What is a philanthropic program?
Did you know that there are people and companies who have set aside money in trust funds to provide people like you with an opportunity to pursue your dreams?
These people are called 'philanthropists' - people who make charitable donations intended to increase human well being. Some people bequeath this money through their wills when they die. Others prefer to donate it while they (or their companies) are still alive.
Philanthropic programs or scholarships seek to give someone with a disadvantaged background or someone with exceptional skill in the academic, sporting or arts areas the chance to better themselves and contribute positively to society.
This is usually done by providing money to cover the costs of education and training. Some programs and scholarships also extend to paying for your living costs such as rent, utilities and food.
Philanthropic programs and scholarships are not just limited to help you to excel in a particular area of your life. There are philanthropic programs designed to help you to help serve the community better by providing you with a grant to initiate or continue with a community program.
Who are they for?
Recipients of scholarships and philanthropic programs are usually those with some kind of exceptional skill, those who have a viable plan for a community service and/or those from a disadvantaged background.
So the good news is that to win a scholarship or win a place in a philanthropic program, you don't necessarily have to be a super brain at school or university! You'll find that there are scholarships and philanthropic programs around for people who are good at sports, drama, dance, singing, music, art, science or those who want to get into teaching or help their local community.
Don't listen to that negative dialogue in your head saying that you won't win a scholarship. If you're passionate about sport, study, the arts or helping your community, go ahead and find a suitable program or scholarship to apply now! What have you got to lose?
Where can I find a scholarship or philanthropic program?
Your school or university would be the best place to start. Many advertise their available scholarships. Check with your university or TAFE's student administration or look in your student diary as scholarships are usually listed there.
The My Future (new window) website provides a huge and comprehensive list of scholarships available to young Australians. There are hundreds of opportunities listed here. There are a number of ways to search for scholarship information on this site. You can browse different regions to find only scholarships in Victoria, view an A-Z listing or if you've already got a heads up on the scholarship scene, you can search directly for a particular organisation or subject.
The Philanthropy Australia website (new window) also has some great information and a comprehensive list of grant programs for individuals and businesses.
It might also be worth looking at the Community Grants (new window) offered by the Victorian Government's Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD), or the Federal Government's Grantslink program (new window).
Also see the links below for some sites that list and detail scholarship and philanthropic programs in Victoria and Australia.
How do I apply?
Each scholarship application will be different. When you find a scholarship fund that you are eligible for, make sure you take careful note of the application requirements and submission dates.
Links
DPCD - Community Grants
The Department of Planning and Community Development offers a range of grants to community organisations big and small. Use the Find a Grant tool to see what kind of grant's you're eligible for, and check out some of the success stories about grants and how they've helped Victorian Communicties.
My Future - Awards and Scholarships
Provides a very detailed listing of a wide range of scholarships on offer covering a variety of interests and selection criteria.
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations - Commonwealth Scholarships
For those of you with your first university qualification under your belt, here are some scholarships, fellowships, awards and other sources of funding for study and/or research available through the Higher Education Group.
Philanthropy Australia
For grantseekers and grantmakers, this site's got a very comprehensive list of philanthropic programs available in Australia.
Australian Institute of Sport - Scholarships
If you're really good at a particular sport, you should try for a scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport!
Association of Commonwealth Universities
Details a variety of scholarships available to university students.
