State Councils Scholarship Challenge Grants
The CIC State Councils Scholarship Challenge Grants support fundraising for scholarships to help second-year or higher students at member liberal arts colleges by incentivizing new donor acquisition.
Funder: Council of Independent Colleges
Due Dates (Anticipated): September 2026
Funding Amounts: $10,000–$25,000 per grant; 1:1 match required; funds must be used for current-use scholarships (not endowment/capital).
Summary: Challenge grants to State Councils to leverage new fundraising for scholarships, supporting student retention and expanding donor bases at member independent liberal arts colleges.
Key Information: Only CIC State Councils in good standing are eligible; matching funds must be raised from new sources and distributed as student financial aid.
Description
The State Councils Scholarship Challenge Grants, offered by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), are designed to help CIC State Councils raise additional scholarship funds for students, particularly those beyond their first year of study. The program provides challenge grants of $10,000–$25,000, contingent on a 1:1 match with new cash gifts or grants. The initiative aims to incentivize new donor acquisition, broaden the donor base, and generate current-use scholarship funds for students at four-year liberal arts institutions affiliated with CIC State Councils. All funds, including the CIC grant and matching gifts, must be distributed exclusively to member colleges and universities for student financial aid, with an emphasis on supporting second-year or higher students. The program does not support endowments, capital projects, or indirect fundraising costs, and prioritizes campaign plans that attract new donors and sources of funding.
