A charity guide to bursaries

The impact a bursary makes is long-lasting. From helping students achieve straight A’s to forming a life-long relationship, bursaries pack a punch. There’s a lot of variety in giving for education, so don’t be put off by the large sums of money awarded by colleges or universities.

 

If you’re thinking of setting up a bursary programme, take a quick look at our small charity guide to bursaries and scholarships.

 

 

What is a bursary?

 

A bursary is a grant that an education provider makes to a student. The sum of money can vary, but generally is used to cover tuition and/or living expenses. Each university has its own criteria for the awards. This includes who qualifies, the size of the bursary, and what the process is.  

 

Bursaries are different to scholarships. UCAS provides a firm definition: Scholarships are normally competitive and may be funded by donors. Bursaries are not competitive and may be automatically awarded based on need or circumstances.

 

Save the Student’s digital resource has a lot of advice. The main point of bursaries is that they are aimed at enabling low-income students access education. For those sponsored by charities, the criteria can also be very specific, focusing on circumstance, race, religion, or geography.

 

 

There’s room for creativity

 

Traditionally, bursaries and scholarships have been aimed at boosting the fortunes of the young.

 

There is space to rethink the orthodoxy. The Blenheim Bursary Fund invites non-profits and community project organisers to apply. Upon being accepted, gifts from £100-£5,000 are made. Previous successes include the Long Hanborough Community Tree Project and the Cherwell Theatre Company. CALA Homes Community Bursary operates in the same way. Bursaries are distributed to those around residential projects.

 

The lesson here is that bursaries don’t always involve funding schooling. Other avenues are possible.

 

 

Easy steps towards creating a bursary or scholarship

 

Deciding to change a scholar’s fortune is the first part. The second is deciding the who, what, where, when, and how.

 

 

Where’s the funding coming from?

 

Set up a budget for the bursary. Consider whether the funding will be one-off for a number of years or in perpetuity. How you plan to grant your bursary will have fundraising considerations. 

 

 

How will students access the support?

 

Many bursary programs are affiliated with colleges or universities. The lump sum is made out directly to the university for them to administer.

 

The other way to do it is to let the university know that you have a programme in place. The academic institution will then link prospects to your bursary or scholarship. St George’s University of London’s bursary hub is exemplary. They include names, links, and a brief description of the bursaries available by charities.

 

 

How long will the programme be?

 

Some scholarships are recurring, and some are not. Small charities may want to decide how long their support will last for. Bursaries normally help with the first year of academia, whereas scholarships may be ongoing. For ongoing types, smaller charities need to plan for how they will assess eligibility year-on-year.

 

 

What is the criteria for the award?

 

Align the bursary or scholarship with charity’s mission.

 

GoFundMe suggest detailing specific requirements to qualify in addition to applicants answering questions. They say: “When creating the scholarship application questions, think of ways that students will be able to easily showcase their skills and qualifications when they do apply.”

 

Our advice is to be as specific as possible. The Scholarship Hub summarises many bursaries well. They use the Caledonian School Trust’s funding as a detailed example. The scholarship applicants must be: “a child of a Scottish Parents who have served in the Armed Forces; individuals whose financial circumstances might otherwise prevent them from continuing their education.”

 

How will people apply? Ensure that the process is smooth and includes digital. Many charity bursaries require evidence of qualifying criteria, previous academic achievements, and essays. Using a digital application system will ease the administrative burden.

 

Advertising the funding ensures a wide range of applicants that are eligible to apply. Take tips from our article on the digital recruitment process. Once the pool has been created, you may need to sift through to identify the most promising ones. Our top tip here is to keep applicants informed. Continue to update them once the application is lodged, during the decision-making, and of the final outcome.

 

 

How are you going to measure success?

 

Many smaller charities may want to track how successful their beneficiaries are. This helps with gauging impact. Use your Customer Relationship Management system to collect data and measure the success of your bursary.

 

Over time, record how beneficiaries fared during studies and beyond. Remember, beneficiaries ultimately can become supporters and volunteers, so keep in touch.