an affiliate of the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation
Coopersville Area Community Foundation Scholarships
Coopersville Area Community Foundation scholarships are awarded competitively based on criteria set by donors. These criteria could include financial need, the school the applicant is attending, academic achievement, as well as personal or career goals. The Community Foundation has a rigorous internal selection process for each scholarship decision, and each applicant is reviewed in depth, and considered thoroughly. Our scholarship program is simple. You are able to apply once for all foundation scholarships you may be eligible for. Once your application is submitted, you will be eligible for all those for which you meet the requirement.
The scholarship application is currently closed. The 2025 application will open in December of 2024.
Review Available Scholarships
The first step in the application process is to access the list of scholarships. Since the Coopersville Area Community Foundation only requires one application for all scholarships, it’s important to check the boxes that correspond to the scholarships for which you’d like to be considered. The application is now open.
Begin Your Application
Click the Apply Now button to access our application portal, and create a login ID and password. Simply follow the directions through the application.
If you have any questions, contact Molly Cartwright at mcartwright@ghacf.org or 616-842-6378.
Additional Submission Requirements
In addition to the application, you’ll have to submit the following documents:
- A copy of your high school or college transcript
- Any additional required documents for specific scholarships (like recommendation letters).
- Page 1 of the Student Aid Report with your Expected Family Contribution included on the form.
Review Your Application
Please review your application carefully before submitting online, making sure you have answered all the questions accurately and completely.
Submit Your Application
Submit your application online. If you get an error message, please contact Molly, as your application will not be submitted correctly and information could be missing.
Scholarship Timeline
The application will close at 11:59 pm on January 31, 2025.
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
No matter if you’re a graduating senior or if you’re already in college, you’ll need to submit the FAFSA to be considered for federal student financial aid, and to be considered for a Foundation Scholarship. For help, be sure to contact your student services office and the TCAN College Adviser. Complete and submit your FAFSA as early as October 1st at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
To fill out the form, you and your parent will need to create a FSA ID at www.fsaid.ed.gov. For help on either creating an ID or filling out the form, you can go to www.studentaid.gov, call 1-800-4-FED-AID or email studentaid@ed.gov.
Important Dates
December
The 2024-2025 scholarship application will open December 2, 2024.
To apply you’ll need to have already completed your FAFSA.
Scholarship Deadline
January 31, 2025 at 11:59pm
April
This is when the application processing and selection committees convene. From there, applications are transferred to the selection committees, where they will each be considered carefully throughout the month.
May through June
During this time, college students will be notified of an award via email. High school students will be presented scholarship awards at their high school awards ceremony. Check with your high school for the date and time of that event.
July through August
Upon receiving the necessary acceptance materials, scholarship awards will be mailed to the appropriate educational institutions.
If you have any questions regarding the scholarship application process, please contact our Grants and Program Vice President, Holly Cole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to reapply if I received a Coopersville Area Community Foundation Scholarship last year?
Yes, the majority of scholarships are one-time awards. If you have received a renewable scholarship, you will be notified by the Foundation in December and instructed to reapply using the online application process.
Is an unoffical transcript of my grades ok?
High school seniors – your complete transcript, including: your first semester senior-year grades, cumulative grade point average, ACT score, and class rank, is required.
Which scholarships are available to current college students?
How important are the essays?
When will I find out if I have been awarded a scholarship?
Are all Foundation scholarships need-based, and why do I need to complete the FASFA?
No, not all of our scholarships have a financial need component. However, we feel that FAFSA completion is an important part of the college application process. We do require that the FAFSA be completed and the Student Aid Report (SAR) report submitted with your application before you will be considered for any of our scholarships. We have free resources that are available to you if you need help filling out this form––just call us for more information. If you have unusual circumstances that will make it impossible to complete your FAFSA, please call our office and ask for Holly Cole.
If I'm awarded a scholarship, how is it paid?
Checks are made payable to and mailed directly to the college after you have returned the required scholarship acceptance paperwork, thank you note, and photo. This is usually by early August.
How is financial need determined?
Students seeking financial assistance should begin the process by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Through detailed information provided on the application, a SAR is issued.
May I receive scholarships from more than one fund?
Occasionally a student may be selected to receive a scholarship from more than one Foundation scholarship fund. It’s important to note, however, that this is the exception rather than the rule.