Was college made possible for you thanks to scholarships, grants, or gifts from family members? If so, establishing a scholarship fund could be a meaningful way for you to return the favor.

Education has the potential to change the future and financial stability of not just an individual, but their entire family and generations to come. But the cost of higher education remains a significant obstacle for families to navigate, many of whom require financial assistance for their college-bound children.

Establishing a scholarship fund is a way for purpose-driven donors to fill that need. It’s an opportunity to put your own spin on values-based giving by funding someone’s education—whether college or private K–12 tuition.

A Truist advisor can walk you through the process of creating a scholarship fund, but here are a few things to consider when you’re planning.

Whatever beliefs or values lead you to creating a scholarship fund for your community, Truist advisors can guide the planning to ensure your financial gifts are thoughtful, impactful, and lasting.

Think about your personal or family values.

Establishing a scholarship fund provides a flexible way for you to uplift specific communities or areas of education that are meaningful to you. That’s because as the funder, you guide the criteria for scholarship qualification.

Will the scholarship eligibility criteria be merit- or need-based? Does it cover tuition for a four-year university, technical school, or community college? Maybe you want to support your alma mater, award STEM students specifically, or empower members of underserved communities.

These are just some of the ways scholarship funds can be tailored to your values.

Set meaningful goals.

Why you create a scholarship fund can vary, as can how you determine if the program is a success. You may have general, non-financial goals for the fund. For example, many donors create a scholarship fund as a way to build community around a shared mission for learning. The selection process provides you and your family an opportunity to get to know scholarship recipients either in person or through personalized thank-you letters and videos. The measurement of outcomes can also be very personal: Seeing your scholarship recipients grow through their college careers and transition to the professional world can be very rewarding.

You may have a goal that relates to duration, whether the scholarship lasts only during your lifetime or if it goes longer. If your goal is honoring someone’s legacy, you may want to work with your wealth advisors and the scholarship fund administrators to endow the scholarship so it lasts in perpetuity. With an endowed scholarship, the financial gift is invested—and the interest it earns each year is disbursed, as opposed to the principal. For example, a one-time $1 million gift into an endowment can produce about $45,000 per year for scholarships—with the potential to last forever. Non-endowed scholarships are one-time gifts that must be continually funded.

Decide how much you want to give.

Figuring out how much to contribute to a scholarship fund requires being realistic about the cost of higher education—which reached an average of more than $38,000 per year in 2024Disclosure 1 but could be much more per year, depending on the institution a student attends.

$ 38,270

The average annual cost of college for a student in the U. S. in 2025Disclosure 1

Source: educationdata.org

Understanding the true cost of higher education will help inform whether the scholarship is intended to completely cover a year of tuition for one student or is spread out in smaller amounts to help multiple students manage school-related expenses.

Select a funding source.

There are options when it comes to funding a scholarship. Cash may be king, but you can also tap into other types of assets.

Instead of selling high-value stock and incurring hefty capital gains taxes, you can transfer stock directly to a trust, university, or foundation. You might also gift valuable works of art, real estate, or life insurance policies as a means of funding.

Truist Wealth advisors can help you select appropriate assets and vehicles for establishing a scholarship fund while guiding you through the overall planning process.

Decide how to establish the scholarship fund.

There are three primary frameworks for creating a scholarship fund, each with its own benefits. State-specific laws could also impact the rules around scholarship funds in your area, but your advisor can help you navigate any relevant legislation.

  1. Community foundation: Board-led community foundations are public charities that play a critical role in identifying and alleviating community problems. There are more than 750 community foundations nationwide that manage financial gifts, vet scholarship applicants, handle disbursements, and perform the administrative tasks associated with the scholarship funds. Benefactors need only provide their financial contribution. Additionally, up to 60% of the benefactor’s adjusted gross income (AGI) on cash given to community foundations is tax deductible.
  2. Private foundation: Individuals, families, and corporations can use private foundations to offer charitable endowments. This option gives benefactors more control over the management of the scholarship funds, but these foundations must clearly establish their own standards and processes for objectively vetting recipients as well as disbursing funds. They must also adhere to IRS rules and best practices. As a 501(c)(3), a private foundation can provide tax deductions up to 30% of the AGI on cash gifts.
  3. Institution-based: Benefactors can work directly with a college or university to establish a scholarship fund. The school can manage the selection process, disbursement, and administrative tasks associated with scholarship funds. And your Truist Wealth team can work with the school to help guide your involvement and any tax strategies involved with the fund.

The right way to establish a scholarship fund is simply a matter of personal intent. Whatever beliefs or values lead you to creating a scholarship fund for your community, Truist advisors can guide the planning to ensure your financial gifts are thoughtful, impactful, and lasting.

Ready to explore the different ways to establish a scholarship fund?

Talk to a Truist Wealth advisor

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