Photo credit: UNCW/Jamie Moncrief

In Support of Scholarships

Scholarships are one of the most effective ways to assist students attending the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Donors can contribute annual gifts to sponsor a scholarship or they can establish an endowment that will fund the scholarship. Scholarship support is a deciding factor for many students when they select the college or university they want to attend.

At UNCW, scholarship donors have the opportunity to identify the type of students they want to assist. Recipients may be restricted to a specific academic department or program, such as international studies or the honors scholars program. Donors may also specify whether the recipient is selected based on financial need and/or academic performance and merit. While donors have input, IRS regulations prohibit them from selecting the individual to receive their scholarship.

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Types of Scholarships

Annual Scholarships - A Valuable Commitment
There is a minimum of an annual gift of $500 to establish an annual scholarship. Your entire contribution will be awarded to a student. To continue the scholarship at UNCW, you must fund it on an annual basis.

An Endowed Scholarship – A Lasting Gift
Endowed scholarship funds require a minimum gift of $25,000 or that amount pledged over a specified time frame. The endowment is part of the university’s general endowment for investment purposes with an annual payout percentage established by the UNCW Board of Trustees. The balance of the scholarship’s earnings is reinvested with the principle to allow for growth and inflation.

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What Are the University's Greatest Needs?

• Merit scholarships in any academic area to assist UNCW in actively recruiting and retaining top academic students
• Scholarships to benefit students from underrepresented populations
• Graduate fellowships to attract top graduate students who are considering attending UNCW
• International studies scholarships to provide opportunities for students to participate in international programs and study abroad
• Athletic scholarships to assist in recruiting top student-athletes

Additional Information about Scholarships at UNCW

• All gifts to UNCW are irrevocable.
• Scholarship donors may be eligible for tax deductions under current IRS regulations. Please consult your tax attorney, accountant or financial advisor for information.
• Endowed scholarships become a permanent part of the UNCW financial aid program.
• All scholarships are listed in appropriate university publications.

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Will I Meet My Recipient?
The university encourages all scholarship recipients to acknowledge their donors. UNCW provides an opportunity for donors and recipients to meet during scholarship events each fall. The university will provide the donor with the name and brief information about the recipient.

 

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