Scholarship Funds

You can create a legacy in your community through the establishment of a scholarship fund.  With your assistance, students achieve their academic and career-oriented goals – from preschool to postgraduate work.

Monica-Abbott-and-studentB

Monica Abbott (right) presents a scholarship for $1000 to Riley Ashen of North Salinas High School

I was looking for a way to give back to my hometown in a permanent, personal way. I thought one of the best ways would be through establishing a scholarship. Education can help a lot of these kids. I worked my entire life and the only way I could go to college was through a scholarship. I wanted to give someone a step up, a little help. – Monica Abbott

How It Works

  • You can establish a scholarship fund to benefit students of a particular school, and/or students with certain interests, achievements, and areas of study.
  • We work with you to design scholarship criteria that allow you to support students while meeting all legal requirements of transparency and non-discrimination.
  • We work with scholarship committees at local public and private high schools, colleges, professional organizations and service clubs to publicize your scholarship and select winning students.
  • We handle all of the administration, and scholarships are paid directly to accredited colleges and universities.

The Community Foundation holds more than 51 named scholarship funds, with a total value of over $8.2 million. Each year, these funds award over $1,300,000 for the benefit of about 375 individual students throughout Monterey County.

College Futures Monterey County

College Futures Monterey County is a new approach designed to help low-income students in Monterey County achieve their educational and career goals. It combines need-based scholarships with college success services to help students get to and through college. We are partnering with California State University Monterey Bay to expand college support services to more students in local high schools with the greatest need. Please join us to learn about ways you can help deserving young people fulfill their dreams of earning a college degree — and change the future of our region.

Learn More

Some Existing Scholarship Funds

The following are just a few of the named scholarship funds that managed by the CFMC in partnership with donors, service organizations, and schools throughout Monterey County.

Monica Abbott Scholarship Fund

Monica Abbott Scholarship Fund – All Monterey County Public High Schools
Established by professional softball pitcher and Olympian, Monica Abbott, the scholarship is awarded to two graduating high school female student athletes.

Carmel High School Class of 1952 Fund

The Carmel High School Class of 1952 Fund – Carmel High School
Established by the Carmel High School Class of 1952 and supporting through ongoing gifts from members of the class.

Charles Joseph Watts Scholarship Fund

Charles Joseph Watts Scholarship Fund – King City High School
Established to support three students in attending any accredited institution of higher education – academic or vocational.