Scholarships

While a small selection of scholarships are administered and awarded directly by The Community Foundation through its Board of Directors’ Scholarships Subcommittee, the majority of scholarships from Community Foundation funds are administered by schools or other organizations. Awards from such designated scholarship funds are determined externally by school committees, organizations and other parties; students should directly inquire about these and other potential sources of scholarship assistance through their high school Guidance Counselors or college financial aid offices.

If you have questions about applying for a scholarship from any of the funds listed below, please email Logan Roddy or call him at 203-777-7084.

Connecticut Architecture Foundation Scholarship

CAF Information and Application

The Connecticut Architecture Foundation (CAF) offers the Charles DuBose Scholarship and The Sheng Fund Scholarship for students who have completed two years in accredited undergraduate architectural programs or have been accepted into an accredited graduate program. Both scholarships are named in memory of accomplished Connecticut architects and administered by the CAF. Certain eligibility criteria applies; scholarships range from approximately $1,000 to $1,400 annually. To learn more and apply, visit CAF’s website.

Milton Fisher Scholarship for Innovation and Creativity

Application deadline: May 3, 2022

Est. 2003 by the Renée B. Fisher Foundation to provide a four-year scholarship to students who come up with distinctive solutions to problems faced by their schools, communities, or families. This scholarship is not a traditional scholarship focused on rewarding academic achievement. Its specific goal is to reward and encourage innovative and creative problem-solving. Although the scholarship is not awarded on the basis of financial need, the amount of each student’s award is shaped by financial need.

Scholarships in amounts up to $5,000 are awarded annually. Applicants are encouraged to view the listings of past winners.

Imperato Family Scholarship Fund

Application deadline: The application process has closed for this year.

Derby High School graduates who are pursuing a master’s degree in Business are eligible to apply and will receive primary consideration. Derby High School seniors and graduates who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business are also eligible to apply but will receive secondary consideration. Two to three scholarships, ranging from $1,000 to $4,000, are awarded annually.

Lee Scholarship Fund

Application deadline: The application process has closed for this year.

Children and spouses of full-time employees of The Lee Company who are currently enrolled or have applied for admission to a degree program of a postsecondary learning institution (accredited college or university) in a curriculum leading to a bachelor’s or associate’s degree are eligible to apply. Children are defined as natural, step, or adopted and no more than 26 years of age at the time of application. A full-time employee is one who has been working for The Lee Company for at least three years prior to the date of application and has worked a minimum of 1,000 hours during the preceding twelve months. Thirty to fifty scholarships, ranging from $500 to $3,500, are awarded annually. In addition, one or more scholarships will be awarded through the Walter Tischbein Scholarship Fund based on the criteria of the Lee Scholarship Fund with the addition that the student major in a STEM discipline with a preference for engineering and have a proven record of community service.

New Haven Promise Scholarships

New Haven Promise Information and Application

New Haven Promise scholarships are for students who live in New Haven, attend public school in New Haven and, in high school, earn a 3.0 GPA, 90% attendance and demonstrate good behavior. Scholarships cover up to full tuition at in-state public colleges and universities and up to $2,500 at in-state private nonprofit colleges and universities. Scholarships may be used for up to four years.

Passport to Promise Scholarships

Application and Information

The Passport to Promise Scholarship is a pathway to becoming a Promise Scholar for students with a GPA of 2.5-2.99. Passport to Promise is a competitive scholarship with an award of $1,000 for a student's freshman year of college in-state, and the opportunity to become a full Promise scholar for the remainder of their college career if they maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher. To learn more, visit www.NewHavenPromise.org.

H. Pearce Family Scholarship Fund

Application deadline: The application process has closed for this year.

Full-time employees, independent contractors, and spouses and children of full-time employees and independent contractors of the H. Pearce Real Estate Company, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra and the Long Wharf Theatre are eligible to apply. Applicants must have been Connecticut residents for at least the past year and must be currently enrolled in or have applied for admission to a degree program of a postsecondary learning institution (accredited college, university, or technical school recognized as tax exempt). Children are defined as natural, step, or adopted and not less than 16 years of age or more than 25 years of age at the time of application. A full-time employee or independent contractor is one who has been working for The H. Pearce Company, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, or the Long Wharf Theatre for at least nine months prior to the date of application, and is currently working for The H. Pearce Company, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, or the Long Wharf Theatre at the time of the awarding of the scholarship. Scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 are awarded annually.

Maria Baez Perez Scholarship Fund

Application deadline: Contact Lyn Caliendo for details

Est. 2004 to honor Maria Perez who devoted her life to her community and to the constituents of the 3^rd Congressional District. This scholarship is available to graduating high school seniors who are constituents of Connecticut’s 3^rd Congressional district; awards are based on community service. Scholarships of approximately $1,000 are awarded annually. For more information, please contact Lyn Caliendo at 203-668-8512.

The Promising Scholars Fund

Application deadline: The application process has closed for this year.

Est. 2007 by Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Beta Tau Boule' of New Haven, Connecticut as a scholarship fund to assist academically talented African American graduates of selected Connecticut high schools. Scholarships are offered each year for full-time study at an accredited two- or four-year college or university of the student's choice. This scholarship is administered by Scholarship Management Services, a division of Scholarship America.

Watershed Scholarship Fund

Application deadline: check website

Est. 2003 by the Watershed Fund to provide scholarships to students who reside within the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority District and intend to enter, or are currently enrolled in, an accredited university or two-year or four-year college to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies in the environmental sciences. For more information, visit www.thewatershedfund.org.

Frederick & Elisabeth DeLuca Vocational Scholarships

Application deadline: check website

The Frederick & Elisabeth DeLuca Vocational Scholarships are offered to students graduating from a high school in Fairfield county or New Haven county, and pursuing a vocational or technical certificate. For more information, click here.

Other Scholarship Opportunities

The following list shows scholarships that are designated to specific schools or organizations. Students should check with the Guidance Counselors at the listed schools or the organization directly for information and to apply.

This page was last updated in October 2018.

Attention Guidance Counselors:

To ensure that donor intent is being honored, The Community Foundation requires schools to complete a scholarship remittance form. Please complete the form by clicking the link below and email Deb Wright or call her at 203-777-7073 if you have questions.

Scholarship Remittance Form