants need to show how they helped their community through service.

Yet other scholarship committees look at volunteer hours plus other credentials. Things like good grades, solid SAT or ACT scores or financial need.

For instance, take the Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program. Applicants need at least a 3.0 GPA. Plus, community service, outstanding qualities in character, integrity, and leadership.

There are also community service scholarships that are more like contests. You enter to win by doing community service. There are no essays to write, no GPA requirements, no recommendations, no applications.

DoSomething.org is one such provider. You can apply to multiple scholarships at once. All you need to do is show your interest in volunteering to make a difference. Recent campaigns include spreading positive messages to stop bullying and Do Something About Gun Violence.

How Many Community Service Hours Do You Need for a Scholarship?

The number of community service hours needed for a scholarship varies. In some cases, a scholarship committee may stipulate how many hours you need.

One example is the Jesse Brown Scholarship listed below. The scholarship is open to volunteers who have contributed at least 100 hours. The DAV or DAV Auxiliary credits these hours.

While in others, the awards go to people who contributed through a project (not hours). For instance, The Brower Youth Awards. These go to people who played a major leadership role. This exemplified by creating, organizing and implementing their project or campaign(s).

What are Community Service Scholarships?

Community service scholarships reward students for any unpaid work that helps others. It might involve raising funds or awareness through campaigns and projects.

For instance, the Davis-Putter Scholarship awards people active in movements for social and economic justice. Many service projects also entail giving your time. Such as volunteering to work with a specific group. Like children, the elderly, people with disabilities, veterans or the environment.

In addition to giving back, community service may help you gain skills and experience. Both useful on a college application and resume.

What is Community Service?

Here are 10 examples of community service projects:

1. Organizing a local blood drive
2. Registering voters in your neighborhood
3. Holding a bake sale and donating the profits
4. Being a reading coach
5. Run in a charity marathon
6. Clean local parks
7. Donate your stuffed animals to a children’s hospital
8. Gathering clothing for the homeless
9. Working in a soup kitchen during holiday season
10. Greening a college campus

Is Community Service Volunteer Work?

For scholarships, many providers look at leadership experience, community service or volunteer activities. But community service and volunteer work are not always the same thing.

People often take part in community service because they enjoy giving or want to see change. It is usually something one does to improve the lives of people in a community.

Community service is not always voluntary though. In some cases, students have to do community service to graduate high school. Or to receive certain honors. Some adults are also ordered by a judge to perform a certain number of community service hours.

Depending on who you ask, volunteering is a part of community service. It is an act of giving your time to support a cause. Some people volunteer on a regular basis, while others do it from time to time.

Still, volunteering is an important activity for millions of Americans. In 2017, one in three adults (30.3%) volunteered through an organization.

Also, the number of volunteers is on the rise. By 2018, there were 6% more volunteers. In fact, almost 77.4 million Americans volunteered 6.9 billion hours last year.

Top Community Service Scholarships

Do you often volunteer at your school, religious organization or in your community? If so, there are many sources of scholarships. Both from local and national providers. Check out these upcoming community service scholarships to help you pay for a college degree!

Rosen Hagood Community Service Scholarship

The Rosen Hagood Community Service Scholarship will award $1,000 to the student who best describes their experiences that demonstrate their commitment to community service and what role that experience with community service has played and will play in their academic career. Pertinent contact information, updated resume, and current status as a student. A 750-word original essay which provides the candidates’ experiences of community service and what giving back to the community means to them. (NOTE: it is preferred that all essays be typed in 12-font Times Newman font.) An up-to-date transcript from the applicant’s current institution. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. (NOTE: first-year students are permitted to submit unofficial transcripts from their most recent institution attended along with unofficial documentation from their current school.)

Total: $1000

Awards: 1

Deadline: August 01, 2020

View Scholarships

Elevating Others Scholarship

The recipient of the Elevating Others Scholarship will be chosen during September following the scholarship deadline.

Total: $1000

Awards: 1

Deadline: September 01, 2020

View Scholarships

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

The Prudential Spirit of Community Award is for U.S. students in the fifth through twelfth grades who have engaged in a volunteer activity that occurred, at least partly, during the 12 months prior to the date of application.

Total: $1357

Awards: 102

Deadline: November 05

View Scholarships

Stephen J. Brady Stop Hunger Scholarships

U.S. students who are enrolled in an accredited educational institution (kindergarten through graduate school) in the United States are eligible to apply for this scholarship. Students must have demonstrated on-going commitment to their community by performing unpaid volunteer services impacting hunger in the United States at within the last 12 months. Volunteer services must be helping non-family members.

Total: $5000

Awards: 5

Deadline: December 05

View Scholarships

Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship

High school seniors with a grade point average of 2.8 or higher who are residents of an area serviced by Comcast are eligible for this award.

Total: $2500

Awards: 2000

Deadline: December 06

View Scholarships

GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program

This scholarship is open to U.S. high school seniors who have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Students must demonstrate financial need (as determined by Scholarship Management Services, administrator of the program), and demonstrate leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship at school, at the workplace, and within the community.

Total: $40000

Awards: 18

Deadline: January 03

View Scholarships

Depauw University Bonner Scholar Program

U.S. graduating high school seniors who are planning to enroll at Depauw University are eligible for this award. Students who demonstrate financial need and a commitment to serving their community will be considered upon admission.

Total: $18000

Awards: 20

Deadline: February 01

View Scholarships

DePaul University Community Service Scholarship

U.S. graduating high school seniros who demonstrate an exceptional record of community or leadership will be invited to apply for this award upon Early Action admission to DePaul University.

Total: $100000

Awards: 20

Deadline: February 01

View Scholarships

Alliant Energy Innovation Scholarship

The Alliant Energy Innovation Scholarship is available for Midwest students who are enrolled full-time at an undergraduate institution within Iowa, Wisconsin, or Minnesota. Alliant Energy recognizes outstanding community leadership in young people and helps students reach their academic goals. Each year, the Alliant Energy Foundation offers up to 25 Community Service Scholarships for $1,000 each. These awards go to Midwest students who are enrolled full-time at an undergraduate institution within Iowa, Wisconsin, or Minnesota. Applicants must show a strong commitment for community leadership. Applicants must also be pursuing careers in business, STEM (applied sciences, technology, engineering and math) majors. In 2018, Alliant Energy scholarships reached 133 students pursuing their career goals. Their contributions offset tuition costs and students ’loans by providing more than $150,000 in support.

Total: $1000

Awards: 133

Deadline: February 17

View Scholarships

Jesse Brown Memorial Youth Scholarship Program

The scholarship is open to volunteers age 21 or younger who have contributed a minimum of 100 hours credited through DAV or DAV Auxiliary. Nominations for this award may be submitted by the Voluntary Service Program Manager at a VA medical center, DAV Department Commander, or students may self-nominate themselves with inclusion of an essay on what volunteering for veterans means for them.

Total: $4492

Awards: 8

Deadline: February 28

View Scholarships