Best Of
Re: AI Generated Responses from Applicants
We have just introduced an AI Policy. However, it addresses staff use of AI tools and essentially allows for the use of AI but all generated work must be reviewed by humans before being launched publicly.
I tested a response to one of our scholarship questions into a website called Copyleaks. I very quickly used up my free option, but I know there are other trackers if you Google them. Of the six I tested, only one came back as AI generated. As this is the first year we are even thinking about AI I'm not sure if this is a huge issue for us at this point.
I recently attended a webinar hosted by the Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG) where they shared a couple of IT policy templates, including one for AI. I'm attaching it in case it helps.
Michelle Collins
Oakville Community Foundation
Re: Scholarships are in, now what
We have added required admin only questions within the application for us to validate eligibility. We have to check Yes before we can mark it complete so we don't mistakenly let anything through that hasn't been verified. (We list all of the required elements in the prompt as we have 72 scholarships and all are different eligibility.) This is our second year of doing this and it has dramatically improved our screening process before assigning for review.
If the app doesn't qualify, we notify the applicant and then mark it denied.
I only mark abandoned for drafts that aren't submitted by the deadline.
Re: Cryptocurrency Donations
No - we are just thinking about it at the moment. Our policy is to liquidate gifts right away, so I believe if we did, we'd end up selling it asap…similar to a stock.
Re: Cryptocurrency Donations
We have been taking Crypto for about 2 years. We have only received two gifts, and both were from the same person. (The donor is a board member and pushed for accepting Crypto during his presidency.)
We were told to enter it in our system as a Public Securities. It did not pose a problem with our auditors, as far as I am aware.
We use The Giving Block, and they process through Gemini Trust.
Re: Scholarships -- Determining Financial Need
I don't think you're going to be able to count on the SAI if you want the information for all students. For our two college girls, we received one SAI and never received the other, and now the report rescinded the number we had and we have none. I don't anticipate seeing either of them before Friday.
Re: With the FAFSA issues, has anyone changed the application for finanical information?
Most of the FAFSA information comes into play during review for our scholarship cycle, but I'm doing many of the suggestions listed.
We gave students three options:
1) Try and complete the FAFSA and upload the summary/congratulations email that has the estimated SAI number.
2) If that option doesn't work, complete the Federal Student Aid Estimator tool and upload that information.
3) The least favorable option is that all FAFSA information was marked as optional on my end this year. However, if they submit nothing, then they will not receive a score for that area, which may impact their overall ranking for each scholarship opportunity.
We are hoping these options still provide access to scholarships without causing a lot of stress. Even with this information though, we are still working on how to score and scale financial need with the SAI numbers. We are still working on that if others have suggestions.
Good luck everyone!
Re: How to handle FAFSA delays in scholarship judging?
Hi there, and welcome! We are accepting the estimated SAI that students receive upon submission of the form. Here's our wording, in case it helps you:
Please attach a copy of your FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) page that includes your Student Aid Index (SAI).
- We do not need the entire document, just the page that shows your SAI.
- Be sure your name and the SAI are clearly visible on the upload.
Note: If you have submitted your FAFSA, but have not yet received the FSS, we will accept a screenshot of your FAFSA submission confirmation email that provides an estimated SAI. Be sure your name and the estimated SAI are clearly visible.