Donors

A scholarship can be a tribute, a testament, or a torch to inspire, memorialize, commemorate, or reward. A scholarship is a chance. A scholarship can help fund a dream.

With spiraling college tuition costs, decreasing financial aid dollars, and increasing loan debt, today's students are faced with more hurdles in pursuing their studies than ever. They depend on you to help support their dreams: Oregon citizens, businesses, member associations, organizations, and foundation partners.

Your gift is a lasting legacy for Oregon's future. We are all stakeholders in that legacy. Start a scholarship, contribute to an existing fund, or explore other giving options today.

You can contribute to any one of the 600+ OSAC-administered scholarship funds. OSAC staff will assist you to choose a fund that matches your interests. 

Gifts to OSAC scholarship funds are generally tax deductible as charitable contributions. The federal identification number of HECC is: 37-1737848

Contribution Options

• Make a contribution online https://apps.oregon.gov/ECommerce/EPS/hecc/
• Write a check. On the memo line, write the name of the scholarship program that you would like to contribute to, or write, "As needed." We will send you a confirmation receipt. Make payable to:
Higher Education Coordinating Commission/OSAC
3225 25th Street SE
Salem OR 97302

HECC Refund Policy

All contributions are non-refundable.

HECC Fulfillment Policy

Funds contributed are irrevocable and deposited with the State Treasurer who will transfer them to the Scholarship Fund as specified by the contributor.

HECC Merchant Card Policy

HECC staff is not authorized to enter debit or credit card information into the system. Contributors must originate all financial transactions related to their contributions. HECC’s system does not store or keep any financial information entered into the system.

Within the boundaries of legal requirements, each scholarship at OSAC is unique and crafted specifically according to your goals and interests. 

Step 1. Select Type of Scholarship Program
OSAC administers several different types of programs on behalf of donors:

• Pass-Through Scholarships: OSAC sends an invoice to cover current-year awards and administrative charges. Donors confirm continued participation each year. Minimum award is $1,000.
• OSAC Trust Fund: An irrevocable trust fund in the donor's name is established with the State of Oregon Treasury. The scholarship award and administrative charge is drawn from the trust and its interest earnings for the life of the scholarship. Minimum award is $1,000.
• Endowments: OSAC administers more than 300 endowed pass-through scholarships in partnership with The Oregon Community Foundation (OCF). 
• Foundation (OCF): Donors establishing scholarship programs with endowments of $50,000 or more work with OCF. Foundation staff develops donor fund agreements and sets scholarship criteria. Ranked among the nation's top community foundations, OCF has a long history of working with private individuals and groups to support Oregon education.
• Employer and Membership Scholarships: Any business, civic, or membership organization that wishes to support scholarships for its employees, employee dependents, or members can work with OSAC. Employer-sponsored programs are subject to IRS regulations and verification of the applicant pool. Read more about employer-sponsored scholarships.

Step 2. Establish Criteria
You will participate in determining your scholarship criteria using a checklist of available options. Criteria may include:

• Funding graduates of a particular high school
• Funding undergraduate or graduate students
• Choosing the type of college students can attend (public, private, nonprofit, for-profit)
• Specifying in-state or any state in the United States
• Deciding if you want to fun students with financial need or not
• Focusing on cumulative GPA, college major, student activities and community service

All OSAC scholarships must provide the option for students to use the funds of at least two institutions. Only institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education are eligible to participate in Federal Title IV student financial aid programs.

You can determine if a student must attend an Oregon institution or a college outside of Oregon. We can assist in researching eligible schools outside of Oregon.

Step 3. Create a Selection Committee and Review Applications
Your selection committee can be formed by you. The committee is typically comprised of volunteers (educators, donors, individuals with expertise or knowledge in a certain field) who bring their life experience, perspective, and local knowledge to the selection process. The committee members use the specific scholarship criteria to award the scholarship and use good judgment in assessing the character, motivation, and potential of all applicants.

Selection Committees must:

• Consist of at least three members
• Avoid conflict of interest issues
• Adhere to the federal regulations concerning donor involvement
• After using its extensive database to match applicants to the scholarship criteria, screening all data and transcripts, OSAC will provide the selection committee with ranked lists of qualified applicants for the scholarship.

Step 4. Award Scholarships
The hard work is done. Now it's time to award the deserving student(s) selected to receive your scholarship. OSAC will contact the selected student by email, confirm the award with the student(s), and trigger notifications to the college financial aid offices to mandate that funds are used for educational purposes. OSAC will receive information from the student's school and work directly with the school's financial aid offices regarding payment. OSAC will administer the program for the life of the scholarship and allow you to leave the paperwork, oversight, and details to us.

Step 5. Submit Payment/Contribution for Your New Scholarship
Once your scholarship program is established and the Scholarship Program Agreement forms are signed and returned to OSAC, you will receive an invoice for payment toward your scholarship award(s). OSAC will send you an invoice, if applicable, for the balance owed prior to the fall term/semester disbursement of your award to the scholarship recipient's college financial aid office.

You may contribute to your scholarship programs at any time. Contributions to OCF programs should be sent directly to OCF.

Sample Donor Documents

OSAC will work closely with you to ensure that your funds are used to open doors for Oregon students. Options beyond the contribution of actual dollars for scholarships include:

• List OSAC as a beneficiary in your will. Scholarship funding can be added to your will with easy-to-use language. Sample verbiage: "All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate I give, devise and bequeath unto the Office of Student Access and Completion Jane and John Doe Student Aid Fund, to provide financial aid to students studying at the undergraduate and/or graduate level. Award(s) will be made to applicants demonstrating the need for financial assistance and the academic aptitude necessary for the successful completion of college programs. Applicants must also demonstrate a planned relationship between their college programs of study and their career objectives. Said endowment shall be administered according to the rules and regulations adopted by the Office of Student Access and Completion."
• Name OSAC as a beneficiary when you retire from a Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Choose Payout Option "Refund Annuity Option" or "15-Year Certain Option" when you complete your PERS retirement paperwork.
• Name OSAC as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy. We will work with your insurance broker to establish rules for a scholarship program to be funded with the proceeds of an insurance policy designating the scholarship as a beneficiary.
• Contribute by setting up a payroll deduction plan with your employer. Some companies will match charitable contributions made by their employees. Check with your human resources department to find out if this option is available where you work.

Employer-sponsored Scholarship Programs offer scholarship awards specifically to employees or dependents of eligible employees. Benefits of employer-sponsored programs include:

• Indirect advancement of a trade or industry by targeting certain fields of study
• Demonstration of a company's community spirit and goodwill
• Professional scholarship program administered by OSAC
  IRS tax-deductible contributions

Business sponsors say the intangible benefits of scholarship funding through OSAC are often the most rewarding:

• "An unexpected outcome is improved labor relations. Line staff and managers are equally represented in scholarship decision-making."
• "We consider the scholarship to be an investment in the families of our employees, and it shows we support them."

These programs must adhere to IRS guidelines for employee-related programs as outlined in the Employer-Sponsored Scholarship Program Fact Sheet. To ensure adherence to IRS guidelines, employers are required to be certified by OSAC through the completion of an Annual Certification Request form. 

Advantages to Entrusting Your Scholarship with OSAC

• "One-Stop Shopping" and Fair Process for Students: The OSAC Scholarship Application is fast and simple for students to apply from among the hundreds of different scholarship opportunities available. OSAC's central clearinghouse ensures that your scholarship will receive the qualified applications and attention it deserves.
• OSAC ensures impartiality by using a tightly controlled database to maintain a level playing field where all applicants have equal opportunity to compete fairly with other qualified applicants.
• Confidentiality and access to student information is tightly controlled and secure. 
• Announcement of OSAC's scholarship application season occurs each fall, with outreach events and publications distributed to more than 1,500 Oregon high schools and colleges, public libraries, employment offices, donors, tribes and community organizations. OSAC's scholarship season is also announced through the media.
• Outreach and information distribution continues during the year through presentations at college fairs and other events on how to apply for scholarships. Scholarship fliers are distributed across the state and through various outreach efforts. 
• OSAC's years of experience in designing scholarship programs in consultation with donors result in defining realistic scholarship criteria for target populations and identifying potential impact the criteria may have on attaining a qualified applicant pool.
• Application processing and review is conducted by trained scholarship employees and volunteers who inspect all scholarship materials for completeness. 
• OSAC's scholarship portfolio coordinators conduct queries to match eligible applicants to each scholarship's specific requirements. Copies of applications matching the donor's criteria are sent to selection committees.
• OSAC is the state record holder of student financial aid information allowing us to search for basic levels of financial need to assist selection committees weighing financial need.
• Verification of membership or employment affiliation is required for employer and membership-sponsored scholarship programs. OSAC sends a list of applicants to the employer, union, or association for verification of each applicant's relation to employees or members.
• Award acceptance must be completed to confirm the recipient's college and understanding of award conditions (e.g., a program may be limited to certain colleges, majors, or financial need level).
• Award disbursement and accounting occurs prior to the fall semester/term each year. OSAC sets up scholarship disbursements for all confirmed students. Colleges are familiar with OSAC requirements and contact staff directly if questions arise about a student's eligibility for an award. OSAC works directly with students and financial aid offices to maintain and ensure proper scholarship management.