Do any of our peer community foundations grant scholarships internationally? If so...

katiekuehlkatiekuehl Posts: 3
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edited August 2022 in Grants & Scholarships
  1. What should we be aware of when establishing a scholarship for international students/universities? Note: This would be an employer scholarship for dependents of international employees.
  2. What IRS guidelines are you using to govern your work?
  3. Are there particular nuances with the application, selection, or grant process for these scholarships?

Anything else we should know?

Thanks for your input!

PattyFreburgKaraAdams

Answers

  • KaraAdamsKaraAdams Posts: 668
    Voter 500 Likes Third Compass Anniversary 100 Comments
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    Hi @katiekuehl! Great questions! I've featured your discussion in some of September's newsletters to see if any other Compass members can share their experience with you!

    Kara Adams, M.Ed., CAE (she/her/hers)|Community Manager|[email protected]

    Headquartered: Bozeman, MT| Remote Location: Chicago, IL | Direct: 312-802-1374 |www.foundant.com|

    katiekuehl
  • Hi @katiekuehl. I hope you are doing well.

    We looked into this for a local employer about 2 years ago and were advised by counsel well versed in this matter that we should direct the company to work directly with the IRS to create a scholarship program for their employees. There are a lot of unique IRS nuances when the donor (company) is limiting the pool of candidates to employees. I think I also recall some connection/concern as to if the scholarship would/would not be viewed as employee compensation to the parent of the recipient. I would imagine that nuance would be even more precarious when you are dealing with international employees.

    If we wanted to be engaged as the community foundation, we were advised the scholarship would need to be open to the community at large (employees can participate, but cannot be favored in the process).  The employer could select the core selection guidelines but could not participate in candidate selection.

    I would be curious to hear anyone else's thoughts.

    Have a great weekend.

    Laura

    KaraAdamskatiekuehlPattyFreburg
  • LisaBoxWilliamsLisaBoxWilliams Posts: 28
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    Bonjour from New Orleans! We are a family foundation that provides scholarships to dependents of employees in the USA and in 7 additional countries. The employees work for companies owned by the trustees of my foundation. I have a separate Foundant account that manages the scholarships and keeps them separate from the Foundation gifts.

    @LauraMalone you are correct it is an IRS 8940 Request for Miscellaneous Determination. It takes time to get it set up, but it is possible, and the employees love it. We have been doing scholarships for 20 years in the US and applied to the IRS for the ability to fund internationally. I just finished my first grant international cycle.

    I am happy to share details with you, including an attorney with international scholarship expertise.

    [email protected]

    [email protected]

    504-849-6078

    KaraAdamskatiekuehlPattyFreburgYaniOrtizSuarez
  • katiekuehlkatiekuehl Posts: 3
    Groundbreaker Foundant Scholarship Management+ Certificate Second Compass Anniversary Name Dropper
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    Thanks @LauraMalone and @LisaBoxWilliams! This information is helpful for us.

    KaraAdams
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