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Scholarship Fund Utilization: How Institutions Can Make Donor Funds Work Harder

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:12:37 GMT

Why unused or underused scholarship funds are often a visibility problem, not a generosity problem

Scholarship funding is one of the most important tools institutions have to support students, improve access, and strengthen donor relationships.

But having funds available is not the same as using them well.

At many institutions, scholarship fund utilization is harder to manage than it should be. Some funds go partially unused. Some are difficult to award. Some are misaligned with current student need. And in many cases, teams do not have clear visibility into where the breakdown is happening.

That is what makes scholarship fund utilization such an important conversation. It is not just about whether money exists. It is about whether institutions can deploy donor-funded support fully, strategically, and with confidence.

Scholarship fund utilization is the institution’s ability to use available scholarship funds effectively and completely in a way that aligns donor intent, student need, and institutional priorities.

What is scholarship fund utilization?

Scholarship fund utilization refers to how effectively an institution awards and deploys the scholarship dollars available to it.

At a basic level, it asks a simple question: Are available scholarship funds actually reaching students the way they were intended to?

But in practice, the issue is more layered than that.

Strong utilization means:

funds are being awarded in a timely way
donor intent is being honored
eligible students can be matched efficiently
awarding processes are not creating unnecessary bottlenecks
institutional leaders can see where funds are being used well and where they are not

Weak utilization can show up in different ways. A fund may go partially unused because the criteria are too narrow. A fund may technically be awarded, but only after delays that reduce impact. A donor-supported scholarship may exist, but staff may not have enough visibility to understand why it is difficult to deploy consistently.

That is why utilization matters. It reveals whether an institution’s scholarship strategy is truly working.

Why do scholarship funds go unused or underused?

Unused scholarship funds are rarely caused by a lack of care. More often, they are the result of fragmentation.

A few common issues tend to drive underutilization:

Overly narrow criteria
Some scholarship funds are created with restrictions that make perfect sense in theory but are difficult to apply consistently in practice. Over time, those restrictions can limit the pool of eligible students and make funds harder to deploy fully.

Disconnected workflows
When donor intent, fund setup, review, awarding, and stewardship live in separate systems or offices, it becomes harder to see utilization clearly and act on issues early.

Limited visibility into fund performance
Institutions may know a fund exists, but not have a simple way to track whether it is being used fully, where the bottlenecks are, or which funds repeatedly struggle to be awarded.

Manual awarding processes
When teams are relying on spreadsheets, scattered notes, or time-intensive matching processes, it becomes harder to identify utilization gaps and solve them efficiently.

Misalignment between fund intent and student reality
Student populations, financial need, and enrollment priorities evolve. If scholarship structures do not evolve with them, utilization can suffer.

This is why scholarship fund utilization is not just an operational problem. It is often a visibility and coordination problem.

Why should leadership care about scholarship fund utilization?

Because underutilized funds represent missed institutional value.

When scholarship dollars go unused or are difficult to deploy, institutions are not just dealing with an administrative inconvenience. They may be missing opportunities to support students, meet donor expectations, strengthen enrollment strategy, and demonstrate impact more clearly.

Leadership teams should care because fund utilization touches several strategic priorities at once:

student access and affordability
donor confidence and stewardship
institutional visibility into available resources
alignment between Advancement and Financial Aid
credibility around how philanthropic support is being used

This is where the conversation gets bigger.

A scholarship fund is not simply a line item to manage. It is part of a broader donor-funded support strategy. If institutions cannot clearly see how funds are performing, they cannot make strong decisions about how to improve outcomes or communicate results.

How does poor scholarship fund utilization affect donor relationships?

Donors want their support to matter.

When a scholarship fund is fully deployed, aligned well to student need, and connected to a clear story of impact, that creates a much stronger stewardship experience. Donors can see that their support is active, meaningful, and making a difference.

But when utilization is inconsistent or unclear, stewardship becomes harder.

That can lead to questions like:

Was my fund fully used?
Who did it support?
Why was some of it left untouched?
Is the institution managing this fund the way it was intended?

Even if donor relationships are strong, unclear fund utilization makes those conversations harder than they should be.

This is one reason AwardSpring’s broader positioning matters. The real opportunity is not just to award scholarships more efficiently. It is to create stronger connective tissue between fund intent, deployment, visibility, and stewardship so institutions can manage donor-funded support with more confidence.

What does strong scholarship fund utilization look like?

Strong fund utilization is not simply about reaching 100 percent distribution at any cost. It is about using funds well.

That means institutions can:

see which funds are fully utilized and which are not
understand why utilization issues are happening
match students to funds more effectively
preserve donor intent while reducing friction
monitor awarding patterns over time
communicate impact more clearly to internal and external stakeholders

In a strong utilization model, teams are not constantly reacting after the fact. They have enough visibility to make proactive decisions.

For example, they may notice:

a group of funds with similar bottlenecks
criteria that are limiting deployment
recurring timing issues in the review process
opportunities to improve matching logic
stronger ways to connect utilization data to stewardship reporting

That is when fund utilization starts to become a strategic lever, not just a reporting point.

What makes scholarship fund utilization hard to improve?

For many institutions, the biggest obstacle is not a lack of effort. It is a lack of connected visibility.

Financial Aid may understand awarding realities. Advancement may understand donor context. Leadership may care about overall fund performance. But if each part of the picture lives in a different workflow, no one has a simple way to see what is happening end to end.

That often leads to patchwork fixes:

more spreadsheets
more manual check-ins
more one-off reports
more workarounds

Those efforts may help in the moment, but they rarely create long-term clarity.

Improving scholarship fund utilization usually requires a better view across the full process:

how funds are structured
how students are matched
where awards stall
which funds are repeatedly difficult to deploy
how utilization trends relate to broader student and donor outcomes

How can institutions improve scholarship fund utilization?

The first step is to stop treating utilization as a narrow back-office metric.

It should be seen as an institutional performance signal.

A few practical starting points include:

Review funds that are repeatedly underused
Look for patterns in the criteria, timing, review process, or student match pool. Repeated underutilization usually has a root cause worth addressing.

Create better visibility across teams
Financial Aid, Advancement, and leadership should not all be working from separate interpretations of fund performance. Shared visibility helps create better decisions.

Look beyond whether a fund was awarded at all
Ask how efficiently it was deployed, whether it aligned to student need, and whether the outcome can be carried into stewardship and reporting.

Reduce manual friction in the awarding process
The harder it is to match students to funds, the harder it will be to improve utilization consistently.

Connect utilization to strategy
Utilization should not live in isolation. It should be part of a broader conversation about donor-funded support, student access, stewardship, and institutional priorities.

Where does technology fit in?

Technology should help institutions do more than process awards.

It should help them see what is happening across the full scholarship ecosystem.

That means better visibility into fund setup, eligibility logic, matching, awarding, underutilization patterns, and stewardship-ready insights. It also means helping lean teams reduce manual work without losing control or context.

This is the larger story AwardSpring is moving toward.

Not just scholarship management in the narrow sense, but a platform that helps institutions connect deployment, stewardship, fund intelligence, and donor relationships in a more strategic way.

Because when institutions can actually see how scholarship funds are performing, they are in a much better position to improve utilization and tell a stronger story of impact.

Takeaway

Scholarship fund utilization is about more than awarding dollars.

It is about whether institutions can fully activate donor-funded support in a way that serves students, honors donor intent, and strengthens long-term strategy.

When funds go unused or underused, the issue is often not generosity. It is visibility.

And when institutions build stronger visibility into how funds are structured, deployed, and performing, they can make better decisions, strengthen stewardship, and help those funds work harder across the full donor support lifecycle.

AwardSpring helps institutions improve scholarship fund utilization with stronger visibility into fund setup, awarding, deployment, and stewardship. Request a dem o to see how a more connected approach can help donor-funded support go further.

The Donor Fund Lifecycle: How Institutions Turn Donor Intent Into Lasting Impact

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:51:43 GMT

Why donor-funded scholarships need more than annual awarding workflows to deliver strategic value

Donor-funded scholarships often begin with generosity and good intent. But at many institutions, they are still managed through fragmented workflows that make it difficult to see the full picture over time.

That matters because the donor fund lifecycle is bigger than awarding. It includes how a fund is established, how donor intent is translated into criteria, how support is deployed, how outcomes are tracked, how stewardship is carried out, and how that story feeds future giving. When those moments stay disconnected, institutions lose visibility, donors lose context, and leadership loses the ability to treat donor-funded support as a strategic asset.

Donor fund lifecycle management is the process of connecting every stage of donor-funded support, from fund creation through stewardship and renewed giving, so institutions can manage those funds with greater clarity, accountability, and impact.

What is the donor fund lifecycle?

The donor fund lifecycle is the full sequence of moments that determines whether a donor-funded scholarship program creates meaningful long-term value.

It typically includes:

Fund creation and donor intent
Criteria design and fund setup
Scholarship deployment and awarding
Student outcomes and fund performance
Stewardship and donor reporting
Renewed giving and future fund growth

Many institutions manage these moments in separate offices, systems, or handoffs. That is often why the lifecycle feels incomplete. A fund gets established. Awards get made. A stewardship message goes out. But the institution still lacks a clear throughline that connects donor intent to student impact and future fundraising.

That is where leadership attention matters. If donor-funded support is becoming a more strategic part of enrollment, retention, student success, and philanthropy, then institutions need to manage the full lifecycle, not just the awarding step.

Why does the donor fund lifecycle matter more now?

For many institutions, donor funds are no longer a nice supplement around the edges. They are becoming a more important lever for student support, institutional differentiation, and long-term sustainability.

That raises the stakes.

When the lifecycle is not well connected:

donor intent can get diluted over time
underutilized funds can go unnoticed
impact can be harder to measure and communicate
stewardship becomes more manual and inconsistent
opportunities for stronger future giving can be missed

In other words, the problem is not simply that teams are busy. The problem is that institutions are often trying to manage a strategic asset through disconnected workflows.

A leadership lens changes that conversation. Instead of asking only whether funds were awarded on time, leaders can ask better questions:

Are donor-funded scholarships aligned to institutional priorities?
Do we have visibility into utilization and outcomes?
Can we clearly communicate impact back to donors?
Are we creating better conditions for future fundraising?

Stage 1: Fund creation and donor intent

The lifecycle starts long before an award is made.

When a donor gives to establish or support a scholarship fund, they are not just contributing dollars. They are usually expressing priorities, values, and hopes for the kind of impact they want to make.

That is why the first stage matters so much. Fund purpose, eligibility parameters, restrictions, and stewardship expectations all shape what happens downstream.

If this information is vague, hard to access, or trapped in one part of the institution, the fund can become harder to manage strategically. Financial Aid may not have clear visibility into what matters most. Advancement may not have an easy way to connect donor expectations to later outcomes. Leadership may assume the fund is functioning as intended without having much evidence.

A strong lifecycle starts with a clear and usable foundation.

Stage 2: Criteria design and fund setup

This is where donor intent becomes operational.

At this stage, institutions translate fund purpose into actual scholarship criteria, application logic, awarding workflows, review structures, and reporting expectations. This is where precision matters. Small decisions made here can either preserve clarity or create downstream friction.

Strong fund setup helps institutions:

align awards to donor intent and student need
reduce ambiguity for reviewers and administrators
support compliance and transparency
make stewardship easier later because the right data is captured from the start

This is also one of the first points where disconnected systems can create problems. If criteria live in one place, donor notes in another, and reporting expectations somewhere else, teams are left stitching together context later.

Stage 3: Scholarship deployment and awarding

This is the stage most institutions know best.

Applications are collected. Matching happens. Reviewers assess candidates. Awards are packaged. Communication goes out. Funds are deployed.

But even here, the lifecycle lens matters.

Awarding is not just a transaction. It is the moment where donor intent becomes real student support. That means leaders should care not only about operational accuracy, but also about whether the institution can see what is happening across funds, programs, and populations.

Questions worth asking include:

Are funds being used fully?
Are awards aligned with need and strategy?
Are there delays or bottlenecks affecting deployment?
Are some funds harder to award than they should be?

Without this visibility, institutions may successfully complete the process each year while still leaving value on the table.

Stage 4: Student outcomes and fund performance

This is where donor-funded support starts to become strategic.

Awarding alone does not tell the full story. Institutions also need to understand what happens after support is deployed. That does not mean every fund needs a perfect longitudinal study. But it does mean leadership should have better visibility into whether donor-funded scholarships are being used effectively and what kind of outcomes they are helping make possible.

This can include:

utilization rates
renewal trends
student persistence or retention patterns
alignment to enrollment or access goals
distribution across key populations
gaps between available funds and actual deployment

This stage is especially important because it creates the basis for both internal decision-making and external storytelling.

If institutions cannot see how donor funds are performing, they cannot optimize strategy or communicate impact with much confidence.

Stage 5: Stewardship and donor reporting

This is where many institutions feel the disconnect most clearly.

Advancement teams are often expected to show donors the difference their support is making. But when the underlying information is fragmented or difficult to access, stewardship becomes more manual than it should be.

That can lead to:

delayed reporting
generic communications
inconsistent donor experiences
missed opportunities to reinforce confidence and connection

Strong stewardship depends on more than good writing. It depends on usable data, visibility into outcomes, and a clearer connection between what the donor funded and what happened as a result.

This is one reason the lifecycle matters so much. Stewardship should not feel like an after-the-fact scramble. It should be a natural extension of a connected fund strategy.

Stage 6: Renewed giving and future fund growth

The lifecycle does not end when a report is sent.

If stewardship is strong, donors are more likely to feel informed, appreciated, and connected to outcomes. That creates a stronger foundation for future conversations about renewal, expansion, additional support, or broader philanthropic engagement.

This is where the donor fund lifecycle becomes especially relevant to executive leadership.

A well-managed lifecycle can help institutions:

strengthen donor confidence
build credibility with boards and leadership
improve coordination between Advancement and Financial Aid
create stronger conditions for future giving
treat philanthropic support as part of broader institutional strategy

That is a much bigger outcome than “we awarded the scholarships.”

What breaks the donor fund lifecycle?

In most cases, the lifecycle breaks down in predictable ways.

Sometimes donor intent is documented but not carried clearly into awarding workflows. Sometimes awarding happens successfully, but utilization data is hard to see. Sometimes impact exists, but no one can easily turn it into stewardship reporting. Sometimes teams are doing good work, but it all lives in separate systems that make coordination harder than it should be.

These breakdowns are not usually caused by lack of commitment. They are caused by fragmentation.

That is why AwardSpring’s broader platform story matters here. The opportunity is not just to improve one part of the process. It is to create better connective tissue across deployment, stewardship, fund intelligence, and donor relationships so institutions can manage donor-funded support with more control and confidence.

What should leadership do first?

Institutions do not need to solve everything at once. But leadership can start by reframing the conversation.

First, treat donor-funded scholarships as a strategic asset, not just a yearly workflow.

Second, ask whether your institution has real visibility across the lifecycle. Can you trace the path from donor intent to awarding to outcomes to stewardship?

Third, identify where the breakdowns are happening. Is the issue fund setup, awarding complexity, utilization visibility, stewardship reporting, or cross-team coordination?

Fourth, push for systems and processes that reduce fragmentation instead of adding more manual patchwork.

This is not about creating more process for the sake of process. It is about creating enough connection that donor-funded support can actually perform the way institutions need it to.

Takeaway

The donor fund lifecycle is not just an operational framework. It is a leadership framework.

It helps institutions move beyond a narrow focus on annual scholarship administration and toward a more connected strategy for donor-funded support. When institutions can better connect donor intent, deployment, outcomes, stewardship, and future giving, they gain more than efficiency. They gain visibility, credibility, coordination, and strategic leverage.

That is where donor-funded support starts to become a stronger engine for student success, stronger donor relationships, and long-term institutional growth.

AwardSpring helps institutions connect the full lifecycle of donor funds, from deployment and stewardship to fund intelligence and donor relationships. Request a demo to see how a more connected approach can strengthen visibility, impact, and future giving.

Connecting Financial Aid and Advancement: A Practical Guide for Institutions That Want Donor Funds to Do More

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:35:32 GMT

The hidden cost of keeping Financial Aid and Advancement in silos

At many institutions, Financial Aid and Advancement both care deeply about donor-funded scholarships. But too often, they work from different systems, different timelines, and different definitions of success.

That disconnect creates real problems. Donor funds become harder to deploy strategically. Stewardship becomes harder to execute consistently. Impact becomes harder to measure and share. And when those pieces stay disconnected, institutions miss the chance to turn donor-funded support into something bigger than a yearly awarding process.

Connecting Financial Aid and Advancement means building the workflows, visibility, and shared accountability needed to move from fund distribution to fund strategy. It helps institutions award with more confidence, report with more clarity, and create a stronger link between student outcomes and future giving.

Why do Financial Aid and Advancement so often operate in silos?

In most institutions, the separation is not intentional. It is structural.

Financial Aid is focused on packaging, compliance, review workflows, deadlines, student eligibility, and making sure funds are awarded accurately and on time. Advancement is focused on donor relationships, stewardship, reporting, engagement, and long-term fundraising strategy. Both teams are working toward meaningful outcomes, but they are often doing so from different systems and with limited visibility into each other’s work.

That creates a familiar pattern. Financial Aid is tasked with getting awards out the door. Advancement is tasked with telling the donor story afterward. Somewhere in between, context gets lost.

A donor may have a clear intent behind a scholarship fund, but that intent is not always easy to carry through the full awarding process. A student may receive meaningful support, but the outcome may not be documented in a way that helps Advancement communicate impact back to the donor. A fund may be underutilized, but no one sees the full picture early enough to fix it strategically.

The result is not just inefficiency. It is missed institutional value.

What happens when donor-funded scholarships are managed without coordination?

When Financial Aid and Advancement are not well connected, institutions usually feel the impact in a few specific ways.

First, fund deployment becomes harder to optimize . Teams may struggle to see whether funds are being used fully, aligned well to student need, or matched in a way that reflects both donor intent and institutional priorities.

Second, stewardship becomes more manual and more reactive . Advancement teams often have to chase information after the fact, assemble updates from multiple places, or rely on incomplete data when preparing donor communications.

Third, leadership loses visibility into the bigger picture . It becomes harder to answer important questions like: Are donor-funded scholarships supporting enrollment goals? Are funds going unused? Are we closing the loop with donors in a way that builds confidence and future giving?

And finally, students feel the effects too . When workflows are fragmented, support can be slower, less coordinated, and less strategically aligned than it should be.

This is the bigger issue AwardSpring’s positioning is getting at. The challenge is not simply that scholarship administration takes time. It is that donor-funded support is rarely managed as a connected strategy .

What does it look like when Financial Aid and Advancement are connected?

A connected model does not require both teams to do the same work. It means they are operating from a more unified picture of the fund lifecycle.

That starts with clearer visibility into fund intent, award criteria, utilization, and outcomes. Financial Aid can manage awarding with the detail and control the process requires. Advancement can access the context needed to steward donors well. Leadership can see how donor-funded support is performing across the institution, not just within isolated workflows.

In practical terms, that means:

Donor intent is easier to translate into awarding strategy
Fund utilization is easier to monitor and improve
Student outcomes are easier to document and communicate
Stewardship is easier to execute with confidence
Future fundraising conversations start from stronger evidence

This is where the conversation shifts from operations to strategy.

When donor funds move through disconnected moments, value is lost. When those moments become connected, institutions gain clarity, coordination, and momentum.

What is institutional advancement, and why does it matter here?

Institutional advancement is the part of the institution focused on building and sustaining external support. That often includes fundraising, donor relations, alumni engagement, and stewardship.

In the context of donor-funded scholarships, Advancement plays a critical role. It helps secure philanthropic support, manage donor relationships, and communicate the impact of giving over time.

But Advancement can only do that well when it has meaningful access to the right information.

If scholarship awarding lives in one workflow and donor stewardship lives somewhere else, Advancement is left trying to tell a story without the full picture. They may know a donor created a fund. They may know students were awarded. But without stronger visibility into how funds were used, what outcomes were created, and what stories can be shared, stewardship becomes thinner than it should be.

That is why this connection matters so much. Institutional advancement is not separate from scholarship impact. It depends on it.

Why is this becoming a leadership issue, not just an operational one?

For a long time, institutions could treat scholarship administration and donor stewardship as adjacent functions. Today, that is becoming harder to justify.

Donor-funded support is increasingly tied to bigger institutional priorities: enrollment, retention, student success, fund utilization, donor confidence, and long-term sustainability. When those priorities are on the table, fragmented workflows stop looking like a back-office inconvenience and start looking like a strategic limitation.

Executive leaders need better answers to questions like:

How effectively are donor funds being deployed?
Where are we leaving value on the table?
Are we making it easy for donors to see the difference they are making?
Do Financial Aid and Advancement have the shared visibility needed to manage these funds well?

Those are not just system questions. They are coordination questions. They are accountability questions. And increasingly, they are growth questions.

How can institutions start building stronger alignment between Financial Aid and Advancement?

This does not have to begin with a full organizational overhaul. In many cases, it starts with a few practical shifts.

Start by defining shared outcomes. If one team is focused only on awarding speed and the other is focused only on stewardship output, alignment will always feel forced. Shared outcomes create a better foundation. That might include stronger fund utilization, better stewardship reporting, improved donor visibility, or clearer insight into student impact.

Then look at where information breaks down. Where does donor intent get lost? Where do stewardship requests stall? Where are teams recreating reports manually? Where is visibility weakest?

Build around the lifecycle, not just the handoff. The strongest institutions do not just pass information from one office to another. They think in terms of a connected lifecycle: donor intent, fund setup, awarding, student impact, stewardship, and future giving.

Make visibility easier for lean teams. Most institutions are not sitting on excess capacity. Any approach that depends on more meetings, more spreadsheets, or more manual coordination will be hard to sustain. The goal should be to reduce friction, not add process for the sake of process.

What role should technology play in connecting these teams?

Technology should not just digitize separate tasks. It should help create connective tissue.

That means giving institutions better visibility across the full donor fund lifecycle. It means helping Financial Aid manage awarding accurately and efficiently while also helping Advancement access the insight needed for stewardship and donor communication. It means surfacing utilization and impact in ways that support better decisions without adding more manual work.

This is the broader platform story AwardSpring is moving toward.

Rather than acting like a narrow scholarship tool, AwardSpring is building around deployment, stewardship, fund intelligence, and donor relationships so institutions can manage donor-funded support with greater clarity and coordination.

That matters because most institutions do not need more disconnected tools. They need a better way to connect the work they are already doing.

Takeaway

If Financial Aid and Advancement are still operating in silos, donor-funded scholarships will almost always underperform their full potential.

The goal is not simply to make awarding faster or stewardship easier in isolation. The goal is to build a more connected strategy around donor-funded support so institutions can deploy funds with confidence, demonstrate impact more clearly, strengthen donor relationships, and create a stronger foundation for future giving.

When Financial Aid and Advancement are connected, donor funds can do more.

AwardSpring helps institutions connect donor intent, scholarship deployment, stewardship, and fund visibility in one place. Request a demo to see how a more connected approach can strengthen both student outcomes and donor impact.

The Compounding Impact of Better Scholarship Systems: Why This Booklet Matters Right Now

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 14:27:32 GMT

When Scholarship Systems Improve, Everything Else Starts to Move

For years, scholarship conversations have focused on efficiency.

Faster applications.
Cleaner workflows.
Less manual work.

And while those improvements matter, they miss something bigger:

Better scholarship systems don’t just improve processes.
They create momentum.

That realization is what led us to create our newest booklet:
The Compounding Impact of Better Scholarship Systems.

Why We Created This Booklet

In conversations with financial aid leaders, foundation teams, and executive leadership, one pattern keeps emerging:

When scholarship systems improve, the benefits don’t stop at operations.

They cascade.

A better system doesn’t just help one team — it creates ripple effects across enrollment, advancement, and student success.

But those ripple effects are rarely articulated clearly.

This booklet exists to change that.

The Shift from Efficiency to Impact

Most institutions first explore scholarship platforms to solve immediate problems:

Too many spreadsheets
Disconnected data
Slow awarding timelines
Limited visibility into fund utilization

Those are real challenges.

But what often happens next is more interesting.

Once systems improve, institutions begin to notice something unexpected:

The impact compounds.

Better visibility leads to better decisions.
Better decisions lead to stronger outcomes.
Stronger outcomes create new opportunities.

That’s the core idea behind this guide.

What “Compounding Impact” Really Means

In the booklet, we explore how stronger scholarship systems create momentum in ways that aren’t always obvious at first.

For example:

A more unified system improves fund utilization.
Higher utilization strengthens donor confidence.
Stronger donor confidence fuels future giving.

Or:

Cleaner workflows accelerate awarding timelines.
Earlier awards support yield and retention.
Stronger outcomes reshape institutional strategy.

These are not isolated wins.
They’re connected.

And when institutions start to see those connections, scholarship conversations shift from operational to strategic.

Connecting Systems That Were Never Meant to Be Separate

One of the biggest themes behind this booklet is the idea that scholarship ecosystems were never designed as unified systems.

Awarding often lives in financial aid.
Donor stewardship lives in advancement.
Fund visibility lives somewhere else entirely.

When those systems remain disconnected, impact is harder to see — and even harder to scale.

But when institutions bring visibility and workflows together, the story changes.

Not because the work becomes easier (though it often does).
But because the outcomes become clearer.

And clarity drives better decisions.

A Guide for Institutions at an Inflection Point

We created this booklet for institutions that feel like they’re at a crossroads.

They’ve already improved parts of their scholarship process.
They’ve invested in tools or workflows.
They’ve seen incremental gains.

Now they’re asking a bigger question:

What happens if we treat scholarships as a system — not just a process?

This guide is meant to help answer that question.

It offers a simple way to think about the downstream effects of stronger scholarship infrastructure, without getting lost in technical detail.

Who This Booklet Is For

This isn’t just a guide for one role or department.

Financial aid leaders will recognize the operational realities behind the ideas.
Foundation teams will see the donor implications clearly.
Executive leaders will see the strategic potential.

Because compounding impact only happens when multiple parts of the institution move together.

Why This Conversation Is Gaining Momentum

The institutions leaning into this conversation today aren’t doing it by accident.

They’re responding to real pressures:

Enrollment volatility.
Increased scrutiny around outcomes.
Higher expectations from donors.

In that environment, small operational gains are helpful — but they’re not enough.

Leaders are looking for systems that create durable advantages.

That’s where the idea of compounding impact becomes powerful.

Not as a buzzword.
But as a lens for thinking about scholarships differently.

Download the Booklet

If your institution is thinking about the next phase of scholarship strategy, this booklet is a great place to start.

It’s designed to be quick to read, easy to share internally, and grounded in the realities institutions are navigating today.

Download the booklet to explore how better scholarship systems can create compounding impact across your institution.

The Future of Donor Management Isn’t About Reporting. It’s About Momentum.

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 14:50:09 GMT

Why Donor Relationships Are Becoming a Strategic Growth Lever

For decades, donor management in higher education has centered on a familiar rhythm:

Raise funds.
Award scholarships.
Send reports.
Repeat.

It’s a model built on stewardship and accountability — and it has served institutions well.

But expectations are changing.

Donors today aren’t just asking whether funds were used responsibly.
They’re asking whether their giving is creating momentum.

And that shift is redefining what donor management needs to become.

The Stewardship Era Is Giving Way to the Impact Era

Traditional donor stewardship focused on answers.

Did the money get awarded?
Did students meet criteria?
Was the fund used correctly?

Today’s donors want something deeper.

They want:

Clear visibility into outcomes
Emotional connection to student journeys
Confidence their giving is making a measurable difference
Evidence that their investment is growing opportunity

In other words, the conversation is moving from compliance to contribution.

And that requires a different approach.

Why the Old Model Is Showing Its Age

Many advancement teams are working harder than ever to keep donors informed — but the underlying infrastructure hasn’t evolved at the same pace.

Common friction points include:

Manual reporting cycles that lag real impact
Disconnected systems between awarding and stewardship
Limited access to real-time outcomes
Stories trapped in silos across campus

None of these issues stem from a lack of effort.

They stem from a lack of alignment.

Because donor impact doesn’t live in a single office.
It lives in the intersection between advancement, financial aid, and enrollment.

And historically, that intersection has been difficult to navigate.

The Shift Donor Professionals Are Leading

Forward-thinking donor relations and foundation teams are already reframing the role.

They’re transitioning from r eport creators to impact translators

Instead of simply documenting what happened, they’re shaping how institutions communicate value.

That evolution changes the questions donor professionals are asking internally:

How quickly can we show impact?
How clearly can we connect dollars to outcomes?
How easily can we surface meaningful student stories?
How intentionally can we grow donor confidence over time?

These are not operational questions.

They’re growth questions.

This shift mirrors a broader trend we’ve been exploring across higher ed: teams are moving from reactive execution toward more intentional strategy — a transition we unpacked in From Firefighting to Forward Thinking .

The Rise of the Donor Experience

Higher education has spent years refining the student experience.

Now, institutions are beginning to recognize the importance of the donor experience.

And donor experience isn’t defined by events or campaigns alone.

It’s defined by clarity.

Clarity around:

Where funds go
Who they help
What changes because of them
Why continued giving matters

When donors understand impact intuitively, generosity compounds.

Not because of better appeals.
Because of stronger belief.

As we outlined in Reframing Scholarship Operations for What Comes Next , the real opportunity isn’t just improving workflows — it’s using better infrastructure to unlock more strategic outcomes across the institution.

Why Visibility Is the New Currency

In the next era of philanthropy, visibility becomes one of the most powerful drivers of giving.

When donors can clearly see outcomes, three things happen:

Trust deepens
Confidence grows when impact is transparent.
Engagement expands
Donors lean in when stories feel real and current.
Giving accelerates
Momentum builds when results are visible and repeatable.

This is the flywheel modern donor teams are trying to build.

And it depends on something simple but historically rare:

Connected insight.

The End of the Reporting Lag

One of the biggest unlocks ahead for donor management is the elimination of the reporting delay.

For years, stewardship has been retrospective.
Impact shared months after it happened.

But donor expectations are shifting toward immediacy.

They’re shaped by a world where:

Updates are real-time
Stories are dynamic
Outcomes are continuously visible

As institutions modernize how awarding and donor insight connect, stewardship evolves from an annual exercise into an ongoing narrative.

And that changes everything.

Because momentum lives in the present, not the past.

From Gratitude to Growth

Thank-you letters will always matter.
Recognition will always matter.

But the most sophisticated donor teams are thinking one step further.

They’re asking:

How do we move from appreciation to acceleration?

That mindset reframes stewardship as a growth engine.

Not transactional.
Relational.

Not static.
Compounding.

It recognizes that every scholarship awarded is more than an outcome.

It’s the beginning of the next conversation.

The Bridge That Changes Everything

At the center of this evolution is a simple idea:

Donor impact should not be reconstructed after the fact.
It should be visible by design.

When awarding and donor insight live closer together:

Impact becomes easier to communicate
Stories become easier to surface
Confidence becomes easier to sustain
Giving becomes easier to grow

This is where donor management transforms from a reporting function into a strategic advantage.

Not because the mission changed.
Because the visibility did.

A New Mandate for Donor Leaders

As institutions navigate enrollment pressure and philanthropic shifts, donor professionals are stepping into a more strategic role.

Not just stewards of relationships.
Architects of momentum.

That role carries a new mandate:

Make impact clearer.
Make outcomes visible.
Make generosity feel alive.

Because when donors can truly see the difference they make, something powerful happens.

They don’t just give again.

They believe again.

This aligns with recent CASE research on philanthropic trends , which continues to highlight the growing importance of transparency, impact storytelling, and donor confidence in sustaining long-term giving.

The Takeaway

The future of donor management isn’t about better reports.

It’s about stronger connections.

Between dollars and outcomes.
Between stories and strategy.
Between generosity and growth.

Institutions that embrace this shift will redefine what stewardship looks like in the decade ahead.

Not by working harder.
By making impact impossible to miss.

From Stewardship to Strategy: Elevating Donor Engagement Beyond the Annual Report

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:13:29 GMT

Turning Donor Stewardship Into a Long-Term Growth Engine

For many institutions, donor stewardship still follows a familiar pattern.

Award scholarships.
Send thank-you letters.

Deliver an annual impact report.

Then repeat the cycle next year.

While this approach checks the box on stewardship, it misses a larger opportunity. In today’s funding landscape, donor engagement can no longer be treated as a once-a-year activity. It needs to become a continuous, strategic function — one that connects scholarship impact directly to institutional growth.

The institutions making this shift aren’t just thanking donors better. They’re building stronger, more sustainable scholarship programs.

Why Traditional Donor Stewardship Is No Longer Enough

Higher education funding is changing. Tuition pressure, shifting demographics, and evolving public support are forcing institutions to think differently about every dollar.

Donor-funded scholarships are becoming more central — not just to advancement goals, but to enrollment and retention outcomes.

Yet stewardship models haven’t kept pace.

Many teams still rely on fragmented data, manual reporting, and delayed storytelling. By the time impact is shared with donors, the moment has already passed.

And when impact feels distant, engagement weakens.

Donors want to see how their support changes lives in real time, not just once the cycle closes.

The Shift: From Reporting Impact to Activating It

The most forward-thinking institutions are reframing stewardship entirely.

Instead of asking, How do we report impact?
They’re asking, How do we make impact visible earlier and more often?

This shift changes everything.

When donor engagement becomes continuous:

Relationships deepen
Renewal conversations become easier
Larger gifts become more likely
Scholarship growth accelerates

But making this transition requires more than new messaging. It requires new infrastructure.

The Hidden Barrier: Disconnected Scholarship Systems

One of the biggest obstacles to stronger donor engagement is structural.

At many institutions, donor data and scholarship awarding data live in different systems — managed by different teams, with different priorities.

Advancement owns the donor relationship.
Financial aid owns the awarding process.
And the connection between the two is often manual.

This creates real challenges:

Delayed impact reporting
Incomplete donor visibility
Missed storytelling opportunities
Underutilized funds

Even highly capable teams struggle when the system itself works against them.

Why Donor Visibility Drives Program Growth

When donor engagement improves, scholarship programs grow. The relationship is direct.

Better visibility → stronger trust → more giving.

Donors who clearly understand their impact are more likely to:

Renew their gifts
Increase contribution levels
Expand funding into new areas
Advocate for your institution

This isn’t just theory. It’s the natural result of confidence.

When donors can see outcomes clearly — the students helped, the goals achieved, the futures shaped — generosity becomes easier to sustain.

Moving From Reactive to Proactive Donor Engagement

So what does more strategic stewardship actually look like in practice?

It often starts with small but meaningful shifts.

1. Bringing Impact Forward in the Cycle

Instead of waiting until awards are finalized, leading institutions share milestone updates throughout the year.

Application trends.
Student stories.
Early awarding insights.

These touchpoints keep donors emotionally connected to the journey — not just the outcome.

2. Making Data More Accessible

Strategic stewardship depends on accessible data.

When advancement teams can quickly see:

Fund utilization
Student outcomes
Multi-year impact

They can move faster and communicate with confidence.

This is where technology plays a critical role. Manual reporting slows momentum. Integrated systems accelerate it.

3. Turning Impact Into Narrative

Data builds credibility. Stories build connection.

The most effective donor engagement strategies combine both — pairing clear metrics with meaningful student experiences.

This dual lens helps donors understand not just what happened, but why it matters.

The Leadership Opportunity

For institutional leaders, donor engagement represents one of the most underleveraged growth opportunities in higher education.

Not because teams don’t care.
But because the systems haven’t made it easy.

When scholarship awarding and donor visibility become more connected, the impact compounds:

Advancement strengthens relationships
Financial aid gains flexibility
Enrollment benefits from increased access
Students receive more support

This is the ripple effect of treating scholarships not just as aid, but as strategy.

Where AwardSpring Fits In

At AwardSpring, we believe the future of scholarship programs lies in bridging the gap between donor intent and student impact.

That means giving institutions the tools to:

Connect stewardship and awarding in one place
Surface donor-ready insights without manual work
Tell stronger impact stories, faster
Build programs that grow year over year

Because when donor engagement becomes easier to sustain, scholarship impact becomes easier to expand.

The Future of Donor Engagement Is Closer Than It Looks

Many institutions assume transforming donor stewardship requires a massive overhaul.

In reality, it often starts with a mindset shift.

From reporting impact → to revealing it.
From annual updates → to ongoing connection.
From fragmented systems → to shared visibility.

The institutions that make this shift won’t just thank donors better.

They’ll build stronger programs, deeper relationships, and more resilient futures for the students they serve.

From Firefighting to Forward Thinking: Reframing Scholarship Operations for What Comes Next

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 15:05:56 GMT

You're Solving Today's Problems–Now It's Time to Shape Tomorrow's Strategy

Most scholarship and financial aid leaders didn’t sign up to be firefighters.

Yet for many teams, that’s exactly what the work has become.

Every cycle brings a familiar set of pressures:

Incomplete applications
Last-minute donor questions
Review bottlenecks
Manual reporting
Tight awarding timelines tied to enrollment deadlines

Middle managers are the ones holding it all together. You’re responsible for keeping the process moving, protecting equity, honoring donor intent, and responding to leadership—often at the same time.

The challenge isn’t that the work is unimportant.

It’s that the work rarely leaves room to think ahead .

This post is about how scholarship teams can continue to manage the fires of today without losing sight of the strategic role leadership increasingly expects scholarships to play tomorrow .

What Fires Are Scholarship Teams Really Putting Out Today?

Most day-to-day challenges fall into a few predictable categories:

Process overload
Manual workflows, spreadsheets, email chains, and disconnected systems slow everything down—and increase risk.

Timing pressure
Awards need to go out earlier to support yield and retention, but review cycles and approvals haven’t evolved.

Visibility gaps
Teams struggle to quickly answer basic questions:

Which funds are underutilized?
Where is student demand exceeding available dollars?
Which donor updates are overdue?

Equity concerns
Incomplete applications, inconsistent review criteria, and rushed decisions can unintentionally introduce bias.

These aren’t failures of effort. They’re signals that the system itself is under strain.

Why Leadership Is Asking Bigger Questions About Scholarships

While middle managers are solving for execution, executive leadership is increasingly focused on outcomes.

Presidents, VPs of Enrollment, and Advancement leaders are asking:

How are scholarships supporting enrollment and retention goals?
Are donor-funded awards being deployed strategically—or reactively?
Do we know where additional scholarship dollars would make the biggest impact?

This creates a tension for middle managers:
You’re measured on getting the work done , but leadership is evaluating what the work enables .

The opportunity lies in bridging that gap.

How Middle Managers Can Connect Today’s Work to Tomorrow’s Strategy

You don’t need to overhaul your operation overnight. Strategic momentum often starts with a few intentional shifts.

1. Turn Operational Data Into Strategic Signals

The data you already manage—applications, fund utilization, award timing—can answer leadership-level questions when surfaced clearly.

Examples:

Identifying consistently underutilized funds
Flagging programs where qualified applicants go unfunded
Showing how award timing aligns (or doesn’t) with enrollment milestones

Why it matters: This reframes scholarship administration as insight generation, not just execution.

2. Use Process Improvements to Buy Back Strategic Time

Reducing manual work isn’t just about efficiency—it creates space to think.

Automated application validation, centralized reviewer workflows, and built-in reporting reduce:

Rework
Errors
End-of-cycle scramble

Why it matters: Time saved operationally can be reinvested in planning, collaboration, and improvement.

3. Strengthen the Connection Between Awarding and Donor Engagement

Middle managers often sit closest to the data donors care about—but don’t always control how it’s shared.

Providing clear, timely insight into:

Who was supported
How funds were used
Where unmet need still exists

…helps advancement teams tell stronger stories and positions scholarships as a growth lever , not just a compliance task.

Why it matters: Better visibility builds trust—and trust fuels future giving.

4. Anticipate the Questions Leadership Will Ask Next

Strategic middle managers don’t wait for leadership to ask—they prepare.

Questions worth getting ahead of:

If we had more scholarship dollars, where would they go?
Which awards most directly support retention?
What changes would improve equity without slowing the process?

Why it matters: Being proactive elevates your role from manager to strategic partner.

The Bigger Shift: From Managing Cycles to Shaping Outcomes

Scholarship teams are no longer operating in the background.

As institutions face enrollment pressure, funding uncertainty, and heightened donor expectations, scholarships are moving closer to the strategic center of campus decision-making.

Middle managers are uniquely positioned:

You understand the realities of the work
You control the systems and data
You translate between frontline execution and executive priorities

The goal isn’t to abandon today’s responsibilities.
It’s to let today’s work inform tomorrow’s direction .

Final Takeaway

You don’t need to choose between putting out fires and planning for the future.

With the right systems and perspective, the work you do today can actively shape what comes next .

Explore how AwardSpring helps teams reduce operational friction while unlocking strategic insight across scholarships and donor engagement.

Scholarships Aren’t Just Financial Aid Anymore. They’re Strategy.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 13:57:20 GMT

Why Executive Teams Need to Rethink the Role of Scholarships

For years, scholarship management has lived quietly inside operational teams—important work, but rarely treated as strategic.

That mindset no longer works.

In today’s environment of enrollment pressure, constrained public funding, and heightened donor expectations, scholarships are no longer a downstream task. They are one of the most powerful—and underutilized—strategic levers institutions have.

The institutions that recognize this shift early will be the ones that stabilize enrollment, strengthen donor trust, and unlock new growth.

The Leadership Blind Spot: Scholarships as “Process”

Most executive teams would agree scholarships matter. Few treat them as strategy.

Why?

Because scholarships are often framed as:

An administrative obligation
A compliance exercise tied to donor restrictions
A workflow problem buried inside financial aid or foundation offices

That framing misses the bigger picture.

Scholarships sit at the intersection of enrollment, advancement, finance, and student success . When managed strategically, they influence:

Yield and melt
Retention and persistence
Donor confidence and future giving
Institutional credibility and trust

When managed tactically, they simply get awarded—sometimes late, sometimes inconsistently, sometimes underutilized.

The Cost of Fragmentation

At most institutions, the scholarship lifecycle is fractured:

Financial aid teams focus on awarding and packaging
Advancement teams focus on stewardship and reporting
Business offices track fund balances and compliance
Leadership sees only fragments of the full picture

Each group is doing its job—but the system as a whole is underperforming.

The result?

Donor dollars sitting unused
Awards misaligned with enrollment timelines
Limited visibility into impact
Missed opportunities to grow giving or improve retention

This isn’t a people problem. It’s a systems problem.

What Strategic Institutions Are Doing Differently

Institutions that treat scholarships as a leadership priority are asking different questions:

How do scholarship dollars support our enrollment goals—not just offset cost?
Which donor funds are underutilized, and why?
Where are qualified students falling through the cracks due to timing or process?
How clearly can we show donors the outcomes of their giving?

These institutions aren’t just awarding scholarships more efficiently. They are aligning scholarship strategy with institutional outcomes .

And that alignment requires visibility across the entire lifecycle—from donor intent to student impact.

Why Donor Engagement Can’t Be an Afterthought

Donors don’t give to process. They give to impact.

Yet at many institutions, donor engagement begins after scholarships are awarded—and often ends with a thank-you note and an annual report.

That’s a missed opportunity.

When donor visibility is connected directly to awarding decisions and student outcomes:

Stewardship becomes timely and credible
Impact stories become specific and personal
Renewal and growth conversations become easier
Trust compounds over time

Strategic scholarship programs don’t just close the loop. They use it to fuel the next cycle.

The Leadership Opportunity

This moment calls for a shift in perspective.

Scholarships should no longer be viewed as:

A back-office function
A compliance burden
A static pool of restricted funds

They should be treated as:

A coordinated institutional strategy
A bridge between advancement and enrollment
A driver of student success and donor confidence

For leadership teams, the question isn’t “Are scholarships being awarded?”

It’s:

“Are we using our scholarship dollars as intentionally—and effectively—as possible to advance our mission?”

Moving From Execution to Impact

Institutions don’t need more committees or manual work to make this shift.

They need:

Unified visibility across donor funds and awarding
Clear alignment between timing, criteria, and outcomes
Systems that support strategic decision-making—not just task completion

When scholarship operations are designed to support leadership goals, the impact shows up everywhere: enrollment stability, donor growth, institutional confidence.

Final Thought

Scholarships are no longer just about access.

They’re about alignment .

Between donors and students.
Between advancement and enrollment.
Between mission and margin.

Institutions that recognize this—and act on it—will set the pace for the decade ahead.

The Top 3 Scholarship Moves Leaders Should Make Right Now

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:22:14 GMT

If scholarships are a strategy, these are the first moves that matter.

Scholarships are no longer just a financial aid function. As enrollment pressure, retention risk, and donor expectations continue to rise, scholarships are becoming a leadership-level lever —one that directly impacts who enrolls, who persists, and who feels supported through graduation.

In our last post, we explored why scholarships should be treated as an enrollment and retention strategy. The natural next question for presidents, provosts, and senior leadership teams is:

Where do we actually start?

Here are the three highest-impact moves institutions can make right now—practical, achievable steps that align strategy with execution and create momentum without overhauling everything at once.

1. Start by Connecting Scholarships to Enrollment and Retention Goals

Many institutions treat scholarships as static funds distributed annually. But when scholarships aren’t intentionally aligned with enrollment and retention priorities, their strategic value gets diluted.

The first move:
Shift the conversation from “How much did we award?” to “What outcomes are scholarships supporting?”

Leadership teams should ask:

Which scholarships are influencing enrollment decisions?
Where are we seeing unmet need that affects persistence?
Are we awarding based on historical patterns—or current student realities?

With a centralized scholarship management platform like AwardSpring, institutions can analyze application demand, award distribution, and student demographics in one place , making it easier to align scholarship strategy with enrollment goals instead of relying on assumptions or disconnected reports.

Why this matters:
You can’t manage scholarships strategically if they’re disconnected from the outcomes leadership is accountable for.

2. Start Treating Donor Engagement as Part of the Awarding Process

Donor stewardship often happens after awards are made—sometimes months later. That delay weakens the connection between giving, impact, and renewal.

The second move:
Build donor engagement into the scholarship lifecycle, not just the end.

That means:

Giving donors visibility into how funds are used
Sharing aggregate progress during the cycle
Connecting awards to real student stories and outcomes

AwardSpring enables institutions to tie donor-designated funds directly to awarding data , track impact by fund, and generate reports that show donors exactly how their support is making a difference.

Why this matters:
When donors understand the impact of their scholarships, they’re more likely to renew, increase support, and become long-term partners—not one-time contributors.

3. Start Simplifying the Experience for Everyone Involved

Even the best strategy falls apart if execution is overly manual or fragmented. When teams are juggling spreadsheets, emails, PDFs, and disconnected systems, scholarship programs become harder to manage—and harder to scale.

The third move:
Reduce friction across the entire scholarship ecosystem.

That includes:

Ensuring students submit complete, comparable applications
Giving reviewers a consistent, equitable scoring experience
Providing leadership with real-time visibility into progress and outcomes

AwardSpring’s platform centralizes applications, review workflows, donor engagement, and reporting—so scholarship teams can spend less time managing process and more time focusing on impact.

Why this matters:
Efficiency isn’t just operational—it’s strategic. The easier it is to manage scholarships well, the more effectively they can support institutional goals.

Final Thoughts: Strategy Starts with the First Step

Scholarship transformation doesn’t require a full reset. It starts with clear priorities, better alignment, and systems that support the work instead of slowing it down .

For leadership teams, the opportunity is clear:

Align scholarships with enrollment and retention goals
Treat donor engagement as a strategic asset
Simplify execution so impact can scale

AwardSpring was built to support exactly this kind of scholarship strategy—connecting students, donors, and institutions through a platform designed for clarity, equity, and long-term impact.

If scholarships are part of your institution’s strategy for growth and persistence, the right place to start is now.

Learn how AwardSpring supports strategic scholarship management.

Scholarships as Strategy: How Financial Aid Drives Enrollment and Retention in 2026

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 14:53:22 GMT

Why Today’s Enrollment Challenges Demand a Rethink of Scholarship Strategy

A New Year, Familiar Pressures

As institutions enter a new year, many leadership teams are facing the same hard realities:

Enrollment volatility
Increased competition for fewer students
Rising price sensitivity
Greater scrutiny from boards and donors

In response, campuses often focus on marketing, recruitment tactics, or new academic programs. But one of the most powerful—and underutilized—strategic levers already exists inside the institution:

Scholarships.

Not as a discount.
Not as an afterthought.
But as a coordinated strategy for enrollment, retention, and institutional trust.

Leadership teams often assume scholarships are working simply because funds are being awarded. But without clear guardrails, even well-funded programs can undermine trust, equity, or enrollment goals.

Scholarships Are No Longer Just Financial Aid

Historically, scholarships have been treated as an operational function—managed primarily by financial aid or foundation teams, optimized for compliance and efficiency.

But in today’s environment, that framing is outdated.

Scholarships sit at the intersection of three leadership priorities:

Enrollment growth
Student persistence
Donor confidence

When aligned intentionally, they become a signal of institutional commitment—not just affordability, but belonging and momentum.

How Scholarships Influence Enrollment Decisions

For many students, scholarships are not simply financial—they’re emotional.

They answer unspoken questions:

Do I belong here?
Is this institution invested in my success?
Will I be supported beyond admission?

Leadership teams that view scholarships strategically recognize that:

Early scholarship visibility can influence yield
Clear, accessible applications reduce friction
Thoughtful awarding builds confidence in enrollment decisions

When scholarship strategy is aligned with recruitment timelines, it strengthens enrollment outcomes without increasing marketing spend.

Retention Starts with Trust—Not Just Funding

Scholarships also play a quiet but critical role in retention.

Students who understand their aid, feel the process is fair, and trust the institution’s commitment are more likely to persist—especially during moments of academic or financial stress.

From a leadership perspective, this means:

Scholarship continuity matters as much as initial awards
Renewable and follow-up workflows should be intentional
Data visibility across cycles helps identify at-risk students earlier

Retention isn’t only about academic support—it’s about whether students feel seen and supported beyond their first year.

Donor Alignment Strengthens the Strategy

Scholarships funded by donors are most effective when donor intent, student need, and institutional goals are aligned.

Leadership teams that connect donor engagement directly to scholarship outcomes see:

Stronger donor trust
Increased renewal and future giving
More sustainable scholarship growth

When donors understand how their contributions support enrollment and persistence—not just individual awards—they become partners in institutional strategy.

Scholarships only become a true enrollment strategy when leadership can clearly see which funds are driving demand, which are underutilized, and where unmet student need persists

What Leadership Teams Should Be Asking Now

As the year begins, presidents, provosts, and VPs should be asking:

Are scholarships integrated into our enrollment strategy—or operating in parallel?
Do we have visibility into how scholarships impact yield and retention?
Are donor-funded scholarships aligned with student demand and institutional priorities?
Do our systems support collaboration across enrollment, financial aid, and advancement?

These are not operational questions. They’re strategic ones.

The Path Forward: Intentional Design Over Incremental Fixes

The institutions best positioned for the years ahead won’t necessarily be the ones with the largest scholarship budgets.

They’ll be the ones that:

Design scholarships with enrollment and retention in mind
Connect awarding processes to donor stewardship
Use data to inform decisions across cycles
Reduce administrative friction so teams can focus on impact

Scholarships are no longer just about access. They’re about confidence, continuity, and commitment.

Final Thoughts: Start the Year with Alignment

A new year offers a rare opportunity to reset—not just tactics, but perspective.

When scholarships are treated as a strategic asset rather than a siloed function, they become a powerful driver of enrollment stability and student success.

AwardSpring helps institutions align scholarship management, donor engagement, and data visibility—so leadership teams can move from reactive decisions to intentional strategy.

As you plan for the year ahead, the question isn’t whether scholarships matter.

It’s whether they’re working as hard as they could be.

A Year of Impact: The AwardSpring Blog Posts Our Community Found Most Valuable

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:20:17 GMT

As the year winds down, it’s a natural moment to pause and reflect—not just on what we built, but on what resonated most with the higher education community we serve.

Throughout the year, we explored how scholarship management, donor engagement, and institutional leadership are evolving—and how teams can do more impactful work with less manual effort. Certain posts consistently sparked conversations, earned shares, and showed up in customer and prospect discussions.

Here’s a look back at five AwardSpring blog posts that stood out this year —and why they mattered.

1. Why Donor Engagement Belongs in the Scholarship Awarding Process

This post struck a chord because it reframed a long-standing assumption: that donor stewardship happens after awards are made.

We explored how institutions that connect donor visibility to the awarding process—not just reporting—build stronger trust, better retention, and more sustainable scholarship programs.

Why readers cared:

It helped advancement and financial aid teams see themselves as partners
It gave executive leaders a clearer strategy for aligning philanthropy with student success
It introduced a more modern, relationship-driven model of donor engagement

�� Read the full post

2. 6 Common Scholarship Awarding Mistakes to Avoid Next Cycle

This practical, no-nonsense post resonated with teams coming out of a busy scholarship cycle.

From vague rubrics to manual review workflows, we outlined mistakes institutions often make—not out of neglect, but because of time and system constraints—and how small changes can make a big difference.

Why readers cared:

It was immediately actionable
It reflected real, lived experiences from financial aid and foundation teams
It offered clarity without judgment

�� Read the post

3. How to Build Donor Impact Reports That Inspire Future Scholarship Giving

Donor reports are often treated as a requirement. This post reframed them as an opportunity.

We shared how combining clean data, student stories, and thoughtful timing can turn reporting into one of the most effective donor engagement tools institutions have.

Why readers cared:

It gave advancement teams a clear framework for better stewardship
It emphasized personalization without adding workload
It connected reporting directly to future giving

�� Read the post

4. How to Engage Scholarship Donors in Real Time (Not Just After the Awards)

This post built on the donor-reporting conversation and pushed it further—into the scholarship cycle itself.

We explored how institutions can involve donors thoughtfully and ethically throughout the application, review, and awarding process, creating deeper connection without compromising fairness.

Why readers cared:

It introduced a new way to think about donor involvement
It balanced transparency with integrity
It aligned closely with leadership-level priorities

�� Read the post

5. How Stronger Cross-Campus Collaboration Can Transform Your Scholarship Program

Scholarship success doesn’t live in one office—and this post made that clear.

We looked at how Financial Aid, Advancement, and Academic Affairs can work together to improve equity, efficiency, and donor confidence when they share data and goals.

Why readers cared:

It validated challenges teams feel every day
It spoke directly to presidents and VPs
It positioned scholarship management as an institutional strategy, not just a task

�� Read the post

Final Thoughts: Looking Ahead

These posts reflect a clear theme: scholarship programs are most effective when systems, people, and purpose are aligned.

As we head into a new year, we’ll continue exploring how institutions can simplify their work, strengthen relationships, and focus more energy on what matters most—students and impact.

If you’re catching up over the holidays, this list is a great place to start.

Year-End Isn’t Just for Giving Appeals—It’s for Donor Trust

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 09:45:28 GMT

The Quiet Donor Moments That Build Long-Term Scholarship Support

Why the Holidays Matter More Than We Admit

Early December is a strange time for donor management teams.

Budgets are closing. Appeals are everywhere. Teams are tired. And yet—this is one of the most emotionally charged moments of the year for donors.

For scholarship funders, the holidays aren’t just about generosity. They’re about reflection :

Did my gift actually make a difference?
Were students helped the way I hoped?
Do I trust this institution to steward my support well?

The institutions that understand this don’t push harder—they show up more thoughtfully.

What Donors Are Really Looking for in December

Most scholarship donors aren’t waiting for another email asking them to give.

They’re waiting for reassurance .

Not a glossy report. Not a long letter. Just a simple signal that their support mattered and was handled with care.

Effective year-end donor engagement focuses on three quiet questions donors rarely ask out loud:

Was my fund used well?
Did students benefit meaningfully?
Does this institution see me as a partner, not a transaction?

Simple Year-End Touchpoints That Go a Long Way

You don’t need a major campaign to meet donors where they are in December.

Small, timely gestures often land harder than polished appeals:

A short message sharing how many students were supported this year
A single student quote that reflects gratitude or relief
A quick snapshot of what awarding looked like this cycle
A note previewing what’s coming next year (without an ask)

Why these work: They connect giving to outcomes—and outcomes to human experience.

The Overlooked Link: Awarding → Donor Confidence

One of the biggest missed opportunities in donor management happens quietly.

When scholarship awarding feels rushed internally, donor communication often becomes an afterthought. But donors feel that gap.

Strong donor trust is built when:

Award decisions are consistent and documented
Applications are complete and reviewed equitably
Student data can be confidently shared (in aggregate or with consent)
Reporting reflects reality, not reconstruction

When awarding is clear, donor messaging becomes natural—not forced.

December Is About Stewardship, Not Speed

The institutions that retain and grow scholarship support don’t treat December like a finish line.

They treat it like a handoff .

A moment to say:

Here’s what your generosity made possible.
Here’s what we learned this year.
Here’s how we’re thinking about the future.

That tone builds continuity—and makes January conversations easier for everyone.

Looking Ahead Without Asking

One of the most effective year-end donor messages includes no direct financial ask at all.

Instead, it creates space:

“We’ll be reaching out early next year to share more about the upcoming cycle.”
“If you’d like to stay closely connected, we’d love to continue the conversation.”
“Thank you for trusting us with this responsibility.”

That’s stewardship. And donors remember it long after the holidays pass.

Final Thoughts

The holidays give donor management teams permission to slow down—just a little—and focus on meaning over momentum.

When scholarship programs align thoughtful awarding with intentional donor communication, December becomes more than a busy season. It becomes a trust-building moment.

AwardSpring helps institutions connect the dots between scholarship awarding, student outcomes, and donor stewardship—so year-end messages are grounded in real data, real stories, and real impact.

How Stronger Cross-Campus Collaboration Can Transform Your Scholarship Program

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 15:52:01 GMT

Scholarship Success Is No Longer a Single-Department Responsibility

Many institutions think of scholarships as a Financial Aid function, donor relations as an Advancement responsibility, and academic advising as an Academic Affairs task.

But students don’t experience these functions separately.
And increasingly, neither do successful institutions.

As budgets tighten, student needs rise, and donors expect clearer visibility into outcomes, colleges are discovering a critical truth:

Scholarship success happens at the intersection of departments — not within a single silo.

This post breaks down how stronger collaboration across Financial Aid, Advancement, and Academic Affairs drives better awarding, stronger donor relationships, and more meaningful student outcomes—and why AwardSpring makes that alignment easier than ever.

Why Collaboration Matters Now More Than Ever

Fragmented processes can lead to:

missed scholarship opportunities
duplicated outreach
inconsistent donor communication
underfunded high-need programs
overburdened scholarship staff

At a time when institutions are being asked to do more with less, cross-campus collaboration isn’t just good practice — it’s a strategic advantage.

And the data supports it.

According to the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships, institutions with integrated scholarship and donor workflows see higher renewal rates, more efficient awarding, and stronger student engagement.

1. How Financial Aid + Advancement Can Strengthen Donor Confidence

Financial Aid teams understand the “on-the-ground” student need.
Advancement teams understand donor priorities.

But without collaboration, critical questions go unanswered:

Are highly competitive scholarships underfunded?
Are donor reports aligned with actual awarding data?
Are donors getting timely updates on applicant volume or student impact?

When these units work together, institutions can:

proactively identify underfunded areas
personalize donor communication
highlight unmet student need with real data
strengthen donor retention and future giving

AwardSpring bridges this gap by giving both teams real-time visibility into fund usage, applicant trends, and student stories — all in one centralized platform.

2. How Academic Departments Can Amplify Student Access

Faculty and advisors are often the first to know:

which students are struggling financially
who may be eligible for niche awards
who needs encouragement to apply

And yet, many scholarship cycles run with minimal academic involvement.

Bringing academic leaders into the process can:

increase qualified applicant volume
broaden access for students who don’t self-identify as “scholarship-worthy”
help departments align curriculum goals with donor interests
surface emerging needs tied to specific programs or majors

AwardSpring makes collaboration simple with shareable dashboards, reviewer tools, and department-level visibility.

3. How Cross-Campus Insights Improve Awarding Equity

Award equity is a major priority for presidents and VPs.

When departments operate in silos, equity blind spots naturally appear:

scholarships with outdated or overly narrow criteria
inconsistent reviewer scoring practices
programs with chronic underfunding
demographic groups that are systematically under-supported

When Financial Aid, Advancement, and Academic Affairs share the same data, they can collectively:

identify opportunity gaps
update award criteria
cultivate new donor partnerships
build pipelines for underrepresented students
ensure awarding reflects institutional priorities

AwardSpring’s reporting tools make these trends easy to surface — and even easier to act on.

4. How Shared Systems Reduce Administrative Burden

Cross-departmental collaboration matters—but it must be easy, or teams quickly retreat back to silos.

When each department uses its own tracking system or spreadsheet, coordination becomes impossible.

An aligned, campus-wide approach allows teams to:

reduce duplicative work
eliminate manual task tracking
streamline communication
coordinate outreach to students and donors
stay aligned throughout the full cycle

One centralized system = one shared source of truth.

That’s the power of AwardSpring.

5. Leadership Takeaway: Collaboration Is a Scholarship Strategy

Presidents and VPs are increasingly asking a different question:

How can we make scholarships not just a financial tool, but a strategic lever for student success, donor engagement, and workforce development?

The answer:
cross-campus alignment supported by intuitive technology.

Scholarship success is no longer just about awarding dollars.
It’s about building a coordinated, mission-driven ecosystem where students, donors, and staff all benefit.

AwardSpring helps institutions build exactly that.

Final Thoughts: Unified Teams Create Greater Impact

The scholarship programs that thrive in 2026 won’t be the ones with the largest budgets — they’ll be the ones with the strongest collaboration.

When Financial Aid, Advancement, and Academic Affairs share data, share goals, and share responsibility, the entire institution wins.

AwardSpring provides the clarity, visibility, and alignment needed to make that collaboration simple, sustainable, and scalable.

Want to see how AwardSpring supports cross-campus scholarship alignment? Let’s talk.

Beyond Efficiency: How Cloud County Proved That Human Connection Still Wins in Enrollment

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 13:43:39 GMT

Transforming Scholarship Management Into a Culture of Connection

Higher education has never been more complex—or more human.

While new technologies promise automation and scale, success still depends on something much simpler: connection.

That balance between people and process is what makes Cloud County Community College’s story so powerful. Their team didn’t just adopt new technology—they reimagined how authentic communication can fuel student success and institutional growth.

The Challenge: Doing More with Less

Like many community colleges, Cloud County faced a familiar challenge:
A small team, a growing list of responsibilities, and a critical need to reach and support more students without losing the personal touch that defines their mission.

Manual processes slowed down awarding. Communication with applicants and reviewers often required extra steps. And donors—though loyal—weren’t always getting the visibility they deserved.

They didn’t need more complexity. They needed clarity.

The Approach: Authenticity at Scale

Cloud County turned to AwardSpring to simplify their scholarship and donor engagement workflows—freeing staff to focus on what truly matters: meaningful connection.

By centralizing scholarship management and automating administrative steps, the team created space for empathy-driven engagement.

Reviewers could spend more time understanding applicants’ stories.
Students found the process easier and more transparent.
And donors saw real-time impact, not just end-of-year reports.

In short, the system worked for the people—not the other way around.

The Results: Impact That Scales

The outcomes speak for themselves:

Streamlined awarding and reporting eliminated manual bottlenecks.
Improved student access led to stronger application numbers.
Enhanced donor visibility strengthened relationships and future giving.

But what stood out most wasn’t just efficiency—it was culture.

Cloud County’s team rediscovered that technology, when designed with empathy, doesn’t replace human connection—it amplifies it.

The Leadership Takeaway: Simplicity Creates Space for Strategy

For presidents, vice presidents, and foundation leaders, Cloud County’s story offers a critical reminder: operational simplicity is a leadership strategy.

When scholarship management systems reduce noise, teams can focus on higher-impact work—building relationships, elevating donor trust, and driving student outcomes.

The right platform doesn’t just save time. It makes room for meaning.

Final Thought: Technology Should Serve People—Not Process

Cloud County’s journey underscores a truth that every higher ed leader should embrace:
When you design systems around people, results follow.

AwardSpring continues to help institutions like Cloud County transform scholarship and donor engagement through thoughtful, intuitive technology—empowering teams to lead with both efficiency and empathy.

Preparing for the Season of Gratitude: Strengthening Scholarship and Donor Connections Before the Holidays

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 15:20:35 GMT

Leading with Gratitude: How to Deepen Donor Connections as the Year Ends

It’s early November—a time when campuses start to quiet, students count down to finals, and advancement teams turn their attention to reflection and planning.

Before the rush of year-end reporting and donor communications, this season offers something invaluable: the chance to pause, express gratitude, and strengthen the relationships that power your scholarship program.

Here are five ways to make the most of this moment—and set your institution up for a confident start in 2026.

1. Lead with Gratitude Now, Not Later

Don’t wait until the last week of December to thank your donors. November is the perfect time to send early messages of appreciation before inboxes fill with end-of-year campaigns.

A short, heartfelt message—paired with specific scholarship outcomes—reminds donors their support matters right now.

Pro Tip: Use AwardSpring’s donor reporting tools to identify this year’s most impactful funds and share quick thank-you notes highlighting their reach.

2. Share the Stories that Matter Most

As the year winds down, donors and campus partners want to see stories that reaffirm the “why” behind their giving.

Feature a student who achieved something remarkable thanks to scholarship support, or a donor whose commitment to access continues to inspire others.

Authentic, concise storytelling builds community and reinforces trust.

�� Related reading: How to Build Donor Impact Reports That Inspire Future Giving

3. Reflect on This Year’s Impact

Before planning for next year, take a clear look at this one.

Ask your team:

Which scholarships were most competitive or underfunded?
Where did applicants struggle or drop off?
What bottlenecks can be removed before the next cycle begins?

AwardSpring’s analytics make these reflections easy to capture—so you can spend more time acting on insights, not chasing reports.

�� Related reading: 6 Common Scholarship Awarding Mistakes to Avoid Next Cycle

4. Re-Engage Donors Before Year-End

November is prime time for outreach—donors are still active, but not yet overwhelmed by holiday appeals.

Share mid-cycle updates or data-driven summaries that show the continued need for support. Combine simple metrics (like average award size or number of students supported) with authentic stories to make a lasting impression before year-end giving peaks.

5. Lay the Groundwork for a Smooth January

Use this calm before the holidays to prepare next year’s foundation:

Refresh your scholarship pages and application copy.
Double-check fund balances and eligibility rules.
Schedule first-quarter communications with internal reviewers and partners.

Even a few proactive steps now can make January’s start feel seamless instead of rushed.

�� Download: 5 Ways to Amplify Your Scholarship’s Reach and Impact

Final Thought: Gratitude Is the First Step Toward Growth

In higher education, gratitude isn’t seasonal—it’s strategic.

When scholarship and advancement teams take time to reflect, recognize, and reconnect before the year ends, they don’t just close a cycle—they strengthen the foundation for what’s next.

AwardSpring makes it easy to express appreciation, share insights, and plan ahead—all in one connected platform.

✨ Here’s to a November filled with gratitude, clarity, and purpose.

Data with Purpose: How Transparency Builds Donor Confidence and Institutional Trust

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 14:36:05 GMT

Why Transparency Is the New Language of Trust in Higher Education

For presidents, vice presidents, and foundation executives, the call for transparency has never been louder.
Donors are no longer content with annual reports or broad impact summaries—they want to see the story behind the numbers.

In this new era of philanthropy, data is more than accountability—it’s opportunity.

Used well, it strengthens relationships, reinforces mission, and inspires deeper giving.

Why Transparency Has Become a Leadership Imperative

Across higher education, institutions are being asked to do more with less—and to show exactly how they’re doing it. Donors expect the same clarity they get from other parts of their lives: real-time insights, measurable outcomes, and human connection.

For presidents and VPs, this means leading with visibility. Data is no longer just a reporting function—it’s a strategic asset that communicates credibility, stewardship, and vision.

When leaders can speak confidently about how scholarship dollars are awarded, tracked, and felt, they strengthen both trust and reputation.

The Confidence Gap: When Donors Can’t See Impact

Even the most generous donor may hesitate to renew a gift if they can’t clearly see its effect.

A lack of visibility often leads to assumptions—about how funds are used, who they support, or whether they truly make a difference.

This “confidence gap” is rarely about the outcomes themselves—it’s about communication.

When impact data lives in spreadsheets or disconnected systems, the story never reaches the people who need to hear it most.

Dive Deeper: Bridging the Gap: Why Donor Engagement Belongs in the Scholarship Awarding Process

From Data to Dialogue: Turning Numbers into Narrative

Presidents and senior leaders play a critical role in transforming data into meaning.

The most trusted institutions use data to tell a story—one that connects donor intent, student experience, and institutional mission.

When leaders share data through a narrative lens, it becomes proof of purpose.

For example:

Showing how retention improved among scholarship recipients
Highlighting first-generation student success stories tied to donor funds
Using real-time dashboards to share outcomes in board meetings or town halls

This transparency doesn’t just show impact—it invites partnership.

Learn More: How to Build Donor Impact Reports That Inspire Future Scholarship Giving

Technology as the Enabler of Trust

Modern scholarship and donor management systems like AwardSpring empower leaders to lead transparently.

With real-time visibility into awarding data, fund performance, and student stories, presidents and advancement teams can demonstrate both fiscal responsibility and emotional impact—without waiting for manual reports.

It’s not just about having data. It’s about having data that moves.

Final Thought: Leadership That Shares the Story

Transparency isn’t about releasing more data—it’s about sharing the right data in ways that build connection and confidence.

When presidents use data to show not just what was done, but why it matters, they transform philanthropy from obligation to inspiration.

In doing so, they remind every donor of the same truth that drives every student: Their investment is seen. Their impact is real.

Leading the Connection: Why Donor Relationships Should Be a Presidential Priority

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:23:09 GMT

The conversation about scholarships and donor engagement doesn’t belong only to advancement or financial aid—it belongs in the president’s office.

Because when the connection between philanthropy and student success is visible, it becomes a reflection of institutional leadership, not just operational efficiency.

Scholarships as a Mirror of Mission

For presidents and vice presidents of enrollment or advancement, scholarships are more than financial tools—they are expressions of institutional mission.

They demonstrate who the institution values, what it stands for, and how it defines opportunity.

When scholarship awarding and donor engagement are siloed, that message becomes fragmented.

Donors may give generously but never see the full arc of their impact.

Students may receive support but never feel connected to the story behind it.

A president’s voice can unify those threads—turning scholarships into a living embodiment of institutional purpose.

The Strategic Payoff of Presidential Involvement

Leadership visibility in donor engagement pays dividends far beyond philanthropy.

When presidents take an active role in connecting scholarship programs to institutional strategy, they:

Elevate donor trust. Donors see transparency and accountability at the highest level.
Inspire alignment. Advancement, financial aid, and enrollment teams rally around shared outcomes.
Model stewardship. Leadership engagement signals to internal teams that donor relationships aren’t transactions—they’re partnerships.

A president’s participation doesn’t mean more meetings. It means intentional alignment—embedding philanthropy in the same conversations as access, retention, and student success.

Breaking the “End-of-Year” Mindset

For many institutions, donor engagement still happens in cycles: campaign, report, thank-you, repeat.

But today’s donors—especially younger philanthropists and corporate partners—want continuity and connection.

When executive leadership champions mid-cycle engagement, like periodic impact updates or student storytelling, it changes the dynamic.

It moves the institution from gratitude to partnership—from reactive to relational.

Technology as an Enabler of Leadership

The most forward-thinking institutions are using technology not just to automate scholarship administration but to empower leadership transparency.

Platforms like AwardSpring bridge the gap between data and storytelling—giving presidents and vice presidents clear, real-time insights into how donor dollars translate into student outcomes.

This level of visibility allows leadership to tell a stronger story to the board, the community, and future donors.

Final Thought: Leadership That Connects

In higher education, where resources are tight and expectations are high, leaders can’t afford to treat philanthropy as a side conversation.

It’s central to access.
It’s central to equity.
It’s central to the story you tell about what your institution values most.

Presidential engagement in donor relationships isn’t about oversight—it’s about ownership. Because when leaders connect giving to outcomes, they connect mission to meaning.

AwardSpring helps institutions make that connection seamless—with transparent reporting, real-time data, and tools that align donors, students, and leadership in one shared story.

Bridging the Gap: Why Donor Engagement Belongs in the Scholarship Awarding Process

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 12:25:54 GMT

From Donation to Destination: How Aligning Donor Engagement with Awarding Transforms Student Impact

For most institutions, scholarship management and donor stewardship live in different worlds. One sits within financial aid or enrollment, focused on process, compliance, and access. The other belongs to advancement or foundation teams, centered on relationships and philanthropy.

But the students benefiting from those scholarships—and the donors funding them—don’t see two separate systems. They see one story.

Connecting those two halves isn’t just an operational improvement. It’s a strategic opportunity for leadership.

The Missed Opportunity: When Systems Don’t Talk

When scholarship awarding and donor engagement happen in isolation, it creates real friction.

Donors don’t see the full impact of their investment.
Financial aid teams lose visibility into donor intent.
Students miss chances to form meaningful connections with the individuals supporting their education.

The result? A scholarship program that works, but doesn’t inspire.

In a time when community and purpose are vital for student and donor retention, this separation costs more than it saves.

The Leadership Imperative: Aligning Mission and Management

University presidents and vice presidents of enrollment are already balancing competing pressures—financial sustainability, enrollment growth, and equity goals. Scholarships sit at the intersection of all three.

By uniting donor engagement and scholarship awarding, leaders can:

Show tangible outcomes that connect philanthropy directly to student success.
Build trust among donors through transparency and accountability.
Elevate institutional storytelling —turning data points into narratives that attract future giving.

This alignment transforms scholarships from financial transactions into mission-driven investments.

The Technology Shift: From Reporting to Relationship

Historically, donor stewardship has been reactive—annual reports, year-end thank-yous, and static PDFs.
Today, leaders have access to systems that make this process dynamic and transparent.

Modern scholarship management platforms, like AwardSpring , allow institutions to:

Automatically match donors with the funds they support.
Share real-time impact updates as awards are made.
Integrate student stories and metrics into donor-facing dashboards.

When donors see their impact unfold, giving becomes more personal—and more sustainable.

�� Read more actionable insights: How to Build Donor Impact Reports That Inspire Future Giving.

The Student Experience: Visibility as Value

Students, too, benefit when these systems converge. A connected scholarship ecosystem ensures that:

Awards are distributed equitably and transparently.
Students understand who made their scholarship possible.
Thank-you messages and impact stories flow naturally, strengthening community ties.

For institutional leaders focused on belonging and student engagement, this integration reinforces one of higher education’s most powerful messages: someone believes in you.

�� Dive deeper: How to Engage Scholarship Donors in Real Time

Final Thought: Connection Is the New Currency

In advancement and enrollment alike, the next era of institutional success won’t be defined by how many students are enrolled or how many dollars are raised—it will be defined by how deeply those efforts connect.

When donor engagement and scholarship awarding are linked, institutions don’t just distribute funds—they build shared purpose.

AwardSpring helps leaders make that connection seamless, scalable, and strategic. 

What Everyone Will Be Talking About at CASE CCCA 2025

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 17:25:12 GMT

What Everyone Will Be Talking About at CASE CCCA 2025

As we head to New Orleans later this week for the CASE Conference for Community College Advancement , we’re watching closely. Community college advancement faces unique challenges—and the conversations happening on the floor, in breakout rooms, and over coffee are going to map closely to the most urgent demands on scholarship and donor teams alike.

Here are several topics we expect to surface repeatedly—and how AwardSpring is primed to contribute to them.

1. Scaling Scholarship Programs with Limited Resources

Why it’s hot: Many community colleges are under pressure to do more with tighter budgets, smaller teams, and increasing student need. The question is no longer whether to expand scholarship support—but how to reach more students without burning out staff.

Our view: Automation, intelligent workflows, and integrated donor-student systems are central. We’ll be discussing how technology can relieve the administrative burden so teams can refocus on strategy and equity.

2. The Role of Data in Demonstrating Impact

Why it’s hot: Foundations, donors, and institutional leadership increasingly demand clear outcomes—who got funded, by how much, and what that meant for student success. Community colleges must show that scholarship dollars are making measurable difference.

Our view: Fund-level dashboards, demographic breakdowns, and longitudinal tracking are no longer optional. Tools that make this reporting easy—without creating manual overhead—will stand out at the conference.

3. Deepening Stewardship Between Cycles

Why it’s hot: Too many scholarship programs treat stewardship as a checkbox—thank-off, send report, move on. But donors want to be part of a story. Sustaining funders’ attention through the gaps is a key challenge.

Our view: Mid-cycle updates, optional engagement opportunities, and donor-facing dashboards allow advancement teams to foster loyalty and renewals. Expect to hear about creative stewardship models and how to scale them.

4. Equity, Access & Inclusive Awarding

Why it’s hot: Institutional goals increasingly emphasize inclusion—giving more opportunities to first-generation, Pell-eligible, underrepresented students. Scholarship programs must align with those equity goals ethically and transparently.

Our view: Clarity in rubrics, reviewer training, and bias-detection tools (especially with AI) will be central here. Being able to audit, explain, and adjust awards in light of equity is a conversation we’ll be contributing to.

5. AI and Automation in Scholarship Workflows

Why it’s hot: The word “AI” is everywhere—and advancement and financial aid teams are asking: how real is it, how risky, and how useful? From reviewer assistance to scorecard automation, AI is becoming a conversation—not just an aspiration.

Our view: At AwardSpring, we’re introducing SpringIQ —our suite of AI tools including SpringScore and SpringAward . We’ll be showing how smart automation can reduce bias, speed up review, and strengthen confidence without replacing human judgment. Check out our Roadmap Series for more.

6. Breaking Silos: Advancement + Financial Aid + Academic Units

Why it’s hot: Scholarship success depends on collaboration—not isolation. Academic departments, student life, financial aid, and advancement teams must coordinate to drive awareness, alignment, and cross-campus support.

Our view: Integrated systems and shared workflows can unlock this collaboration. Expect to hear examples from campuses that have broken down silos and achieved smoother scholarship cycles.

What We’ll Be Listening For (and Where to Find Us)

At CASE CCCA, we’ll be watching sessions and conversations around:

Community college funding strategies
Donor engagement during tight budgets
Technology and platform demos
Collaboration best practices across campus units

You’ll find us in the exhibitor area, ready to show how AwardSpring can help community colleges manage scholarships, demonstrate impact, and deepen donor relations without adding complexity.

If you’ll be attending, we’d love to connect in person—grab a coffee, talk shop, and hear what you’re seeing in your scholarship world.

See you in New Orleans.

5 Fresh Ways to Amplify Your Scholarship’s Reach This Year

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:40:41 GMT

Every scholarship cycle brings the same challenge: how do you make sure your opportunities reach the right students—and get the applications you need to award funds equitably and effectively?

We covered this in depth in our whitepaper, but as a new academic year kicks off, it’s worth revisiting. Here are five fresh ways to amplify your scholarship’s reach and impact this year.

1. Partner with Campus Influencers

Faculty, advisors, and student services teams are trusted messengers. By equipping them with scholarship talking points, slide decks, or one-pagers, you multiply your reach overnight.

2. Use Multi-Channel Student Communication

Students are busy. A single email won’t cut it. Scholarship information should show up in portals, text reminders, career centers, and even orientation packets. The easier it is to find, the more students apply.

3. Highlight Stories, Not Just Deadlines

Deadlines matter, but stories inspire. When students see peers like them benefiting from scholarships, they’re more likely to apply. Donors also value seeing their impact showcased authentically.

4. Re-Engage Underutilized Funds

Every institution has scholarships that don’t get the attention they deserve. Review last year’s fund performance and relaunch them with targeted promotion to the right audiences.

5. Leverage Technology to Do the Heavy Lifting

Manual promotion is exhausting. With a platform like AwardSpring, you can automate communication, centralize applications, and ensure students are matched to all the scholarships they’re eligible for—without extra work for your team.

Final Thoughts: Reach = Impact

The more visible your scholarships are, the more equitable and effective your awarding process becomes. By combining campus partnerships, smart communication, inspiring stories, data insights, and the right technology, you’ll not only boost applications—you’ll ensure every dollar makes a difference.

AwardSpring helps institutions make this a reality: less paperwork, more awarding.

What Financial Aid Officers Should Prioritize This Semester

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 13:52:41 GMT

Financial aid officers are on the front lines of access and affordability. Each semester brings its own challenges—tight timelines, shifting regulations, and the never-ending pressure to do more with less. But it also brings new opportunities to improve processes, engage students, and strengthen the impact of your office.

Here are three priorities to keep top of mind this semester:

1. Simplify Scholarship Communication for Students

Students are already overwhelmed at the start of the semester. When scholarship information is buried in long emails or multiple portals, many will miss out on opportunities.

Creating clear, accessible communication channels —and reinforcing deadlines early—can dramatically increase application rates.

2. Build Feedback Into Your Cycle

Students, reviewers, and donors all have insights that can improve your process—but only if you ask.

Gathering structured, meaningful feedback after each cycle helps you identify blind spots and make changes before they become bigger problems.

3. Use Data to Drive Better Decisions

Data doesn’t just help with compliance—it can also surface unmet student need, highlight underutilized funds, and strengthen the case for additional support.

With the right tools, financial aid officers can quickly turn data into action , ensuring aid dollars go where they’re needed most.

Final Thoughts: Balancing Efficiency and Impact

Financial aid officers juggle countless responsibilities, but the scholarship process is one of the most direct ways to change a student’s life. By simplifying communication, listening for feedback, and leveraging data, you’ll not only improve efficiency—you’ll also build trust with students, reviewers, and donors alike.

AwardSpring is here to help you do it all: less paperwork, more awarding.

See how AwardSpring empowers financial aid officers

4 Ways to Strengthen Donor Relationships This Scholarship Cycle

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 17:27:27 GMT

Scholarship donors are more than funders—they’re partners in student success. When they feel connected to the impact of their gift, they’re more likely to renew, increase their support, and become advocates for your institution.

But too often, donor engagement is limited to a year-end report or a thank-you note. The good news? With the right strategy (and the right tools), you can build donor relationships that last long beyond a single award cycle.

Here are four ways to strengthen donor relationships this year:

1. Start Communication Early

Donors shouldn’t have to wait until awards are made to hear from you. Share a “Scholarship Cycle at a Glance” overview that sets expectations on what they’ll see and when.

AwardSpring makes this easy with automated updates on application milestones and applicant demographics, so you can keep donors connected without extra lift.

Takeaway: Proactive communication builds trust and eliminates gaps in stewardship.

2. Personalize the Impact

Donors want to know their support made a difference—not just that dollars were disbursed. Pair high-level data with student stories to bring impact to life.

With AwardSpring, you can easily collect recipient thank-you notes and testimonials during the acceptance process, then link them to donor reports.

Takeaway: Data shows results, but stories create connection.

3. Offer Engagement Touchpoints (Without Overstepping)

While donors should never influence selection decisions, there are plenty of meaningful ways to involve them mid-cycle:

Invitations to scholarship receptions or student showcases
Mid-year snapshots of application volume or student interest trends
Notes of appreciation from staff or faculty connected to the fund’s mission

AwardSpring’s reporting tools help you identify and share the right updates at the right time.

Takeaway: Consistent, respectful engagement deepens donor loyalty.

4. Make Reporting Clear, Visual, and Collaborative

Clunky spreadsheets and generic reports don’t inspire confidence. Instead, provide clean, easy-to-digest updates that highlight outcomes and invite donor feedback.

AwardSpring’s donor dashboards allow you to share fund-specific performance, impact metrics, and student stories in polished, branded formats.

Takeaway: A good report says “thank you.” A great report says, “let’s keep building together.”

Final Thoughts: Donor Relationships Drive Fund Growth

The scholarship cycle doesn’t end when awards are made—it continues through every donor touchpoint. By communicating early, personalizing impact, and leveraging technology, you can create stewardship that inspires long-term giving.

AwardSpring equips your team with the tools to engage donors consistently and meaningfully—all while saving time and reducing manual effort.

Learn how AwardSpring strengthens donor stewardship

3 Hot Takes on AI in Scholarship Management

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 12:11:26 GMT

Everyone is talking about AI. Some are excited, some are skeptical, and some are just plain overwhelmed. But here’s the truth: AI is already here in higher ed—and scholarship management is next in line.

Here are three “hot takes” on what that really means for financial aid and scholarship teams.

1. AI Won’t Replace Reviewers—But It Will Expose Bias

The myth: “AI will take over human decision-making.”

The reality: AI is much better at revealing where humans are inconsistent or unfair.

Scorecards that look fine on the surface suddenly show wild scoring differences between reviewers. AI can highlight those discrepancies instantly—something humans miss all the time.

Hot take: AI will make reviewers better, not obsolete.

2. Students Are Already Using AI—So Pretending They’re Not Is a Waste of Time

Essays and personal statements? ChatGPT and other tools are in the mix, whether we like it or not.

Instead of wringing our hands about it, scholarship teams should focus on adjusting rubrics, training reviewers, and using tech to spot patterns. The question isn’t “if” students are using AI. It’s “how do we keep our process fair when they do?”

Hot take: AI in applications isn’t cheating—it’s the new baseline.

3. The Biggest Win Isn’t Speed—It’s Confidence

Yes, AI can save hours of manual work. But the real benefit? Confidence.

Confidence that reviewers are aligned.
Confidence that awards are fair.
Confidence that bias has been reduced.

Because when students and donors trust your process, everything else gets easier.

Hot take: AI’s value is emotional as much as it is operational.

Final Thought: Stop Waiting, Start Exploring

AI isn’t the future—it’s the present. And it’s reshaping scholarship management faster than many institutions realize.

That’s why we’re introducing SpringIQ , AwardSpring’s suite of AI-powered tools— SpringScore and SpringAward —to help teams improve reviewer consistency, reduce bias, and save time.

Check out our On-Demand Roadmap Webinar to learn more

Starting the Semester Strong: 3 Scholarship Priorities for Fall

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 14:04:07 GMT

The start of a new semester is always a whirlwind. Students are finding their footing, faculty are diving into new classes, and staff are balancing enrollment, aid packages, and campus events—all at once.

For financial aid and scholarship teams, the beginning of the academic year is more than just back-to-school; it’s the kickoff to another cycle of connecting students with life-changing funding.

Here are three ways to start this semester strong with your scholarship program.

1. Review What Worked (and What Didn’t) Last Cycle

Before the rush of a new cycle takes over, take a moment to reflect. Which parts of your scholarship process ran smoothly last year, and where did bottlenecks appear?

Did students find the application simple to complete?
Were reviewers able to complete their tasks efficiently?
Did donors get timely updates on their impact?

AwardSpring makes this review easier with intuitive reporting dashboards, so you can quickly spot gaps and successes to inform this year’s improvements.

2. Put Students at the Center of Communication

Fall is prime time for student engagement. Clear, accessible messaging can help ensure students know when scholarships open, how to apply, and where to ask questions.

Simple tactics go a long way:

Add scholarship reminders to orientation packets
Share quick links through advising and career centers
Highlight deadlines in student portals and learning systems

With AwardSpring’s universal application and automated communication tools, you can cut through the noise and make sure students never miss an opportunity.

3. Don’t Wait Until Spring to Engage Donors

While scholarship funds may not be awarded until later in the cycle, the fall semester is a perfect time to keep donors engaged. Early updates on student demand and application trends can go a long way in building donor confidence and loyalty.

AwardSpring’s donor management tools help you share early impact data, personalize updates, and strengthen relationships—well before year-end reports are due.

Final Thoughts: A Semester of Possibility

A new semester is a new beginning—for students, for donors, and for the teams who bring them together. By reflecting early, communicating clearly, and engaging donors from the start, you’ll set the tone for a smoother, more impactful scholarship cycle.

AwardSpring is here to help you do it all with less paperwork and more awarding.

AI in Scholarship Management: Trends to Watch (and How We’re Responding)

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 14:37:01 GMT

Artificial Intelligence isn’t just a buzzword anymore—it’s becoming a practical, everyday tool in higher education. From enrollment marketing to student advising, AI is already helping institutions work smarter, not harder.

And scholarship management is no exception.

At AwardSpring, we’ve been tracking the growing role of AI in financial aid and advancement offices. Here are three big trends we’re seeing—and how they’re shaping the tools we’re building for you.

AI as a Review Partner, Not a Replacement

In scholarship programs, human judgment is still essential. Reviewers understand nuance, context, and institutional priorities in a way technology can’t replace.

But AI can act as a powerful partner—helping ensure consistency, flagging potential bias, and speeding up repetitive tasks like scorecard entry.

Our takeaway: The most effective programs use AI to assist , not replace, reviewers.

Quality Assurance at Scale

One of the biggest challenges in scholarship awarding is ensuring every application is scored fairly, especially when reviewer pools are large.

AI is making it possible to identify scoring anomalies in real time—before awards are finalized—so administrators can make adjustments proactively rather than reactively.

This means fewer post-cycle headaches, greater fairness for applicants, and more confidence in the results.

Smarter Automation Without Losing the Human Touch

Automation is nothing new—but AI is making it far more sophisticated. Instead of just moving data from Point A to Point B, AI can now analyze, interpret, and adapt processes based on program-specific rules and historical trends.

In scholarship management, that means automating manual steps like calculating composite scores or validating reviewer feedback, while still allowing for human oversight.

What’s Next: Introducing SpringIQ

These trends are exactly why we’re launching SpringIQ , our new suite of AI-powered tools built for scholarship programs.

SpringScore : AI-assisted scoring that improves consistency and detects reviewer anomalies.
SpringAward : Automated scorecard processing that reduces bias and speeds up awarding decisions.

Both are designed with one goal in mind— to save your team time while increasing confidence in your awarding process .

Get a First Look ...

We’ll be unveiling SpringIQ in detail during our Summer Roadmap Series on:

Wednesday, August 20
2:00 PM ET | 1:00 PM CT

This session will show you exactly how AI fits into scholarship management, with live previews of these new features and plenty of time for Q&A.

Real Insights from the Front Lines: How AI Is Reshaping Scholarship Management at AwardSpring

gil@gr7marketing.com (Gil Rogers) — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 15:31:35 GMT

Recently, AwardSpring hosted a conversation on the future of scholarship management—and the power of AI to make the review and awarding process faster, fairer, and more efficient. The webinar featured a candid discussion with Heather Gennette, Executive Director of the Foundation at Cloud County Community College, and Kurt Reilly, AwardSpring’s Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer.

Here’s a look at the most important takeaways from the session.

A Real-World View from Cloud County

Heather Gennette has been with Cloud County Community College in Kansas for 14 years and currently leads their foundation team. She shared how her institution’s scholarship process has evolved since first implementing AwardSpring in 2015.

“Scholarship management is a passion of mine—and so is making my team's life easier,” Heather shared. “It’s been a wonderful ride, and I can’t imagine going back to the old way.”

Heather highlighted how AwardSpring has helped her small team overcome challenges tied to limited staff capacity, the complexities of fund restrictions, and even unexpected disruptions like COVID-19.

What SpringIQ Actually Does—and Doesn’t Do

Kurt Reilly gave attendees a behind-the-scenes look at SpringIQ , AwardSpring’s AI-powered review and awarding toolkit. He emphasized that SpringIQ isn’t meant to replace human reviewers, but to support and guide them.

“We’re focused on giving reviewers and administrators the tools to make better, faster, more confident decisions,” Kurt explained. “SpringIQ includes SpringScore and SpringAward—two tools that address two big pain points: reviewing at scale and awarding efficiently.”

SpringScore provides automated application scoring based on custom rubrics, helping to reduce bias and inconsistency in early-stage reviews.
SpringAward uses award logic and fund requirements to recommend how to allocate awards across eligible students—while letting staff stay in full control.

Kurt also invited ongoing feedback from the community: “We want to hear what you like, what you don’t, and what’s missing. That’s how we keep improving the platform.”

Sign up for our Summer Roadmap Series to see these new features before they go live!

The Human Side of Tech

Throughout the conversation, both Heather and Kurt emphasized that technology works best when it enhances—not replaces—the human decision-making process.

Heather noted that even with automation, there are still unique cases where her team needs to manually intervene. But now, they’re not buried under administrative tasks—they have the time and tools to focus on the students who need it most.

Final Thoughts

This session wasn’t just about product features. It was a reminder of why we do this work: to support students, simplify processes, and create more equitable opportunities through scholarships.

Want to see how AwardSpring can support your team?

Scholarships, AI, and What We’re All Rethinking This Year

gil@gr7marketing.com (Gil Rogers) — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 13:37:54 GMT

Resetting Your Scholarship Cycle: What Worked, What Didn’t, and What’s Next

Scholarship season may be over—but the real work of improvement is just beginning.

That’s why we’re bringing together two industry leaders for a timely, practical conversation:
Heather Gennette , Executive Director of Cloud County Community College, and
Kurt Reilly , Founder and CTO of AwardSpring.

Together, they’ll walk through the biggest takeaways from this past scholarship cycle—and what financial aid and scholarship professionals can do now to prepare for an even smoother, smarter season ahead.

What the Conversation Will Cover

If your team is asking any of the following questions, this is the conversation for you:

What made this past scholarship cycle feel harder—or smoother—than usual?
How do we make reviewer training more effective (and less time-consuming)?
What role should AI play in scoring and student responses?
How do we collect feedback without overwhelming students or staff?
What should we be doing now to set up a better process later?

This session will go beyond theory and dive into the real-life challenges institutions are facing—from tight timelines to inconsistent scoring—and how teams are finding ways to simplify, streamline, and strengthen their processes.

A New Theme This Year: AI Is in the Room

One topic that’s becoming increasingly relevant? Artificial Intelligence.

Whether it’s students using AI tools to complete applications or administrators exploring AI to reduce reviewer fatigue and ensure scoring fairness, the scholarship process is changing—and the conversation is evolving.

You’ll get an early look at how leaders like Heather and Kurt are thinking about:

AI-Generated Essays: How should reviewers adapt when AI tools are writing parts of student responses?
Bias + Scorecard Automation: Can AI actually improve equity and consistency in the review process?
AwardSpring’s AI Tools: Get a preview of SpringIQ—AwardSpring’s new AI-powered features like SpringScore and SpringAward, designed to help teams save time and make better, more confident decisions.

Why This Matters Now

The weeks and months immediately after awarding are some of the most important—and most overlooked—moments in the scholarship lifecycle. It’s the best time to reflect, gather insights, and adjust your process before next cycle planning ramps up.

This conversation will help you:

Reset your strategy before the new cycle begins
Reconnect with your purpose and your data
Rethink outdated processes in favor of practical innovation

Final Thoughts: A Conversation You Don’t Want to Miss

Change is coming fast—from how students write to how teams review to how donors want to see impact.

Join us for a conversation that blends hindsight, insight, and foresight—and walk away with clear, actionable ways to improve your scholarship cycle.

�� Webinar: Lessons Learned – How to Reflect, Reset, and Improve Your Scholarship Cycle
�� July 29, 2025 at 2 PM ET
��️ Featuring: Heather Gennette (Cloud County Community College) & Kurt Reilly (AwardSpring)

What We Learned—and What Comes Next: A Conversation About Scholarship Season

gil@gr7marketing.com (Gil Rogers) — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 14:26:12 GMT

Reset, Refocus, and Recharge Your Strategy for the Year Ahead

Every scholarship cycle tells a story.

For some institutions, it’s a story of smooth processes, student success, and strong donor engagement. For others, it’s a season marked by manual workarounds, missed opportunities, and the sense that things could have gone better—if only there had been more time, more clarity, or more support.

No matter which story resonates with you, one truth remains:

The best time to learn from the last cycle is before the next one begins.

That’s the focus of our upcoming webinar:

��️ “What We Learned—and What Comes Next”

Featuring Heather Gennette , Executive Director at Cloud County Community College

& Kurt Reilly , Founder and CTO at AwardSpring

�� July 29, 2025 at 2 PM ET
�� Register for the free webinar

Why This Conversation Matters

This isn’t a product demo or a high-level panel. It’s a grounded, practitioner-led conversation designed for the people who live and breathe scholarship administration every day— financial aid officers, advancement staff, and foundation leaders .

In this session, Heather and Kurt will share:

Hard-won lessons from this past awarding cycle
Data-driven insights into what’s working (and what’s not)
Practical strategies for improving efficiency and equity
Ideas to engage donors and students more meaningfully

Whether you're reflecting on how your team performed, navigating budget constraints, or building a better process for the future—this conversation will give you real-world takeaways to move forward with clarity.

Who Should Attend?

Financial Aid Directors and Staff
Scholarship Program Managers
Institutional Advancement and Foundation Teams
Enrollment and Student Success Leaders

If you had even one moment during this past cycle where you thought,
“There has to be a better way,” this session is for you.

Let’s Learn, Reflect, and Reset—Together

We know how busy this season can be. But taking one hour to step back and gain perspective may be the most important investment you make in your next scholarship cycle.

The Time Crunch in Financial Aid: What You Can Do About It

gil@gr7marketing.com (Gil Rogers) — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 22:08:36 GMT

What Today’s Financial Aid Officers Need Most Isn’t More Tools—It’s Time

Financial aid offices are stretched thin. Between regulatory shifts, enrollment pressures, and increasing student need, teams are being asked to do more—with less.

And while new platforms and policies are rolled out every year to "help," they often add complexity instead of clarity.

What most financial aid officers actually need? More time for the work that matters :

Counseling students
Awarding aid equitably
Collaborating with campus partners
Meeting compliance requirements without burning out

This post outlines practical ways to reclaim time, streamline workflows, and re-center financial aid teams on what they do best—helping students succeed.

How Can You Reclaim Time Without Losing Quality?

1. Where are you spending the most time manually?

Are you still managing awarding in spreadsheets? Emailing reviewers individually? Manually matching students to scholarships?

These are the kinds of tasks that can be automated or streamlined without sacrificing oversight.

AwardSpring customers often report cutting admin time in half—freeing up hours per week for advising or planning.

What’s One Process You Could Simplify Today?

2. Is your scholarship process built for your current reality—or last year’s?

If your process hasn’t evolved recently, now’s the time to take a fresh look.

Are you still asking students for documents you already have access to?
Are you managing eligibility and matching in separate systems?
Are you chasing reviewers for scoring feedback?

Small improvements—like using an integrated platform or adjusting your application questions—can reduce friction for both students and staff.

What Do Your Students Actually Need from You Right Now?

3. Are your most at-risk students missing out on aid due to complexity?

A growing number of students are first-gen, working part-time, or balancing caregiving responsibilities.

Your financial aid process needs to meet them where they are.

Clear communication
Mobile-friendly access
Smart matching to aid they’re actually eligible for

This isn’t just a student success issue—it’s also a compliance and equity issue.

Where Could Collaboration Lighten the Load?

4. Are your advancement and foundation partners supporting your work—or adding more steps?

Often, financial aid sits at the center of a donor-driven scholarship process—but without much help from those building the relationships or collecting the stories.

The best teams integrate:

Advancement provides donor intent and reporting needs
Financial aid handles compliance and awarding
Foundations support stewardship and communication

With the right tools, everyone works from the same data , reducing duplication and confusion.

What Would You Do with 5 More Hours a Week?

5. Are you spending your expertise where it counts—or where it’s most needed?

Reclaiming time isn’t just about efficiency. It’s about reallocating your expertise to the work that truly needs a human touch.

Advising students
Troubleshooting edge cases
Communicating with leadership
Shaping next year’s aid strategy

Software should be your assistant, not another task on your list.

Takeaways: Start Small, But Start Now

Financial aid officers aren’t looking for more tech—they’re looking for more capacity to do the work that changes lives.

AwardSpring is built to support that shift:

Smart, automated matching
Seamless reviewer coordination
Real-time reporting and donor communication
Student-friendly application experiences

Let us help you simplify the process, so your team can get back to what matters most.

See How AwardSpring Frees Up Financial Aid Teams to Focus on Students

How Cloud County Community College Streamlined Scholarship Management and Reclaimed Time with AwardSpring

gil@gr7marketing.com (Gil Rogers) — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 17:07:12 GMT

For institutions serving rural and expansive regions, efficiency in operations isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. Cloud County Community College (CCCC), located in Concordia, Kansas, is no exception. With a 12-county service area spanning more than 9,000 square miles, CCCC needed a better way to manage its growing scholarship program without overburdening its small foundation team.

The Challenge: Manual Systems Slowing Progress

Before implementing AwardSpring, CCCC used an internal, custom-built application developed by their IT team. While it helped centralize applications, the process remained heavily manual. Staff were spending far too much time sorting through submissions, verifying eligibility, and juggling communications across departments and donors. The inefficiency limited the college’s capacity to focus on long-term growth initiatives and larger-scale fundraising efforts.

The Turning Point: Investing in Smart Technology

In 2014, CCCC adopted AwardSpring’s scholarship management platform, looking to eliminate manual work and improve the student and staff experience. The platform's intuitive design and automated workflows replaced tedious tasks with a streamlined, centralized process. For a team of just three managing everything from alumni relations to donor outreach, the time savings were immediate and significant.

The Results: Efficiency That Pays Off

Since making the switch, CCCC has reported dramatic improvements in both operational efficiency and staff capacity. The foundation team can now devote more attention to donor engagement, campus initiatives, and student outreach—all while managing the scholarship process more effectively.

“Spending money on technology to make our lives a little bit easier has more than paid for itself,” – Heather Gennette, Foundation Executive Director, CCCC

With less time spent on administrative tasks, the college has been able to invest energy into projects that enhance the student experience and support long-term development goals.

A Model for Small Institutions

Cloud County Community College’s success with AwardSpring highlights a key insight for similarly sized institutions: you don’t need a large team to run a high-impact scholarship program—you just need the right tools. By simplifying the application, review, and awarding process, AwardSpring enables colleges like CCCC to do more with less, supporting students, staff, and donors with greater ease and impact.

The 5 Things Everyone Will Be Talking About at NASFAA 2025

gil@gr7marketing.com (Gil Rogers) — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 13:55:09 GMT

Top Trends Shaping Financial Aid Strategy in 2025

The annual NASFAA Conference is more than just a gathering of financial aid professionals—it’s a barometer for what’s top of mind across the higher education landscape.

This year in Anaheim, we expect the conversations to reflect a common thread: how to deliver more value to students and donors with fewer resources, tighter regulations, and higher expectations.

From policy shifts to process improvements, here’s what we expect to be front and center at NASFAA 2025—and how scholarship teams can stay ahead.

1. Equity in Awarding: Are Your Rubrics Helping or Hurting?

More institutions are realizing that outdated review rubrics and overreliance on GPA may be undermining their efforts to create equitable scholarship access.

✅ If you haven’t reviewed your scoring system in a few years, it’s time.

�� Read: 6 Common Scholarship Awarding Mistakes to Avoid Next Cycle

2. Donor Stewardship is Getting a Mid-Cycle Makeover

It’s not enough to send a year-end report. Donors want to be part of the story as it unfolds.

We expect big conversations about real-time engagement and how to deepen donor relationships without burdening small teams.

�� Read: How to Engage Scholarship Donors in Real Time (Not Just After the Awards)

3. Data Isn’t Just for Compliance—It’s for Growth

Fund-level reporting is becoming a must-have, not a nice-to-have. Scholarship offices that use data to track fund performance, uncover unmet need, and match student stories to donor priorities are the ones building resilient funding pipelines.

�� Read: Using Data to Identify Scholarship Fund Growth Opportunities

4. Faculty and Staff Partnerships are Key to Visibility

Getting more students to apply starts with getting more people to spread the word. We’re hearing more about the importance of faculty buy-in, cross-campus collaboration, and internal advocacy.

�� Read: Building Faculty Buy-In: The Missing Piece in Scholarship Visibility

5. Scholarship Programs Can’t Be an Island Anymore

Advancement, financial aid, foundations, and academic departments are aligning more closely than ever. Why? Because that’s what it takes to turn transactional giving into transformational funding.

�� Read: How to Build Stronger Scholarship Partnerships with Corporate and Community Funders

Where to Find Us at NASFAA

The AwardSpring team will be at Booth #533 all week. Stop by to see how we’re helping institutions simplify scholarship management and drive greater impact for students and donors.

How to Build Stronger Scholarship Partnerships with Corporate and Community Funders

gil@gr7marketing.com (Gil Rogers) — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 14:17:34 GMT

Corporate funders don’t just want to give—they want to partner.

Corporate and community-based scholarships are more than just funding mechanisms—they’re strategic partnerships. When managed well, they deliver real ROI for both your students and the organizations that support them.

But too often, these relationships become transactional. A gift is made, awards are granted, and both sides move on—missing the opportunity to collaborate on shared impact, visibility, and growth.

In this post, we’ll break down how to create stronger scholarship partnerships with corporate and community funders by aligning missions, co-creating visibility strategies, and communicating outcomes that matter.

1. Understand the Funder’s Goals Beyond the Gift

Start by asking: Why is this company or foundation offering a scholarship in the first place?

Common motivators include:

Pipeline development for future employees
Workforce or economic development
Community reputation and visibility
Alumni engagement or board involvement
Commitment to equity and access in education

Before the next cycle begins, meet with your corporate/community partners to clarify their goals—and document them. This sets the foundation for how you’ll communicate, report, and co-promote the scholarship moving forward.

Why it matters: When both sides agree on the “why,” everything from reporting to renewal becomes more strategic and aligned.

2. Offer Visibility That Goes Beyond the Website

Don’t wait for your annual report to show the impact of a corporate scholarship. Today’s funders want real-time, brand-aligned visibility—and there are plenty of ways to provide it.

Ideas for partnership visibility:

Co-branded scholarship announcements via social media or press release
Recognition at campus career fairs or orientation events
Featuring the company in recipient award letters or donor thank-you videos
Posting about scholarship recipients interning or working at the company
Creating LinkedIn content that tags the funder and highlights the student’s goals

Be sure to get photo and story consent from recipients in advance—AwardSpring helps streamline this with built-in acknowledgment workflows.

Why it matters: Recognition builds loyalty. It also gives your funders material to share with their own stakeholders—HR teams, boards, and PR leads.

3. Invite Funders Into the Student Journey (Without Overstepping)

While donors shouldn’t influence selection decisions, there are creative, ethical ways to involve corporate or community funders in the student journey.

Engagement ideas:

Offer a virtual “meet the recipients” event after awards are granted
Invite funders to attend scholarship receptions or student showcases
Provide mid-cycle updates on application volume or interest
Share anonymized application trends tied to the funder’s target population (e.g., STEM majors, local students)

These small touch points help funders feel connected to their impact—without interfering in the awarding process.

Why it matters: Involvement drives retention. Engaged funders are more likely to renew, grow their gift, or explore other partnership opportunities (e.g., internships or mentorship).

4. Make Reporting Collaborative, Not One-Sided

Instead of delivering a static donor report, treat your scholarship impact summary as a conversation starter .

Structure your reporting to include:

A visual overview of impact (dollars awarded, students supported)
A story or quote from a recipient
A list of ways to deepen the partnership (e.g., future events, communications, co-branded outreach)
A short reflection section: “Are these metrics helpful? Anything more you’d like to see next year?”

This builds a two-way relationship—one where the funder feels heard, not just thanked.

Why it matters: Collaborative stewardship helps funders become long-term partners, not one-time sponsors.

5. Align the Scholarship With Workforce or Community Needs

Many corporate and civic organizations want to solve real problems—closing talent gaps, supporting underserved populations, or investing in future leadership.

Use your student and application data (via AwardSpring) to:

Show how the scholarship aligns with workforce development goals
Highlight outcomes (student retention, degree completion, local employment)
Share trends in student interest by major, demographic, or geography
Make the case for expanding support based on unmet need or applicant demand

Example:

“This year, 17 students from [City] applied for health sciences scholarships, but only 3 received funding. There’s an opportunity here to deepen local impact and build your future workforce.”

Why it matters: When funders see your scholarship program as part of a broader mission they care about, they stay invested—and often increase their giving.

Final Thoughts: Great Funders Want to Do More Than Write a Check

Scholarship partnerships are evolving. Today’s corporate and community donors want visibility, connection, and results—and institutions that deliver on those fronts build deeper, longer-lasting relationships.

With tools like AwardSpring, you can streamline student data collection, personalize reporting, and build visibility campaigns that honor your funders’ goals—without increasing your team’s lift.

Learn How AwardSpring Helps You Grow Corporate and Community Scholarship Partnerships

Using Data to Identify Scholarship Fund Growth Opportunities

gil@gr7marketing.com (Gil Rogers) — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 12:13:26 GMT

Unlocking Scholarship Growth: How to Spot Opportunities Hidden in Your Data

Growing scholarship funding doesn’t have to start with a major campaign. In fact, some of your most promising opportunities are already in your data—if you know where to look.

With the right tools and a clear process, your team can surface growth opportunities by analyzing fund performance, identifying donor engagement signals, and aligning unmet student need with donor intent.

This post outlines five practical ways your team can use data to proactively strengthen your scholarship funding pipeline—without increasing headcount or starting from scratch.

Start with Fund Performance Insights

Every scholarship fund holds valuable performance data. Some are active and growing, while others remain underutilized or go un-awarded year after year.

Start by reviewing a fund-level report that includes:

Current fund balance
Total dollars awarded in the last cycle
Number of students supported
Multi-year awarding trends
Timing of award disbursement

With AwardSpring , you can easily filter and view fund-level performance data across multiple years, helping you flag underused funds and benchmark your most impactful ones.

Why it matters: You can’t grow what you’re not actively measuring. Fund performance data reveals where stewardship and outreach can have the biggest return.

Analyze Donor Engagement and Giving Behavior

Scholarship donors who haven’t given in a while—but are still opening emails or attending events—represent a prime opportunity for reactivation.

With AwardSpring’s donor reporting and segmentation features, you can track:

Donor-designated fund activity
Renewal vs. lapse history
Impact report delivery and engagement
Which funds have the strongest student stories or engagement tied to them

Cross-referencing these insights with your advancement or foundation CRM can help prioritize outreach to donors showing signs of re-engagement potential.

Why it matters: Dormant donors may not be gone—they may just be waiting to see impact. Targeted outreach supported by real-time data can bring them back to the table.

Match Unmet Student Need to Donor Priorities

Scholarship growth isn’t just about increasing the number of donors—it’s about funding the right opportunities.

Use AwardSpring’s application data to map:

Which programs, departments, or demographics have the highest number of qualified but unawarded applicants
Where demand is consistently outpacing funding
Where students are dropping off in the application process due to perceived ineligibility

Overlay this with your known donor priorities or gift intent to identify high-potential matches.

Example:

“In the College of Health Sciences, 43 students applied for aid aligned with community service values—but only 6 were funded. Here’s an opportunity to re-engage donors passionate about local impact.”

Why it matters: Data-driven appeals resonate. When you show donors where their gift can directly address unmet need, you move from request to solution.

Leverage Student Stories with Supporting Metrics

A compelling student story backed by data is one of the most powerful tools in your fundraising arsenal.

With AwardSpring, you can gather recipient testimonials at the point of award acceptance, link stories to fund performance, and use visuals and metrics to build stronger growth cases.

Pair each story with:

Number of similar applicants who weren’t funded
Program completion or retention data
Financial need statistics for the broader applicant pool

Why it matters: Emotion drives giving—but data builds confidence. Together, they create a strong, strategic narrative for why growth is needed.

Track Opportunity Gaps to Align with Institutional Priorities

Finally, use fund and applicant-level reporting to identify opportunity gaps you can elevate internally. These insights can support case development, cross-departmental collaboration, and broader advancement planning.

Track and share metrics like:

Percentage of funds with declining usage
Departments with few or no designated scholarships
Applicant demographics with limited access to aid
Projected fund exhaustion timelines

Then use these insights to engage academic leadership, strategic planning teams, or corporate and foundation relations staff.

Why it matters: Growth doesn’t happen in isolation. Making the case internally, with hard data, helps align fundraising efforts with student success priorities.

Final Thoughts: Growth Is Already in Your Data

Your next wave of scholarship funding may not require a new initiative—just a clearer view of what’s already happening.

AwardSpring equips scholarship and advancement teams with the tools to analyze fund activity, identify opportunity gaps, track student need, and personalize donor outreach at scale. With the right reporting strategy, you can turn your data into your most powerful fundraising tool.

See How AwardSpring Helps You Use Data to Grow Your Scholarship Program

How to Engage Scholarship Donors in Real Time (Not Just After the Awards)

gil@gr7marketing.com (Gil Rogers) — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 14:34:27 GMT

Donor stewardship doesn’t start after awards—it starts now.

Most scholarship stewardship happens after the awards are made—often months after a donor has made their gift. But what if you didn’t wait?

Engaging donors during the scholarship cycle can deepen relationships, build transparency, and keep them emotionally connected to their gift in real time. According to a 2022 report from CCS Fundraising , donors who receive multiple touchpoints throughout a giving cycle are 34% more likely to renew their gift the following year.

In this post, we’ll walk through actionable ways to involve scholarship donors throughout the application, review, and awarding process—without adding major overhead for your team.

Set Expectations Early: “Here’s What You’ll See This Cycle”

Many donors are in the dark about what happens between gift receipt and award notification. Creating a quick snapshot of what the year looks like keeps them informed and engaged from day one.

Send them:

A one-page “Scholarship Cycle at a Glance” timeline
Key dates they can expect updates (application open, review period, awarding)
What types of data or stories they’ll receive—and when
Optional opportunities for involvement (more on this below)

Why it works: This level of proactive communication builds donor confidence and prevents radio silence during critical phases.

Share Application Milestones (Without Breaching FERPA)

Even before awards are made, you can share donor-friendly, aggregate insights that help them feel connected to the momentum.

Examples of what to share mid-cycle:

Number of students who have started applications
Popular majors or programs represented
First-generation or Pell-eligible applicant trends
A quote (with permission) from a student excited about applying

Platforms like AwardSpring can make pulling this data easy, especially if you're already tracking applicant demographics and fund associations.

Why it works: Progress updates humanize the process and help donors feel part of the journey—not just the outcome.

Offer Optional “Donor Involvement Moments”

While not all donors want to be hands-on, some are deeply invested in their scholarship's mission. Offering meaningful, non-intrusive ways to participate mid-cycle can build ownership.

Ideas for engagement touchpoints:

Invite them to a scholarship info session or Q&A with your team
Offer to preview application questions and share feedback
Host a short virtual panel with financial aid staff to explain how the process works
Share anonymized excerpts from standout applications (with consent)

Important: Always clarify where donor involvement ends—donors should never influence individual award decisions.

Why it works: Thoughtful involvement builds trust and transparency, especially with major donors or family-funded awards.

Use Technology to Make Engagement Easy

Your CRM, scholarship platform, or email tool can help automate real-time updates without creating more manual work.

Tactics to try:

Segment donors by fund type and set up automated emails for each stage of the cycle
Use merge fields to populate specific fund names or award metrics
Create a donor portal where they can log in to see fund activity, timelines, or aggregated data

You can even embed short student videos (with consent) into mid-cycle emails for an added emotional connection.

Why it works: Consistent touchpoints don’t have to be high-lift. Smart automation creates the sense of personal care at scale.

Build Toward the Award with a “Donor Reveal Moment”

Think of the scholarship cycle like a story arc—and bring donors into the climax. Once decisions are made, make that moment special.

Try:

Sending a short “Award Notification” email with a note that “Your scholarship helped [X] students this year—full details coming soon.”
Letting them know when students will be notified, and inviting them to write a congratulatory note (or contribute to a welcome message)
Teasing your impact report or thank-you package with a preview or quote

Even small gestures here can create a sense of anticipation and emotional fulfillment.

Why it works: You’re not just showing results—you’re letting the donor feel the moment their generosity changes lives.

Final Thoughts: Stewardship Starts Before the Award

Donor engagement doesn’t have to be delayed until after awards are made. In fact, the best relationships are built through trust, transparency, and touchpoints along the way.

By inviting donors into the rhythm of your scholarship cycle—in a respectful and efficient way—you show them that their gift is not just appreciated, but alive and in motion.

AwardSpring makes mid-cycle donor engagement simple, with tools that help you track fund activity, segment communications, and deliver updates that matter.

See How AwardSpring Supports Real-Time Donor Stewardship

How to Build Donor Impact Reports That Inspire Future Scholarship Giving

gil@gr7marketing.com (Gil Rogers) — Tue, 27 May 2025 14:49:56 GMT

Donor reports shouldn’t just inform—they should inspire.

Scholarship donors give because they want to make a difference—and they keep giving when they see the impact of their support. But too often, scholarship impact reports are rushed, generic, or disconnected from the actual student experience.

A thoughtful, data-informed impact report does more than just check a stewardship box. It builds trust, showcases your program’s effectiveness, and strengthens long-term relationships with donors and foundations. [ Learn how to build a donor reporting process that scales. ]

This post breaks down what makes an effective scholarship impact report, with examples and tips to help your institution turn reporting into a meaningful engagement tool.

Start with the “Why”: Donors Want to See Their Impact

Donors—whether individuals, families, or foundations—want to know their gift had a tangible outcome. The best impact reports make this clear right away.

Start with a snapshot that includes:

Total amount awarded from their fund this year
Number of students supported
Key student demographics (e.g., first-gen, major, hometown)
Graduation or retention stats (if available)

According to Giving USA , personalized donor reporting increases likelihood of renewal by up to 30%.

Why it matters: Impact clarity builds confidence. Donors want to know their money didn’t just get distributed—it made a real difference.

Include a Student Story (or Two)

The heart of your report should be the student. Featuring a short story or testimonial brings data to life and creates a personal connection for the donor.

Tips for student stories:

Ask recipients to share how the scholarship helped them (academically, financially, emotionally)
Include their major, year, and future goals
Always get consent—and offer to anonymize if preferred
Keep it short (1–2 paragraphs max) and authentic

Sample quote:

“This scholarship meant I could stay on campus and focus on my final year without worrying about picking up a third job. It made all the difference in my graduation journey.” – Kayla, Biology major

Why it matters: Stories are memorable. They make donors feel connected to students, not just line items.

Personalize the Report Based on Donor Type

Not all donors are the same—so their reporting shouldn’t be either. A corporate foundation may want metrics and outcomes. An individual donor may care more about emotional resonance.

Consider customizing based on:

Giving history (new donor vs. long-term supporter)
Type of fund (general vs. named scholarship)
Relationship level (board member, alumni, family memorial, etc.)

You don’t need to start from scratch every time—just tailor a few sections to speak directly to the donor’s motivations.

Why it matters: Personalization shows you know your donor. That respect and attention to detail can lead to stronger future gifts.

Use Clean, Visual Formatting

Your content matters—but how it looks matters too. Cluttered PDFs, hard-to-read tables, or bland formatting can dilute even the strongest messages.

Design tips:

Use headers, bullets, and whitespace to make info digestible
Include photos if you have permission (students, campus, events)
Visualize data: use charts to show award distribution or trends over time
Keep it to 1–2 pages whenever possible

Need help? Tools like Canva or Venngage make it easy to create polished, branded templates without needing design experience.

Why it matters: A well-designed report signals professionalism and pride—both in your program and in the donor’s impact.

Send It Strategically (and Follow Up)

The report itself is just one part of donor stewardship. How and when you send it—and what you do afterward—can elevate the experience.

Best practices:

Send via email and hard copy (if appropriate)
Include a personal note from a student, program director, or advancement officer
Time it thoughtfully—align with fiscal year-end or ahead of next pledge conversations
Invite the donor to a scholarship reception, virtual event, or future conversation

Bonus: Track which donors open your report email (via your CRM or email platform) and follow up with a short “Did you have any questions about this year’s report?” note.

Why it matters: Reports are part of a relationship, not a transaction. Strategic follow-up creates momentum and goodwill. [ Here's how to build donor relationships that last. ]

Final Thoughts: Donor Stewardship Is Fund Growth

A great donor report doesn’t just show gratitude—it sets the stage for future giving. It says, Your investment matters. Let us show you how .

When you combine data, stories, visuals, and intentional follow-up, your impact reports become more than paperwork—they become one of your most powerful fundraising and stewardship tools.

AwardSpring gives institutions the tools to generate accurate, timely donor reports with minimal lift. From fund tracking to student story collection and automated reporting, we help you show donors the difference they’re making.

Learn How AwardSpring Simplifies Donor Reporting and Drives Repeat Giving

From First Gift to Lifelong Supporter: Strengthening Donor Relationships After Scholarships Are Awarded

gil@gr7marketing.com (Gil Rogers) — Thu, 22 May 2025 17:19:15 GMT

Stewardship isn’t a transaction—it’s a relationship that grows over time.

Scholarship donors are mission-driven. They give because they believe in students, in access, and in the power of education. But even the most generous supporters won’t stick around if they feel like they’re part of a one-and-done transaction.

For advancement and donor relations teams, what happens after scholarships are awarded is what determines whether a donor gives again—or moves on.

In this post, we explore how institutions are using smart tools, real-time data, and intentional stewardship to turn one-time scholarship gifts into lasting donor relationships.

Make Fund Visibility Part of the Relationship

Donors want to see what their gift is doing—without having to ask.

What this looks like:

Sharing usage stats and student reach on a regular basis
Showing year-over-year trends to highlight growth
Flagging underutilized funds and inviting donors into the solution

How AwardSpring helps:

Fund-level dashboards track awards, balances, and student data in real time
Institutions can quickly pull usage reports for personalized check-ins

Why it matters: Visibility builds trust—and trust builds loyalty.

Tell Stories That Connect

Data tells donors what happened. Stories tell them why it matters.

How to make it meaningful:

Include short, specific student testimonials with consent
Tie stories back to the donor’s intent or named fund
Rotate different types of impact: academic, personal, professional

How AwardSpring helps:

Collects thank-you letters and quotes from students during the awarding process
Links student stories to specific funds for easy personalization

Why it matters: Donors are more likely to renew—and increase—their giving when they can see and feel the impact.

Set a Stewardship Rhythm

One-off thank-you messages are easy to forget. What makes a difference is consistent, low-lift touchpoints throughout the year.

Example stewardship timeline:

January: Kickoff message as scholarship cycle opens
March: Mid-cycle update on application trends
May: Impact report with recipient stories and data
July: Invitation to connect or grow the fund

How AwardSpring helps:

Tracks awarding cycles, so you know exactly when to engage
Stores communication history and assets in one place

Why it matters: Stewardship is more effective—and less reactive—when it’s planned.

Personalize the Ask Before Renewal

Donors want to give again—but only if they know how their gift fits the next chapter.

Tips for a donor-ready renewal ask:

Show the unmet need or growth opportunity
Highlight what last year’s gift accomplished
Frame the ask as an invitation to continue the story

How AwardSpring helps:

Gives advancement teams the insights they need to craft data-driven asks
Helps surface donor segments based on fund performance or engagement

Why it matters: A personalized renewal request feels like a continuation—not a cold ask.

Build a Culture of Shared Celebration

Donors should feel like partners in success, not just funders.

What this can look like:

Featuring donor-funded success stories in campus newsletters or events
Inviting donors to student award receptions or showcases
Including them in moments of reflection, like year-end thank-you videos

How AwardSpring helps:

Makes it easy to track who gave, what they supported, and how to acknowledge them
Helps advancement staff scale stewardship without losing the personal touch

Why it matters: When donors feel celebrated—not just thanked—they stay connected to your mission.

Final Thoughts: Relationships Don’t Renew Themselves

Donor loyalty doesn’t hinge on how generous they are—it hinges on how engaged they feel.

AwardSpring helps institutions build systems and practices that support consistent, personal, and scalable donor stewardship. From the first award to the fifth renewal, we make it easier to keep donors informed, appreciated, and inspired to give again.

See How AwardSpring Helps You Build Stronger Donor Relationships

6 Common Scholarship Awarding Mistakes to Avoid Next Cycle

gil@gr7marketing.com (Gil Rogers) — Mon, 19 May 2025 14:34:12 GMT

Avoid Common Awarding Pitfalls While Building a Stronger Scholarship Process

The scholarship review and awarding process is a critical moment of truth. It’s where all the effort—promotion, applications, eligibility screening—culminates in real financial aid going to real students.

But it’s also where institutions can unintentionally undermine the fairness, transparency, and impact of their programs.

From confusing rubrics to inconsistent review panels, even well-intentioned scholarship teams can make missteps that frustrate applicants, disengage reviewers, or lead to donor dissatisfaction.

This post outlines six awarding mistakes to avoid—and how small changes can build trust, reduce risk, and improve outcomes.

1. Using Vague or Inconsistent Review Rubrics

Your rubric is your roadmap. If it’s not clear—or if different reviewers interpret it differently—you risk inconsistent scoring and potential bias.

Common pitfalls:

Rubrics with vague language (e.g., “strong community involvement”)
No guidance on how to score different types of responses
Inadequate calibration among reviewers

How to fix it:

Create a detailed scoring guide with sample answers
Host a 30-minute reviewer orientation before the cycle begins
Require reviewers to disclose conflicts of interest before scoring

Why it matters: Consistent rubrics create fairness—and protect your program from challenges or complaints.

2. Relying Too Heavily on GPA or Test Scores

Academic achievement matters—but it’s not the only indicator of merit or need. Overemphasizing GPA can exclude capable students with high financial need or unique life circumstances.

What to watch for:

Scholarships that automatically screen out students below a certain GPA
Rubrics that disproportionately reward academic metrics without context
Lack of space for students to explain gaps or challenges

What to do instead:

Allow holistic scoring that includes resilience, service, or leadership
Offer optional context sections in the application
Use GPA as a guide, not a gatekeeper

Why it matters: Equity in awarding means recognizing a broader definition of student success—especially for first-gen and nontraditional learners.

3. Not Having a Back-Up Plan for Unawarded Funds

Sometimes no one applies for a scholarship—or the applicant pool doesn’t meet the eligibility criteria. If you don’t have a fallback strategy, funds go unused.

Common causes:

Overly narrow eligibility requirements
Inflexible fund rules
Lack of promotion for niche awards

How to fix it:

Build in secondary selection criteria (e.g., if no applicants meet criteria A, consider criteria B)
Flag low-application funds early and re-promote them mid-cycle
Ask your advancement or foundation office to review fund flexibility

Why it matters: Unused scholarship funds undermine donor trust and delay critical student support.

4. Making the Review Process Too Manual

If your team is still juggling PDFs, Excel files, or printed applications, your process is at risk for errors, miscommunications, and burnout.

Signs your process needs improvement:

Reviewers ask where to find materials
Review scores have to be transcribed manually
You spend hours organizing and reformatting applications

How to modernize:

Use a scholarship management platform like AwardSpring to centralize review
Automate scoring and reviewer assignments
Track progress in real time and prevent duplicate work

Why it matters: Streamlining reviews gives your team time to focus on high-impact decisions—not administrative chaos.

5. Failing to Communicate Decisions Clearly and Promptly

Awarding decisions are high-stakes for students. When communication is delayed, confusing, or inconsistent, it leads to frustration—and lost trust in the institution.

Common communication mistakes:

Vague award notices (“You have received a scholarship”)
No information about when or how funds will be disbursed
Silence for students who didn’t receive awards

Better practices:

Create email templates for both awarded and non-awarded students
Include next steps, disbursement timelines, and contact info
Make decisions searchable in the student portal

Why it matters: Good communication shows professionalism and care—two key factors in building student trust and engagement.

6. Ignoring Donor Stewardship After Awards Are Made

Once awards are granted, some teams move on—but your donors are still watching. If they don’t hear about the impact of their scholarship, they may reduce or withdraw support.

Donor stewardship mistakes include:

No follow-up reports after the award
Generic communications that lack personalization
Missed opportunities to connect donors with student stories

How to fix it:

Use your scholarship platform to track which students received which funds
Collect short thank-you notes or testimonials from recipients
Include award data and demographics in end-of-cycle reports

According to the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) , personalized donor stewardship improves retention, giving frequency, and average gift size.

Why it matters: Donors want to feel part of the student success story—not just a line item in your budget.

Final Thoughts: Small Fixes, Big Impact

Most awarding mistakes aren’t the result of negligence—they’re the byproduct of limited time, staffing, or systems. The good news? Small improvements can make a big difference.

From clarifying rubrics to streamlining communication and donor follow-up, your team can take practical steps today to build a more equitable, efficient, and donor-friendly awarding process.

AwardSpring is built to support every step of that journey—from simplifying reviewer workflows to tracking donor-designated funds and automating impact reporting.

Learn How AwardSpring Helps You Avoid Common Awarding Pitfalls

How to Collect Meaningful Feedback After Your Scholarship Cycle Ends

gil@gr7marketing.com (Gil Rogers) — Mon, 12 May 2025 14:57:25 GMT

Your scholarship cycle isn’t complete without learning what worked.

The end of a scholarship cycle is the perfect time to pause and ask an essential question: What did we learn?

Too often, scholarship teams rush from awarding to the next task on their calendars, missing the chance to gather critical feedback that could transform next year’s process.

Whether it’s input from applicants, reviewers, or internal staff, structured feedback helps you improve user experience, reduce friction, and make data-informed changes to your workflows. According to a 2023 survey by Ruffalo Noel Levitz , 59% of higher ed leaders say improving internal processes is a top post-cycle priority—but only 23% gather formal feedback.

This post offers practical strategies for collecting meaningful scholarship cycle feedback that’s easy to execute and truly actionable.

Ask Applicants About Their Experience

Your students are your best source of insight. They’ve just gone through your application process—successfully or not—and can speak to what worked, what was confusing, and what prevented them from completing the process.

How to do it:

Send a short, anonymous survey to all applicants (and incomplete applicants if possible)
Ask about ease of use, clarity of instructions, time required, and overall satisfaction
Include open-ended prompts like: “What was the most confusing part of this process?” or “What would have helped you feel more confident?”

Tools you can use: Google Forms, Qualtrics, or built-in survey tools in platforms like AwardSpring

Why it matters: Small barriers (unclear instructions, too many document uploads) can stop students from finishing their applications. Now’s your chance to find and fix them.

Debrief with Reviewers (They’ll Appreciate It)

Your reviewers are on the front lines of awarding. They see where rubrics break down, where systems lag, and where confusion creeps in. But they rarely get asked how it went.

How to gather feedback:

Send a 5-question survey post-cycle
Host a 30-minute optional debrief session via Zoom
Ask reviewers to rank their experience from 1–10 and explain their scores

Key questions to include:

Was the review process intuitive and efficient?
Were the instructions and rubrics clear?
What would have made your experience better?

Be sure to thank them and report back on what you heard—transparency builds trust and future participation.

Why it matters: Engaged reviewers are more likely to return next year—and to advocate for your program to others.

Collect Internal Team Insights (While It’s Still Fresh)

From financial aid officers to advancement staff and IT support, your internal team experienced this cycle from every angle. Don’t let institutional memory walk out the door.

Try this approach:

Host a quick team debrief (virtual or in-person) within two weeks of awarding

Use a “Start/Stop/Continue” format:
What should we start doing next year?
What should we stop doing that didn’t work?
What should we continue that was effective?

Document everything in a shared folder or knowledge base for future planning

This can also inform your team’s post-cycle reporting or wrap-up presentation to leadership.

Why it matters: Internal feedback prevents burnout, improves team alignment, and ensures smoother onboarding for new team members next year.

Use Feedback to Improve Your Technology & Process

Once you’ve collected feedback, it’s time to act on it.

Look for recurring patterns:

“Too many logins” → Consider SSO or a centralized portal
“I wasn’t sure what I qualified for” → Implement auto-matching
“It took forever to find the right scholarship” → Improve filtering or student communications

Platforms like AwardSpring allow you to automate many of these fixes. You can centralize applications, reduce data entry, and streamline reviewer workflows—all based on the feedback you’ve gathered.

Why it matters: Feedback isn’t just a feel-good gesture—it’s the foundation for smarter, more efficient systems.

Close the Loop: Show What You’re Doing with the Feedback

Feedback fatigue is real—especially in higher ed. One of the biggest reasons people stop responding is that they never hear what happened after they spoke up.

Make it a habit to report back with a “You said, we did” summary to:

Students (in a follow-up email or on your scholarship landing page)
Reviewers (via thank-you emails or internal newsletters)
Internal stakeholders (in end-of-year recaps or presentations)

Example:

You said: The application asked for too many documents.

We did: Next year, we’ll only require one academic transcript and one recommendation letter.

Why it matters: Transparency builds a culture of trust and improvement—and encourages future feedback.

Final Thoughts: Feedback Is Your Scholarship Program’s Superpower

You’ve just run an entire scholarship cycle—now give yourself the gift of clarity. A few simple surveys and short debriefs can lead to major improvements in your next season.

By listening to students, reviewers, and internal teams, you ensure your scholarship program evolves in ways that are practical, equitable, and sustainable.

AwardSpring makes post-cycle evaluation easier by helping you track completion rates, reviewer activity, and student engagement—all in one place. Ready to turn feedback into your competitive advantage?

See How AwardSpring Helps You Improve Every Scholarship Cycle

How to Build a Donor Reporting Process That Practically Runs Itself

gil@gr7marketing.com (Gil Rogers) — Wed, 07 May 2025 18:06:53 GMT

Donors want meaningful updates—not more PDFs.

Donors give because they want to make an impact. But when the reporting process feels slow, manual, or generic, even the most generous supporters can feel disconnected from the results of their gift.

The truth? Most institutions aren’t short on results—they’re short on time. Without the right tools, it’s hard to deliver personalized, meaningful reports without burning hours tracking down award data, student info, and impact stories.

In this post, we’ll walk through how institutions are streamlining their donor reporting using AwardSpring—and how you can build a process that delivers real stewardship without extra admin time.

Start with Fund-Level Visibility

You can’t report clearly if you don’t have clean, organized data. One of the biggest challenges in donor reporting is piecing together scattered award data from multiple spreadsheets, forms, or platforms.

How AwardSpring helps:

Every fund has its own dashboard
See award history, student recipients, and unused balances at a glance
Filter by academic year, fund criteria, or student demographics

Why it matters: Fund-level clarity makes it easier to create reports that are specific, accurate, and meaningful to each donor.

Automate Student Story Collection

Donor impact isn’t just numbers—it’s stories. But manually collecting quotes and thank-you letters from students can delay reporting and create administrative bottlenecks.

What to do instead:

Use built-in prompts and reminders at the end of the application cycle
Collect thank-you letters and testimonials automatically (with consent)
Store student responses within the fund dashboard for easy access

Why it matters: Personalized stories humanize the data and show donors the real difference their scholarship made.

Use Templates That Scale

The best donor reports are clear, visually appealing, and aligned with the institution’s brand. But creating beautiful reports one by one is time-consuming—unless you standardize.

Try this:

Create branded templates with dynamic fields (e.g., fund name, student count, average award)
Embed quotes or thank-you letters pulled from the AwardSpring platform
Use charts to visualize impact year over year

Why it matters: You get personalized reports—without starting from scratch every time.

Schedule Stewardship Touchpoints Year-Round

Donor engagement shouldn’t start and end with a single report. The most successful institutions create a rhythm of communication throughout the scholarship cycle.

Sample touchpoint calendar:

Early academic year: “Your scholarship is live again” notification
Mid-cycle: “Here’s how many students have applied so far” update
Post-award: Full report with data, quotes, and student reflections

AwardSpring tip: All of this data is already being tracked—use it to proactively engage your donors.

Why it matters: Ongoing stewardship keeps your scholarship top of mind and builds the case for renewal.

Close the Loop with Visuals and Outcomes

Data and stories are powerful—but only if they’re communicated in ways that resonate. Static PDFs are fine, but there’s room to elevate.

Consider including:

Visual breakdowns of award types and demographics
Student goals or career aspirations
A message from leadership or the department chair
A section that ties the fund’s impact to the donor’s original intent

Why it matters: When donors can see their gift’s full arc—from award to outcome—they’re more likely to give again.

Final Thoughts: Better Reports Build Better Relationships

Donor stewardship isn’t about volume—it’s about resonance. With the right tools, your team can deliver meaningful, customized donor reports at scale—without adding to your workload.

AwardSpring gives institutions the tools to manage, track, and communicate scholarship impact from start to finish—all in one intuitive platform.

See how AwardSpring helps institutions steward smarter

5 Post-Cycle Lessons to Improve Your Scholarship Process Next Year

Mon, 05 May 2025 17:38:50 GMT

Apply These 5 Lessons Now to Run a Smarter Scholarship Cycle Next Year.

As scholarship deadlines close and award notifications go out, there’s a small but critical window of time that can make all the difference in how successful your next cycle will be.

Now—while your experiences are fresh—is the perfect time to debrief, assess what worked, and lay the groundwork for a smoother, more impactful scholarship season next year.

In this post, we’ll explore five strategic lessons to reflect on immediately after the cycle ends. Whether you want more applicants, better reviews, stronger donor data, or less admin stress, these insights will help you future-proof your process.

Track Where Applicants Dropped Off

Not every student who starts a scholarship application finishes it. Understanding why and where they abandon the process gives you valuable intel for streamlining next year.

Questions to ask:

Where in the process did most students stop?
Were there unnecessary steps or document uploads?
Was the language clear and accessible?

If you're using a centralized scholarship platform like AwardSpring, review your analytics dashboard for form abandonment rates, incomplete apps, and time-to-completion metrics.

Why it matters: Fixing just one high-friction step can dramatically increase your completion rates next year.

Review Applicant Diversity and Reach

Did your scholarship program reach the students you intended to serve?

Now’s the time to dig into the demographics of your applicant pool.

Look for:

Representation by major, year, or academic division
First-generation or Pell-eligible student participation
Comparison of awardees vs. total applicants

If you see gaps, make note of where you can expand outreach or adjust eligibility requirements for greater equity.

Why it matters: Visibility and access are key markers of scholarship success—and now’s your chance to close gaps for next year.

Collect Feedback from Reviewers and Staff

Your internal team holds a wealth of insight about what worked—and what didn’t. Instead of waiting until next year, gather their feedback now while the process is fresh.

Try:

A short post-cycle survey to reviewers: What was confusing or time-consuming?
A 30-minute debrief meeting with key stakeholders
A shared doc for open-ended feedback from staff and reviewers

Key areas to ask about:

Ease of review
Communication during the cycle
Clarity of rubric and guidelines
Software or process friction

Why it matters: Reviewers are more likely to participate again—and recommend others—when they feel heard and supported.

Evaluate Your Donor Reporting Readiness

Your donors want to see the impact of their giving. Are you prepared to show them?

Post-cycle is the time to:

Ensure award data is tied to specific donor funds
Gather student quotes and stories from recipients
Draft personalized reports that include outcomes, demographics, and trends

If your data was hard to compile this year, consider updating your system before the next cycle. Platforms like AwardSpring simplify fund tracking and reporting so donor communications don’t get delayed—or dropped.

Why it matters: Timely, meaningful donor updates drive repeat giving and increase funder satisfaction.

Document What You Want to Repeat (and What You Don’t)

Before the team moves on to the next initiative, document what worked well this year and what you want to improve.

Create a living “Scholarship Cycle Playbook” that includes:

Promotion timeline and what channels were most effective
What communication templates or campaigns worked well
Application or review process bottlenecks
Ideas to test in the next cycle

This becomes your blueprint—and ensures you don’t start from scratch each year.

Why it matters: Documentation helps preserve institutional knowledge, especially with staff turnover or seasonal teams.

Final Thoughts: Your Future Cycle Starts Now

Your best opportunity to improve your scholarship process isn’t six months from now—it’s today. By pausing to reflect and refine, you can reduce admin lift, improve access, and make the next cycle smoother for students, staff, and donors.

AwardSpring supports institutions in building scholarship programs that are both efficient and impactful. From robust data tracking to streamlined applications and real-time donor reporting, we help you learn from this year to improve the next.

See How AwardSpring Helps You Optimize Every Scholarship Cycle

Building Faculty Buy-In: The Missing Piece in Scholarship Visibility

gil@gr7marketing.com (Gil Rogers) — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 13:50:41 GMT

Unlock a Hidden Scholarship Channel: Faculty Influence.

When scholarship applications fall short, the focus usually turns to student outreach: emails, social posts, campus events. But one of the most powerful—and overlooked—channels of influence is right down the hall: your faculty.

Faculty members are in daily contact with students. They see academic progress, know who’s struggling financially, and are often the first people students turn to for support. Yet many scholarship programs don’t include them in the outreach process.

In this post, we’ll explore five ways to engage faculty as strategic partners in your scholarship visibility efforts—boosting both application volume and equity along the way.

Make Faculty Awareness a Priority

You can’t expect faculty to promote scholarships if they don’t know what’s available. Start by making scholarship visibility a standard part of faculty communication and onboarding.

How to do it:

Add a “Scholarship Snapshot” section to your faculty newsletter
Create a shareable slide deck or one-pager summarizing key deadlines and award info
Host a 10-minute scholarship update during faculty meetings each semester

Consider offering a “faculty scholarship liaison” role in each department—someone who agrees to act as the go-to person for scholarship updates and questions.

Why it works: Faculty are trusted voices. The more informed they are, the more likely they are to share opportunities with students who need them.

Provide Easy-to-Use Messaging Tools

Faculty are busy—and many aren’t sure what to say when promoting scholarships. Equip them with tools that are quick to use and require no additional lift.

Create a toolkit that includes:

Short scholarship blurbs for syllabi
Email templates to send to advisees
Suggested language for LMS announcements (e.g., Canvas or Blackboard)
FAQs about eligibility and deadlines

Make this toolkit available as a PDF or Google Doc linked in every faculty email. Update it each cycle.

Why it works: Lowering the activation energy for faculty increases the likelihood they’ll follow through.

Invite Faculty to Nominate Students

Instead of just asking faculty to promote scholarships, invite them into the process. Create a low-lift way for them to nominate or refer students who might be strong candidates.

Example strategies:

A short online form where faculty can submit names (with student consent)
An email they can send to a student saying, “I thought of you for this opportunity…”
A way to loop faculty into recommendation letter writing for relevant scholarships

Be sure to follow up with nominated students so they feel personally invited to apply.

Why it works: Personalized encouragement from a trusted professor can give a student the confidence to apply—especially if they’ve never seen themselves as “scholarship-worthy.”

Share the Impact of Faculty Involvement

Faculty are more likely to stay engaged if they understand the difference their involvement makes.

Try this:

At the end of each scholarship cycle, send a thank-you message highlighting application stats and stories
Share quotes from students who mention faculty nudges in their applications
Offer spotlights in internal newsletters: “Thanks to Dr. Rivera’s outreach, four students in her department received awards this year.”

Also consider looping faculty into donor reports where relevant—especially if their students received named or departmental scholarships.

Why it works: Everyone wants to feel like their efforts matter. Showing faculty their impact builds long-term buy-in.

Treat Faculty as Part of the Scholarship Ecosystem

Too often, scholarship management is siloed within financial aid or advancement. But faculty touch every part of the student journey—so integrating them into the ecosystem makes sense.

Here are a few longer-term strategies:

Include scholarship promotion goals in department-level planning
Invite faculty to join scholarship review committees (where appropriate)
Ask faculty leaders to co-present during scholarship info sessions

This approach reframes scholarship visibility as a shared, campus-wide goal—not just an admin task.

Why it works: When faculty feel like co-owners of the scholarship process, they’re more invested in student outcomes.

Final Thoughts: Faculty Make the Message Stick

Your scholarship visibility strategy isn’t complete without faculty. They see potential, spark confidence, and provide crucial context that digital outreach simply can’t replicate.

If you want to reach more students—especially those who don’t think they qualify—engaging your faculty isn’t optional. It’s essential.

AwardSpring helps institutions create streamlined, collaborative scholarship ecosystems where everyone—students, staff, and faculty—plays a part in helping financial aid reach those who need it most.

Learn How AwardSpring Supports Cross-Campus Scholarship Engagement

Turning One-Time Donors Into Annual Fund Champions

gil@gr7marketing.com (Gil Rogers) — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 13:35:33 GMT

Stewardship isn’t the last step—it’s the launchpad for deeper giving.

Scholarship donors don’t just want to give once. They want to make a lasting impact.

But too often, after the thank-you letter is sent and the annual report is filed, scholarship donors drift into silence—treated like one-time sponsors rather than long-term partners.

The institutions that build thriving scholarship funds are the ones that treat stewardship as the beginning of a deeper relationship .

In this post, we’ll walk through how AwardSpring helps advancement and foundation teams turn one-time scholarship funders into annual champions—without adding manual work.

Recognize That Stewardship Starts During the Award Cycle

Stewardship isn’t just a post-award activity—it starts during the application and review phases.

With AwardSpring, you can:

Track fund activity and applicant volume in real time
Share updates with donors about how many students applied for their designated scholarships
Invite donors into small milestones (application opens, mid-cycle applicant snapshots)

Even small touchpoints during the cycle reinforce that their gift is active and alive—not just a line item.

Why it matters: When donors feel included during the journey, they’re more invested in the outcome—and more likely to renew.

Automate Personalized Impact Reporting

One-size-fits-all stewardship is where many institutions lose donor engagement.

AwardSpring allows you to:

Associate specific recipients with specific funds
Pull customized impact reports showing fund usage, student demographics, and outcomes
Collect and share student thank-you notes and testimonials (with consent)
Brand and personalize reports without needing a designer or extra staffing

Instead of sending a generic report months later, you deliver a powerful, personal reminder of why their gift matters.

Why it matters: Personalized reporting increases donor retention—and lays the groundwork for deeper future conversations.

Segment and Prioritize Donor Follow-Ups

Not all donors are at the same stage in their relationship with your institution. Some are ready for deeper engagement, while others need consistent stewardship.

AwardSpring helps you:

Identify funders whose awards have grown or are underused
Track donor communication history tied to scholarship activity
Segment donors based on engagement level and fund activity

This allows your team to focus personalized renewal strategies where they’re most likely to have an impact—and prevents anyone from slipping through the cracks.

Why it matters: Stewardship isn’t about treating every donor the same. It’s about meeting each donor where they are—and inviting them forward.

Offer New Ways for Donors to Deepen Their Impact

When it’s time to renew, don’t just ask for a repeat gift—offer a bigger vision.

Based on AwardSpring insights, you can:

Show donors how many qualified students went unfunded this year
Highlight demographic gaps (e.g., “30% of first-gen applicants were unfunded”)
Propose growth opportunities, such as increasing award amounts, adding renewal eligibility, or supporting new fields of study

Use fund dashboards and real data to frame the opportunity—not as charity, but as partnership.

Why it matters: Donors are motivated by impact, not obligation. Growth conversations should feel exciting, not transactional.

Close the Loop Every Cycle

Never let a cycle end without closing the stewardship loop. Even if the donor doesn't renew immediately, keeping the relationship warm matters.

With AwardSpring, you can easily:

Send a final impact report
Include student updates or achievements if available
Express future-facing gratitude (e.g., “We can’t wait to continue growing this impact together next year.”)

Building this rhythm ensures every donor feels seen, appreciated, and invited to keep making a difference.

Why it matters: Donors who feel ignored rarely return. Donors who feel celebrated almost always do.

Final Thoughts: Stewardship Is the Strategy

Turning a one-time gift into an annual commitment isn’t about high-pressure asks or last-minute campaigns—it’s about consistent, meaningful engagement all year long .

AwardSpring gives institutions the tools to automate, personalize, and scale donor stewardship—helping you transform scholarship donors into annual champions.

See How AwardSpring Helps Institutions Build Donor Relationships That Last

What Makes AwardSpring Different: Purpose-Built for Scholarship and Donor Success

gil@gr7marketing.com (Gil Rogers) — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 14:42:30 GMT

One platform. All the tools. None of the workarounds.

There are plenty of platforms that claim to support scholarships or donor engagement. Some are built for fundraising, others for CRM, and many try to patch together student support with features designed for entirely different workflows.

But if you’ve ever tried to manage scholarships in a system that wasn’t built for it, you know the frustration:

❌ Custom fields to mimic scholarship applications
❌ Manual tracking of fund usage
❌ Disconnected reporting tools
❌ A lack of visibility for students, staff, and donors

That’s where AwardSpring stands apart. We’re purpose-built to support the full lifecycle of scholarship management and donor stewardship —in a single, integrated platform that’s easy for everyone to use.

Let’s break down what makes AwardSpring different.

Built for Scholarships and Donors (Not One or the Other)

Most platforms in the space are either donor-first or student-first. AwardSpring is both .

For students , it simplifies access through a centralized, intelligent application process
For administrators , it automates matching, scoring, review workflows, and awarding
For donors , it connects the gift directly to impact—tracking fund activity, collecting student stories, and generating reports without added effort

Why it matters: You’re no longer stuck managing scholarships in one system and donor relationships in another. AwardSpring closes the loop—efficiently and transparently.

One Application. Maximum Access.

Forget making students hunt for individual scholarships. AwardSpring uses a single-entry application that automatically matches students to all eligible awards. Institutions can easily configure eligibility logic to reflect fund requirements—without needing IT or custom development.

This structure:

Increases completion rates
Reduces student frustration
Expands reach to students who may not have applied otherwise

Why it matters: Access and equity improve when the process is student-centered and intuitive.

Real-Time Fund and Donor Visibility

Unlike generic fundraising platforms, AwardSpring gives you fund-level visibility tied directly to student activity. You can view:

Real-time balances and awards
Fund performance over time
Which students received which funds
Demographic insights to support donor reporting

And when it’s time to steward donors, AwardSpring makes it simple to generate personalized impact reports—complete with student stories, usage data, and visuals.

Why it matters: Donors don’t want a data dump. They want clarity, connection, and a reason to stay invested. We make that easy.

Designed for Speed, Built for Scale

Whether you're managing 20 scholarships or 2,000, AwardSpring adapts to your needs without compromising usability.

You get:

A mobile-friendly admin interface
Drag-and-drop form and rubric builders
Reviewer workflows with built-in guardrails and audit trails
Integrated messaging tools and branded templates
Automatic thank-you letter collection and consent tracking

Most clients are fully implemented and live in weeks—not months.

Why it matters: You shouldn’t need a developer (or a work-study student with Excel superpowers) to run your scholarship process.

Support That Feels Like a Partner

Our onboarding and support teams don’t just drop documentation and walk away. We work side-by-side with your team from kickoff to launch—and stay close after.

That includes:

Guided setup and configuration
Dedicated account manager
Fast-response customer support
Access to training sessions and best-practice resources

AwardSpring users frequently cite support as one of their favorite aspects of the platform—and the reason they stick with us year after year.

Why it matters: Your time is too valuable to waste on hold, chasing down help articles, or figuring things out alone.

AwardSpring Isn’t Just Another Platform—It’s the Right One

If you're tired of retrofitting a donor CRM to run your scholarships…
If your current system can't scale without adding complexity…
f your students and donors feel disconnected from the process…

Then it’s time to work with a platform that was designed to do exactly this.

AwardSpring brings everything together:

✅ Student access
✅ Scholarship efficiency
✅ Donor stewardship
✅ Actionable data
✅ Unmatched support

See the Platform That Puts Scholarships and Donors First

5 Ways to Improve Scholarship Visibility for Underrepresented Students

gil@gr7marketing.com (Gil Rogers) — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 13:44:06 GMT

Amplify scholarship reach by tapping into trusted campus networks

Scholarships are one of the most powerful tools colleges and universities have to promote equity, access, and persistence. But underrepresented students—first-gen, low-income, BIPOC, and adult learners—often don’t apply for scholarships, even when they qualify.

Why?

Research suggests it’s a mix of awareness gaps , application barriers , and limited trust in institutional processes ( Lumina Foundation ). The good news is that these barriers are solvable with intentional scholarship promotion strategies.

This post explores five high-impact tactics to help your institution connect with underrepresented students and ensure your scholarships reach the students they were designed to support.

Collaborate with Student Support Offices

Offices dedicated to student support, such as Multicultural Affairs, First-Year Experience, and Student Success Centers, maintain close relationships with various student communities. Partnering with these offices can amplify scholarship promotion efforts.

Collaborative Initiatives:

Host Informational Sessions: Organize workshops or “Scholarship Info & Snacks” events tailored to specific student communities.
Co-Develop Communication Materials: Create targeted email campaigns jointly signed by financial aid and student support offices.
Leverage Peer Networks: Feature diverse student ambassadors in social media promotions.
Include Support Office Leaders: Engage staff from these offices directly in scholarship review or outreach processes.

Why it works: Student support offices have built-in trust with student populations who may feel overlooked by traditional institutional communications. A collaborative approach signals belonging, connection, and support.

Offer Scholarships with Broad and Inclusive Criteria

Many scholarships unintentionally exclude qualified students due to narrow eligibility requirements.

For example:

GPA cutoffs may disqualify students whose academic performance has improved dramatically over time.
“Leadership” language may miss students who support family members, work full-time, or lead in less traditional ways.
Complex application requirements (e.g., essays, recommendations, separate portals) can deter students with limited support systems.

Consider revising your criteria to:

Emphasize potential and persistence
Allow alternate forms of leadership or service
Remove redundant or high-barrier requirements

Why it works: Equity-focused eligibility opens the door for students whose talent and grit don’t always show up on a transcript.

Share Stories That Reflect a Range of Student Experiences

Students are more likely to apply for a scholarship when they see someone like themselves receiving it. This isn’t just marketing—it’s validation.

Be intentional about showcasing:

First-generation students
Adult learners or student parents
BIPOC students across majors and interests
Those with nontraditional paths to college

Use quotes, short videos, and photos (with permission) to feature these stories on:

Scholarship landing pages
Social media channels
Faculty newsletters and Canvas/Blackboard announcements

Example quote:

“When I got this scholarship, I stopped worrying about how to pay for childcare and started focusing on graduating. I never thought I’d be a college student at 32, but now I’m getting my degree—and showing my kids what’s possible.” — Jordan, scholarship recipient

Why it works: Authentic representation builds trust and motivation. You’re not just awarding aid—you’re shaping student identities.

Embed Scholarship Promotion in Onboarding and Advising

Don’t wait until mid-semester to tell students about scholarships. Build awareness into the student journey from day one.

Try:

Including scholarship info during orientation
Training advisors to ask, “Have you applied for institutional scholarships yet?”
Adding scholarship links and deadlines to advising dashboards
Offering scholarship overview sessions during class visits or welcome events

Also consider outreach through student success coaches, TRIO programs, or peer mentors—anyone already working closely with the students you want to reach.

Why it works: Students are more likely to act when scholarship information is integrated into familiar, high-trust moments.

Simplify the Application Process

Application complexity is one of the biggest barriers to access. According to National College Attainment Network , poorly designed scholarship processes can dissuade students who already face significant time and stress constraints.

Use a centralized platform like AwardSpring to:

Create one common application for all eligible awards
Auto-match students to relevant opportunities
Minimize duplication (e.g., re-entering personal or academic info)
Allow mobile access for students applying on the go

Bonus tip: Offer short, optional scholarship navigation workshops or “application check-ins” via Zoom.

Why it works: Fewer clicks = more completions. The easier it is to apply, the more inclusive your process becomes.

Final Thoughts: Equity Starts with Access

If your goal is to reach more underrepresented students with scholarship support, visibility and design matter just as much as funding levels.

By partnering across campus, telling diverse stories, and simplifying access, your institution can transform scholarships into a truly equitable student success tool.

AwardSpring helps financial aid and scholarship leaders deliver a more inclusive and efficient experience—so no deserving student is left out because they didn’t know, didn’t feel welcome, or couldn’t navigate the system.

Explore how AwardSpring supports equity in scholarship access

The Modern Donor Report: From Data Dump to Strategic Storytelling

gil@gr7marketing.com (Gil Rogers) — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 16:16:57 GMT

Give donors more than numbers—deliver reports that inspire continued giving.

Your donor reports aren’t just a courtesy—they’re a continuation of the conversation.

But for too many advancement and scholarship teams, donor reporting still feels like a year-end scramble: pulling data manually, chasing down thank-you notes, and packaging it all into a PDF that may or may not get read.

That’s a missed opportunity.

Modern donors—especially scholarship funders—expect timely, clear, and emotionally resonant updates that go beyond basic numbers. They want to see the difference their gift made, and they want to feel invited into the story.

In this post, we explore how to transform your donor reporting from a static requirement into a dynamic, relationship-building tool—powered by AwardSpring.

Start With the Outcome That Matters Most

The core question every donor has is: Did my gift make a difference?

Too often, reports focus on administrative or financial details instead of outcomes. Lead your reports with impact data that directly ties to the donor’s intent:

Total dollars awarded from their fund
Number of students supported
Majors, programs, or demographic groups reached
Graduation or retention stats (if applicable)

AwardSpring makes this easy by tracking fund-level performance across cycles. You can pull this data in minutes, not hours—and tailor it to each donor.

Why it matters: Clarity builds confidence. When donors see real numbers tied to real lives, they understand the value of staying engaged.

Pair Numbers With a Story

Data opens the door—but emotion makes the message stick.

A single quote or student story can elevate your report and create an instant connection. With AwardSpring, institutions can collect student testimonials during the award acceptance process (including consent for donor sharing), reducing the need for follow-up later.

Example testimonial:

“I’ve always wanted to be a nurse, but I never thought I could afford to finish my degree. This scholarship gave me breathing room—and belief in myself.” – Samira, Class of 2025

Tips:

Keep stories short (2–3 sentences is enough)
Add a student photo if you have permission
Rotate different themes: overcoming adversity, academic success, future goals

Why it matters: Donors don’t fund line items—they fund futures. Personal stories ground your impact in reality.

Make the Report Easy to Skim and Share

Most donors are busy. Long blocks of text and cluttered tables create friction.

Instead, format your reports like modern dashboards or executive summaries:

Use bullets, headers, and whitespace
Visualize key data with simple charts
Highlight key takeaways in a “By the Numbers” sidebar
Keep it to 1–2 pages max

Want to go one step further? Create a branded template in Canva or Adobe that your team can reuse and personalize for each donor. Or export a clean fund snapshot directly from AwardSpring for quick turnaround.

Why it matters: Presentation reinforces professionalism. Clean reports are more likely to be read—and forwarded to decision-makers.

Frame the Report as a Starting Point, Not the End

Traditional reporting feels like a handoff. But modern stewardship is relational—it builds toward something.

Use your donor report to start the next conversation:

Include a note of thanks from a staff member or program director
Add a line inviting feedback: “We’d love to know what you found most valuable in this update.”
Suggest next steps: upcoming events, opportunities to meet recipients, fund growth goals

You can also include a “Looking Ahead” section that outlines:

Projected need in the coming year
Ideas for expanding impact
Other departments or populations the donor might support

Why it matters: A donor who sees themselves as part of a long-term journey is more likely to renew, upgrade, or advocate on your behalf.

Automate What You Can—Without Losing the Human Touch

AwardSpring was built to take the pressure off of donor reporting.

Instead of juggling spreadsheets, email templates, and folders of PDFs, AwardSpring allows institutions to:

Associate specific students and awards with donor funds
Auto-track fund performance and usage
Store and export student stories with release info
Generate custom reports that reflect real-time activity

This frees up your team to focus on what actually strengthens donor relationships: personalized messaging, strategic planning, and meaningful follow-up.

Why it matters: When the system handles the complexity, your team has more time to build connection.

Final Thoughts: Your Report Is a Reflection of the Relationship

Donor reports shouldn’t feel like chores—for you or the funder. They should feel like moments of pride and possibility.

When your reporting is timely, personal, and easy to digest, you give donors a reason to stay involved—and a reason to grow their support.

AwardSpring is here to help you turn data into storytelling, and reporting into renewal.

See How AwardSpring Helps Institutions Streamline Donor Reporting and Deepen Engagement.

How Scholarship Teams Are Doubling Applications: A Composite Case Study

gil@gr7marketing.com (Gil Rogers) — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 19:46:19 GMT

A Representative Sample of How AwardSpring Supports You

What would it take to double the number of scholarship applications your institution receives in a single cycle?

We’ve seen it happen.

This post highlights a composite case study based on several real AwardSpring client outcomes. While the institution described here is fictional, the tactics are drawn directly from teams who reimagined their scholarship process and saw dramatic increases in applications, efficiency, and equity.

If your goal is to make your next cycle your most effective one yet—this story offers a roadmap.

The Situation: Low Visibility, Fragmented Process

Across many institutions, common challenges hold scholarship programs back:

Separate applications for every scholarship
Little to no promotion beyond a website listing
Manual processes for reviewers and staff
Unclear timelines and limited student support

Students were overwhelmed. Staff were overworked. Applications were underwhelming in both volume and diversity.

In this representative case, a mid-sized public university faced these exact challenges and decided to make a change.

What Changed: Centralized Access + Smart Outreach

Working with AwardSpring, the university implemented a new scholarship management system and strategic process overhaul focused on three areas:

1. Launched a Unified Scholarship Portal

Instead of asking students to find and apply to each scholarship individually, the school implemented a single-entry application . Students answered one set of questions and were automatically matched to eligible awards.

“We saw a 2x increase in completed applications after implementing AwardSpring. The one-stop portal removed so many barriers.” – AwardSpring Client Feedback

2. Created a Campaign, Not Just a Deadline

They built a light, but strategic, promotion plan that included:

Countdown-style reminder emails
Student ambassadors sharing stories on Instagram
Short videos of past recipients sharing how the aid helped
Faculty toolkits to promote scholarships in class and online

3. Simplified the Review Process

They also restructured the review workflow:

Created a universal scoring rubric
Trained reviewers in 30-minute virtual sessions
Used AwardSpring to assign reviewers and manage scores centrally

This created faster decisions and a better experience for internal stakeholders—key to sustaining the new process.

The Outcome: More Applications, More Equity

By the end of the first full cycle with the new approach:

Application volume more than doubled
Review and awarding time dropped by 40%
Awarding reached more first-gen and Pell-eligible students
Several previously unawarded funds were utilized fully

These results are consistent with outcomes reported by multiple AwardSpring partners. In fact, some clients have publicly stated that they “more than doubled the number of applicants” in their first year using the platform ( source ).

Why It Worked

The strategy wasn’t flashy—it was focused. Here’s what made the difference:

Access: A unified application made scholarships feel possible
Visibility: The program reached students where they actually are
Efficiency: The team had more time to focus on strategy, not chasing paperwork
Data: Built-in reporting made it easier to track outcomes, gaps, and donor reporting

These changes didn’t require a massive new budget—just a rethinking of where effort and tools were being applied.

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need to Start from Scratch

If you’ve been thinking about reworking your scholarship strategy, let this composite story inspire your next step. Whether you’re managing five funds or five hundred, a better system—and better outcomes—are within reach.

AwardSpring helps institutions simplify the scholarship experience for students, reviewers, and donors alike. Want to see how others are doubling their impact?

Sources:

Creative Scholarship Promotion Tactics to Increase Visibility and Boost Applications

gil@gr7marketing.com (Gil Rogers) — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 16:15:13 GMT

5 Strategies That Go Beyond Email Blasts

Every year, thousands of scholarship dollars go unawarded—not because of a lack of need, but because students simply didn’t know the opportunity existed. As financial aid professionals and scholarship program leaders, you know how frustrating it is to build and fund scholarships only to see low application numbers.

The good news? With a more strategic approach to scholarship promotion, you can dramatically improve visibility, increase applications, and ensure that the students who need financial support the most have access to it.

This post covers five scholarship promotion strategies that go beyond traditional email blasts—so you can connect with more students, elevate your program, and make a lasting impact.

Launch a Peer Ambassador Campaign

Students trust students. If you want to connect with Gen Z applicants, the best way to do it is through their peers.
Create a student ambassador program where previous scholarship recipients serve as spokespeople for your program.

They can share:

Short testimonial videos on Instagram or TikTok
Stories about how the scholarship helped them stay enrolled, avoid debt, or pursue a career goal
Q&A sessions via Instagram Live or student organization meetings

Pro tip: Make it easy for them. Provide talking points, content ideas, and light editing support.

�� Why it works: Students are more likely to apply when they hear about scholarships from someone who “gets it.”

Tap Into Faculty and Staff Champions

Faculty and advisors are often the first to recognize when a student could benefit from financial support. But too often, they’re left out of the loop on scholarship availability.

Build a quick-reference toolkit for faculty, including:

One-paragraph blurbs for syllabi
Email copy they can send to their advisees
Links and deadlines they can drop into LMS announcements (Canvas, Blackboard, etc.)

Don't forget to engage other staff offices too—Diversity & Inclusion, First-Generation Student Services, Athletics, and Honors Programs often serve students eligible for niche or departmental awards.

�� Why it works: Faculty and student services staff have high-trust relationships and can recommend scholarships to students who may never have looked on their own.

Run a Countdown Campaign

Many students procrastinate on scholarship applications, especially when the deadline feels far off. Countdown-style messaging can help increase urgency and reduce drop-off.

Use:

“5 days left” email blasts
Daily Instagram or Twitter posts leading up to the deadline
On-campus signage or LMS announcements that reinforce application timing

You can also display a countdown widget or banner on your scholarship page or student portal.

Bonus idea: Have previous recipients post “Apply now” reminders on their personal social channels.

�� Why it works: Urgency drives action—and students need frequent reminders.

Schedule Scholarship “Office Hours”

One common reason students don’t apply? Confusion. They’re unsure if they qualify or don’t know how to start.
Offering regular, informal support hours—virtually or in-person—can reduce barriers to entry and improve completion rates.

Make it easy:

Promote a weekly drop-in Zoom or Teams session
Add it to campus event calendars
Invite faculty and advisors to refer students

Even 15 minutes with a student could be the difference between an incomplete application and a life-changing award.

�� Why it works: Personalized support builds confidence and increases follow-through.

Use Storytelling to Highlight Impact

Whether you're trying to engage more students or attract more donors, storytelling is your secret weapon. When students see real examples of peers who benefited from scholarships, it creates relevance and motivation.

Post stories that showcase:

The student’s background and goals
How the scholarship helped them overcome financial or personal challenges
What they’re doing now (internships, graduation, community impact)

Pair student impact with donor quotes for maximum effect.

For example:

“Seeing how my donation helped Sofia stay in school and finish her nursing degree makes it all worth it.” – Foundation Donor, University of the Lakes

�� Why it works: Stories humanize your program and inspire both applications and giving.

Final Thoughts: Strategic Visibility = Greater Impact

The most successful scholarship programs don’t just offer funding—they build awareness, encourage confidence, and create meaningful connections between students and their institutions.

If you want to increase your applicant pool, improve the equity of your awards, and elevate your program’s reputation across campus and beyond, it starts with smart, strategic promotion.

At AwardSpring, we help colleges and universities streamline the entire scholarship management process—from application to promotion to donor reporting—so your dollars go further and your efforts make a bigger impact.

FAFSA - Where do we go from here?

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:35:22 GMT

As many students, parents, and educational administrators alike know, the rollout of the new 2024-2025 Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA) has brought about an array of changes for those applying to college, including some concerning delays.

Notable Changes

In 2023, the U.S. Education Department made several changes to the FAFSA, including the especially notable replacement of the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) with the Student Aid Index (SAI), changing how financial need is determined. A student’s SAI can range from –1500 to 999999, and it is used to calculate how much and what type of aid a student can receive.

Key Issues

Although the FAFSA changes were intended to improve the college application and financial aid process for students, their rollout came with issues such as glitches and technical errors. While the FAFSA was made available to most students by January 2024, many aid applicants were still faced with significant barriers. The Department of Education announced several issues that further exacerbated the troublesome rollout of the “new FAFSA”:

Many students from mixed-status families with parents who may not have a Social Security Number (SSN) were unable to submit a form online; several of these students were directed to fill out a paper FAFSA form, only to be told that the Department had (and still has) no timeline for processing paper FAFSA forms.
In late January, the Department announced that they were unable to process submitted forms until March and that the ability to make corrections to a FAFSA would not be available until later in the summer.
In March 2024, the Department announced that there was a miscalculation with the SAI formula in some processed FAFSAs, requiring many forms to be reprocessed in April.
In August, the Department announced that a key functionality, an institution’s ability to make corrections to FAFSA submissions in batch through their student information system, would not be available for the 2024-2025 academic year, requiring institutions to manually correct any FAFSA submissions through the FAFSA Partner Portal.

Impact

The issues with FAFSA affected student financial aid application rates, as the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) reports that as of July, 12, only 47.2% of the high school class of 2024 has completed the FAFSA—a 10.9% decline from the previous year’s 54.2%. Even more concerning are the disparities between low-income student filer rate compared to their counterparts from families with higher incomes. This is especially significant because according to the NCAN, submitting a FAFSA is one of the best predictors of whether a senior will attend college.

Many institutions of higher education have experienced decreases in either overall student populations and/or decreases in particular demographics. Enrollment professionals are left to wonder if these decreases can directly be attributed to the issues with the rollout of the FAFSA. Even more are asking if there are students who were unable to attend college because of the FAFSA issues, and if there is any chance of ever seeing them earn a degree of higher education.

Responses

In response to these issues, many states and schools delayed their filing deadlines in order to give students and families more time to fill out the FAFSA. Although the postponements allowed applicants more time with the FAFSA, they also created some very tight timelines for students relying on financial aid news to make their college decisions. Indeed, the U.S. Department of Education recently reported that some students did not even receive their final financial aid award letter until the end of August.

Institutions of higher education have been faced with increasing workloads, staff shortages, and limited resources during a time where they have also been asked to assist with increasing FAFSA filer rates. Despite the challenges, many institutions have developed creative outreach campaigns, workshops, websites, and more to assist students and families through the financial aid process.

Looking Forward

Currently, the FAFSA deadline for the 2024-2025 academic year is still June 30, 2025. It is imperative that students get the help and support that they need to submit the FAFSA by this deadline. There are still students and families who are working through the financial aid application process and deserve the opportunity to access financial aid to assist in their college journey. There are also still opportunities to learn valuable lessons from the 2024-2025 rollout to implement new strategies for the remainder of the year and beyond.

Recommendations

Connect with students and families who are still in the process. Identifying students who have not yet been awarded aid or are in the process of still attempting to enroll in college (mid-year transfers, deferred admissions, bridge program admits, etc.) and finding creative strategies to connect with them may prove beneficial to bolstering enrollment and retention rates, especially for institutions who have seen declines in enrollment demographics. One example is to look for opportunities to connect with needy students through the reallocation of unspent scholarship funds. Identifying scholarship opportunities that may have unspent funding that can be re-allocated specifically to students who are still trying to enroll in college may prove beneficial. AwardSpring’s platform makes the identification of eligible students for reallocation, awarding of funds, and communication of awards easy and seamless.
Communicate, communicate, communicate. One of the results of the FAFSA issues of 2024-2025 was the need for increased communication. Students and parents want information about schools’ scholarships and aid processes. Partners should look at the communication required to implement the changes for 2024-2025 and consider how to develop a robust communication plan for next year and beyond.
Be proactive. In 2024-2025, many higher education institutions were left with no other choice but to react to the many issues and delays from the FAFSA. As the Department of Education has announced that the 2025-2026 FAFSA will also be delayed until December 1st, institutions have an opportunity to be proactive moving into the next academic year. Institutions should consider proactive strategies to educate students and families on the FAFSA processes, develop campaign strategies to increase FAFSA filing rates, form partnerships with school counselors and scholarship organizations, adjust scholarship FAFSA requirements prior to application cycles opening, create communication plans, etc.

The 2024-2025 FAFSA cycle was indeed challenging. Challenges, however, often lead to growth and learning. As institutions begin to look forward to new aid cycles, the lessons learned during 2024-2025 will be invaluable to implement innovative strategies for meeting enrollment and retention goals.

Promoting your Scholarships: Embrace your Inner Marketer

kreilly@awardspring.com ( Kurt Reilly) — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 21:41:32 GMT

Making the most of a scholarship program requires getting as many qualified applicants as possible. The first step is getting the word out to potential applicants about the scholarship(s) you have to offer. Higher education institutions, foundations, and corporations alike can all use marketing strategies to promote their scholarships, but each requires a different, tailored approach.

The first section below focuses on strategies to employ for our College & University partners. If you're at a foundation, corporation, or other organization, we've tailored idea for you further below. Regardless of your institution or background, the ideas across both sections may apply.

Strategies for College and University scholarship programs

Higher education institutions of all types usually have direct contact information for a pool of current and prospective students. This allows you to employ classic direct marketing strategies with this captive audience. We recommend that you embrace thinking like direct marketers by creating as many touch points as possible for prospects to hear about their scholarships.

Text and email campaigns

If your institution collects student and prospective student phone numbers and email addresses, you can (with students’ permission) send them messages promoting your scholarships. There is a lot of competition in the email inbox, so you’ll do best with a concise, intriguing, and informative subject line paired with a clear and simple call to action in the email body. You may also want to resend emails to those who don’t open, send regular reminders, and track email performance to see if certain days and times get better engagement than others.

Now, more than ever, we recommend you use text messaging. Text messaging generally garners better response rates, but it is important to be aware that using this channel too often can be bothersome to students and lead them to unsubscribe. There are best practices for writing messages in a way that prevents your outreach from looking like spam: be concise, point users to known resources (e.g., your Institution’s scholarship page), and mention direct benefits (more money for school!). If your organization isn’t utilizing AwardSpring’s texting feature, you can learn more here .

Social media

If you’re at a higher education institution, it’s extremely likely you have a social media presence on a variety of platforms. Before launching a new account, you should check to see what social media accounts already exist at your organization, who owns them, and whether there are policies in place about creating, managing, and using social media.

If you’re lucky enough to be somewhere that has multiple social media accounts across the major platforms (Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and/or Snapchat) take advantage of these accounts that likely already have followers and engagement. Post and promote your opportunities across as many social channels as you can, and be sure to engage with students on those platforms regularly and transparently.

If you’re looking to start a social account from scratch, you certainly have a bigger hill to climb. Getting followers and creating engagement takes time, effort, and most importantly, patience. Start small (think, one account on one platform) and work to gather some engagement. If you’re starting from nothing, students love Instagram so we’d recommend making that a place to focus.

Once you have established one (or more) social media accounts, think about running targeted campaigns. The primary benefit of targeted social media campaigns is the ability talk to a very specific market in terms of age, location, and interests. Colleges and universities can also fine-tune promotions based on budget and need. Generally speaking, you can get in front of the groups you wish to speak to for low cost, allowing you to test a variety of ad types to lock into the ones that perform best. The key to a successful social media campaign is to check ad performance regularly and adjust to get the best results possible.

The world of social media is broad, complex, and can seem daunting. However, it’s a place where your students congregate, so being authentic, transparent, available, and open to trying social can create real opportunities to engage your students. We recommend you learn more about using social media platforms to reach prospective scholarship applicants from this insightful article published by Higher Education Marketing.

One last thing on social: it’s important to remember generational differences in social media use—Facebook and LinkedIn might be more popular amongst administrators and executives, while Instagram, Snapchat and X tend to attract more students.

Community outreach

Beyond online marketing, in-person community outreach can also be a great way to reach applicants. Senior Days and similar events in the community can provide the chance to talk to potential applicants face-to-face. Does your campus offer welcome programs for incoming students? These are terrific places to set up booths or information sessions about how you administer your awards. Finally, high school guidance counselors can also be a great resource to reach potential applicants and incoming students.

Institutional word of mouth

There are a host of individuals on campus that can be promotors of your program. Counselors work with students regularly to develop paths to degrees – they can also develop paths for great financial outcomes through relevant scholarship opportunities. Instructors have a lot of face time with students, so they’re well-positioned to promote scholarships if they know of the opportunities that are offered and how they align with their curriculum. It’s especially important to inform campus staff of scholarships that are available to part-time students, since part-time students often don’t qualify for financial aid and may be extra motivated to apply for scholarships as a result. Current and previous award winners could be your best champions. There’s no better way to promote your scholarships than by having prior award winners talk about how these awards positively impacted their college experience with their peers.

Word of mouth is also extremely important in cutting through all the noise—students get a lot of information through social media, emails, texts, fairs, and their classrooms in addition to school partners, potential employers, and other companies promoting products. Hearing about scholarship programs in person from a trusted source helps to support their validity and importance and quickly cuts out all the noise.

Strategies for Foundations and Corporations

For foundations, corporations, and other organizations that aren’t higher education institutions, there is often no list of current and prospective students to target (if an organization is lucky enough to have a comprehensive list, see some of the strategies above). Instead, we recommend employing tactics across a variety of marketing channels.

Word of mouth

Our top recommendation for creating awareness about scholarships is word of mouth. Foundations, non-profits, and corporations can target these three groups of people to help promote their programs:

Past recipients

By preparing a short message with important program details for previous recipients to post on social media and forward within your networks via email, organizations can make it simple to share scholarship info.

Local high school guidance counselors and major employers

Guidance counselors can shepherd their high school students through the application process, while local employers can help reach other students.

It is important to target those organizations that are likely to employ the students who meet specialized scholarships’ requirements. To get more applicants for a nursing scholarship, for example, focusing on local hospitals and major medical centers would be best.

Reviewers, employees, volunteers, and others within the organization

Scholarship reviewers can be enthusiastic supporters of your organization in addition to being knowledgeable about the scholarship offerings, making them great scholarship advocates. Don’t be afraid to ask them to spread the word to their friends and family.

Incentivize through early bird deadlines

After spreading the word about your scholarship programs, organizations can ensure that prospects complete their applications by incentivizing early submission.

One way to do this is by offering the chance to qualify for an additional small scholarship by applying before the early bird deadline. Motivated individuals will complete their applications early, which also allows for plenty of time to troubleshoot problems they have with the process.

When promoting early bird deadlines, you should put out consistent messaging in places that applicants are likely to see. You can create a few images or short messages that past recipients, local schools, employers, and volunteers can share electronically or as a printed flier.

Employ other direct marketing strategies

It never hurts to employ as many other marketing strategies as your organization can make time to execute:

Social Media: social can seem daunting, especially when you consider how many different channels there are. Find a way to cultivate a presence in a single channel (e.g., Instagram) and build a presence there (and more importantly, engage with your target audience when they engage with you). As you get comfortable with a single platform, expand to others (or start to execute low-cost, targeted ads in your target demographic)
Email campaigns: students may not be the most engaged with email, but their parents are. Put some simple messaging out targeting parent-aged recipients in the constituency you serve
Get creative: find ways to put yourself in front of your potential applicants in your community. Booths at local events; floats in parades; whatever gets your name out there can drive traffic to your website or social pages where people can then find your scholarship offerings

What it’s all about: getting qualified applicants

Regardless of the type of organization you represent, employing these strategies can drive more awareness of your scholarship programs and increase the overall number of applications you receive. Of course, it is just as important to ensure that these applicants are well qualified. We’ve written this guide to increasing qualified applicants , too.

Do you have some marketing ideas that have worked for you not mentioned above? We’d love to hear about them. Tell us your experience and we’ll share great ideas with other, similar organizations.

Navigating the FAFSA Simplification Act: What It Means for Students and Institutions

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 02:53:50 GMT

The FAFSA Simplification Act has brought about significant changes to the financial aid landscape, ushering in a new era in the FAFSA application process. While you’re likely familiar with the details, let's take a moment to recap the key highlights of this transformative legislation.

Key Changes:

Transition to SAI: The cornerstone of the FAFSA Simplification Act is the replacement of the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) with the Student Aid Index (SAI). This shift aims to provide a more nuanced assessment of financial need, offering flexibility with SAI values, including the possibility of negative figures down to -1500.
SAR to FSS: Another notable change is the rebranding of the Student Aid Report (SAR) as the FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS), reflecting the evolving nature of the application process.
Negative SAI and PELL Grant Eligibility: One of the significant departures from the previous system is the allowance for negative SAIs. This change necessitates adjustments in how institutions package students for need-based aid. Additionally, PELL grant eligibility will now be determined using criteria separate from the FAFSA and resultant SAI, with the incorporation of IRS tax return data where feasible.

As you embark to adapt these new protocols, it's essential to remain informed and proactive in navigating the evolving landscape of higher education finance. As an AwardSpring partner, we’ve made suggestions on how to leverage these changes to better support students on their educational journeys and ensure access to the opportunities they deserve. AwardSpring offers the following recommendations to guide institutions through this process:

Recommendation #1: Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to Student Aid Index (SAI)

The most consequential change to teams that are putting together Financial Aid packages or making scholarship awarding decisions are the EFC to SAI transition. We recommend you consider one of two options:

Option 1: Re-label existing EFC fields as SAI to maintain continuity in data collection

If you choose to re-label existing EFC fields, be mindful that doing so may impact historical data analysis, requiring a clear understanding by the consumers of any reports of the transition from EFC to SAI effective the date you make this conversion

Option 2: Keep your existing EFC fields for historical purposes and create a new SAI field

In this instance, you’ll need a thorough review of all of your qualifications and/or awarding decision-making processes to ensure SAI is being used and EFC is properly retired

Notables:

In the case where you’re using our SIS Integration feature, we’ll want to coordinate which path you’ve chosen so we can update the import process accordingly
AwardSpring currently doesn’t allow our numeric fields to go negative creating a gap between the new SAI protocol and our existing numeric fields. We’ll be addressing this in a March, 2024 release so you can capture negative SAI values, if desired

In either case, you’ll want to review scholarship qualifications tied to EFC and/or SAI, and ensure compatibility with the possibility of negative SAI values

Recommendation #2: Student Aid Report (SAR) to FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS)

Much like repurposing EFC for SAI in our first recommendation, you have another consideration with SAR vs. FSS:

Option 1: Evaluate the option of re-labeling existing SAR upload fields as FSS to streamline data collection

recognize that this adjustment repurposes the field, necessitating careful consideration of historical data interpretation

Option 2: Alternatively, create separate fields to accommodate the transition, albeit with potential rework depending on your unique configuration and whether you utilize SIS Integration

Recommendation #3: Other FAFSA Fields

There’s more variability here since you may have a wide degree of fields to consider. You should tailor any changes based on the specific field type, whether it’s being used as a qualification, and whether you’d need to make corresponding changes in your SIS.

Summary

Proactive assessment and strategic adaptation of FAFSA-related questions are crucial to seamlessly transition to the new framework outlined by the FAFSA Simplification Act. By carefully considering these recommendations, you can ensure alignment with regulatory changes while maintaining efficiency and accuracy in financial aid processes. As always, if you’d like to talk with our expert staff, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at support@awardspring.com.

AwardSpring: The #1 Scholarship Management Software

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 16:18:28 GMT

We're absolutely thrilled to announce that AwardSpring has clinched the prestigious #1 spot in the G2 report for Scholarship Management Software again, but we didn't stop there!

If you're on the hunt for the ultimate scholarship management solution, you've landed in the right spot. Allow us to introduce AwardSpring and share the exciting news that's been buzzing around our camp.

The results are in: AwardSpring is #1 all the way!

Leader in Scholarship Management: Leadership in this context means that we are not just another option; we are setting the standard for what scholarship management software should be. Our commitment to being the smart, simple, helpful scholarship management solution has propelled us to this prominent position.

#1 Easiest Admin: We get it – managing scholarships can sometimes feel like solving a complex puzzle. With AwardSpring, we've made it a cakewalk so you can invest your time where it matters most – supporting students.

#1 Best Relationship: At AwardSpring, building strong client relationships is at the heart of what we do. We believe in open communication and close collaboration to ensure we're not just a software provider but your trusted partner in all things scholarship management.

#1 Best Usability: User-friendliness is our thing. We've designed our platform to be so intuitive that you can navigate through it with ease, freeing you from the hassle of cumbersome processes.

#1 Most Implementable: Transitioning to new software can be a bit intimidating, but fear not! Our expert team is here to guide you through every step of the journey, making the process as smooth as ever.

Our Dedication to Excellence

At AwardSpring, we're on a mission to empower organizations to create profound impacts through scholarships. We believe in the transformative power of education and are humbled to be a part of your journey.

Our recent recognition in the G2 report isn't just a feather in our cap; it's a testament to our unwavering commitment to providing you with the best scholarship management software possible. Rest assured, we won't rest on our laurels. We'll keep innovating and striving to provide you with the best scholarship management software possible. Your success is our success, and we're here to help you reach your scholarship program goals.

A Heartfelt Thank You

We want to extend our thanks to our existing customers. You're the real MVPs here, and we couldn't have achieved this #1 ranking without your trust and partnership. Your feedback, reviews, and continuous support have been the driving force behind our journey to the top. Your partnership is truly appreciated, and we're looking forward to many more years of working together to create a path to brighter futures.

- The AwardSpring Team

Ready to get started with the #1 Scholarship Management Software on the market?

AwardSpring's Unwavering Commitment to Support, Training, and Implementation

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 19:04:28 GMT

At AwardSpring, we understand the challenges admins face when it comes to managing scholarships and their donor base.

We also recognize the profound impact their work has on the lives and successes of countless students. That’s why our commitment goes beyond providing exceptionally smart, simple scholarship and donor management software: support, training, and seamless onboarding are the core of what we do.

Support: Our Backbone, Your Confidence

From the very early days of AwardSpring, we recognized that a robust software solution is only as strong as the support that comes along with it. We’re always there for you, ready to offer guidance, solve problems, and lend a hand (or ear) when you need it. Our beloved support team, handpicked for their expertise and genuine care, is the heart of the AwardSpring team. We’re not just a scholarship and donor management provider - we are an extension of your staff that is invested in you and your institution’s success as if it were our own. From responses in 30 minutes or less on average, to tips and tricks to optimize your program, we’ve got your back.

Training: Empowering You Always

Software should never be a barrier to your success. Ensuring that you are equipped with all of the skills and knowledge needed to use AwardSpring to its fullest potential means providing impeccable and comprehensive ongoing training. We’ve diligently created an environment where you feel empowered to explore, learn, and master our platform with confidence. Our one-on-one training sessions, perfectly timed webinars, new feature walkthroughs, and more have been a huge reason why almost 500 institutions have chosen us as a trusted partner. We want you to be an AwardSpring pro, easily navigating the scholarship and donor management landscape with finesse and expertise.

Implementation: Seamless Transitions, Shared Triumphs

Change can be exciting or daunting, we get it. That’s why we’ve made our implementation and onboarding process unbelievably simple. Throughout the whole process, you’ll have a dedicated implementation manager guiding you through it all. No more training portals! Hand over your data and in just a few weeks or a couple of months (depending on the size of your scholarship offering) and just a few hours of your time, you’ll be ready to go. Our implementation team understands all the unique intricacies of your institution, ensuring a seamless transition and integration with your existing systems. We train you using your data, so at the end of the implementation process you’ll be a newly minted AwardSpring expert.

Continuous Improvement: Your Voice, Our Guiding Light

We embrace a culture of continuous improvement and learning. Your valuable feedback inspires us to refine and enhance our software and services. Our ability to adapt and evolve to your needs is something we take great pride in. Our commitment to improvement extends beyond our software (consistent feature releases, a modern and intuitive portal, etc.); it encompasses every aspect of our partnership with you.

Your Mission, Our Vision

We are driven by a genuine passion for empowering you to transform lives through scholarships. Together, we are broadening access to education (no small feat). We are honored to be part of your journey, and we will continue to stand by your side as your advocate and ally in scholarship and donor management.

Unlocking the Secrets of Enrollment and Retention Through Your Scholarship Programs

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 16:47:35 GMT

Today's higher education landscape is more competitive than ever. The colleges and universities we partner with are constantly seeking new strategies to help attract and retain students. Here's what we've learned after almost a decade of partnerships.

With both 2-year and 4-year college and university enrollment continuing to decline, everyone is asking, post-pandemic, what can we do?

You can start by recognizing what motivates students to choose a college or university, what factors contribute to their success, and what they expect from their college experience. Knowing that there are a high volume of variables that go into this major decision for students, we’ll focus on the financial component while still acknowledging the other factors that weigh on their minds in order to give some guidance on driving improved enrollment and retention.

Factors that Influence College Choice

There have been multiple studies over the years to help families and administrators alike better understand the decision-making process for choosing a college. Both a Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) study and a National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) study in the last decade found total cost to rank 3rd only behind reputation (1st) and available programs of study (2nd). Additionally, a Sallie Mae study from 2020 found that 73% of students will eliminate schools from consideration solely based on cost.

These aren’t shocking findings. Our customers, along with the US higher education industry as a whole, have known this for years (either anecdotally or through their own industry or campus-wide research). Furthermore, higher education and its costs (and perceived ROI) have become polarizing topics in America, creating even more public pressure to either find affordable college options or skip higher education altogether to start career earnings sooner. And of course, besides the factors already listed, many students consider attributes like location, support/campus services, culture, clubs and activities, and a broader (and tougher to define) “personal fit”, in making their final decision.

It's worth noting that the relative importance of these factors may vary across different demographic groups. For example, low-income students may place a higher emphasis on cost and financial aid, while first-generation college students may place a higher emphasis on support services and a sense of community.

Retaining Students with Increased Expectations

In addition to the factors that influence college choice, it's important to understand the expectations and preferences that today's college students have for their college experience. According to a 2022 survey by the consulting firm Ruffalo Noel Levitz, the top factors that contributed to students' satisfaction with their college experience were campus culture, support services, academic programs, and extracurricular activities. Of course, ongoing costs continue to weigh heavily on the minds of students, but we’ll leave that aside for now.

In terms of campus culture, students are looking for a sense of community and belonging. This can be fostered through social events, clubs and organizations, and other activities that bring students together.

Support services are also critical to student success and satisfaction. Students may need help with a range of issues, from mental health and wellness to financial aid and career readiness. By providing robust support services, colleges and universities can help students overcome these challenges and stay on track to graduation.

Finally, today's college students are looking for academic programs that are relevant and engaging. They also place a high value on experiential learning opportunities, such as internships, study abroad programs, and undergraduate research.

Using your Scholarship Program(s) to Attract and Retain Students

We’ve all heard the broad concept of “use it or lose it”. It can be applied across individual talents, capital expenditures, budget plans, mental acuity and much more. Our advice here is similar but more targeted to helping you attract and retain students in today’s world: “Use it or lose them .”

If you have some of the scholarship programs outlined below: USE THEM! And spend every last dollar you can from these programs each year. If they’re endowed awards, being able to show your donor base that you’re effectively using their gifts only encourages more gifts from more people. If you have a merit-based program, thinking creatively about what’s important to your campus will encourage students who meet that profile to come your way.

Be sure to get Admissions, Retention, Financial Aid and Advancement (or your corresponding foundation office, if applicable) all working together (or at least sharing information). It’s likely that portions of these groups work well together already (e.g., Financial Aid + Advancement, Admissions + Financial Aid, etc.). Build on those successes and loop more people into the recruitment and retention programs within your school. The best way to get these groups working well together is to share results. When scholarships drive improved Financial Aid packaging - let the Advancement team in on the celebration! When better packaging delivers improved enrollment - share those victories!

We’re sure you’ve thought of all of these, but here are a bunch of scholarship programs to consider to help with both recruitment and retention:

Merit-Based Scholarships: Offering merit-based scholarships can attract high-achieving students who may have multiple college options OR these programs allow you to hone in on the very specific type of student profile that’s interesting to your school. By providing financial incentives to the types of talented individuals you’re most interested in, you can increase your chances of enrolling these students and improving overall enrollment statistics.
Need-Based Scholarships: As we’ve mentioned, cost is critical. Many students face financial barriers that prevent them from pursuing higher education or who might unnecessarily whittle down their selection of potential schools without understanding the average net price of that institution. By offering need-based scholarships, you can attract students who might otherwise be unable to afford the cost of tuition. This can lead to increased enrollment and greater diversity within the student body.
Scholarships for Underrepresented Groups: To promote diversity and inclusion, you can establish scholarships specifically aimed at underrepresented groups, such as students from low-income backgrounds, ethnic minorities, or individuals with disabilities. By actively recruiting and supporting these students through financial aid, you can enhance your enrollment and retention rates among these populations.
Transfer Student Scholarships: To attract transfer students from other institutions, colleges and universities can offer scholarships specifically designed for them. This can help create a seamless pathway for students seeking to further their education, thereby improving both enrollment and retention. We’re huge believers in 2-year schools at AwardSpring, and we believe 2-year and 4-year schools that serve similar students or operate in nearby regions should partner not only on transfer credits but on similar scholarship opportunities when possible.
Retention Scholarships: Scholarships can also be used as a retention strategy. By identifying students who may be at risk of dropping out due to financial difficulties, you can provide them with ongoing financial support through scholarships. These retention scholarships can alleviate their financial burden, helping students stay enrolled and complete their degrees.
Performance-Based Scholarships: Create incentives for academic achievement and progress. For example, offer scholarships to students who maintain a certain GPA or make significant progress towards their degree requirements. These scholarships not only reward students for their hard work but also encourage them to stay focused and engaged in their studies, leading to improved retention rates.

Our focus here was mainly on affordability. That’s our area of expertise and how we go about helping our customers. By leveraging your merit-based and endowed awards creatively across multiple program types, you can help alleviate the risks associated with the “cost” component of a student’s decision to attend (or stay at) your institution. Be mindful of the other thought processes and considerations of a student so that you can tackle recruitment and retention strategies. Inevitably, when you couple these cost-management strategies with the unique benefits offered by your institution, you will end up reversing the recent downward trends with enrollment and retention and supporting your institution and your students' success.

From Inbox to Engagement: How to Increase Application Volume with Texting

Fri, 19 May 2023 17:07:22 GMT

For many scholarship management administrators, getting incoming and current students to start and finish their scholarship applications and follow-up tasks can be a struggle. Progressing the application and awarding process is simple: meet students where they are – on their phone!

Survey Says: Communication is Changing

Communicating with today’s students via email is becoming increasingly more difficult. In a recent study by Bowling Green State University , it was reported that nearly 40% of students rarely open emails from their advisors and over half of students avoid reading emails from the university and/or academic departments altogether. We see this trend continue in a Purdue University study that found students spend a mere six minutes each day checking their email inbox on average. Additionally, data shows students are less inclined to use their university email accounts and prefer to use their personal email.

So how do we engage this new generation of students when the tried and true method of the past is failing?

Compare the six minutes on average students spend checking their email to the 94 minutes spent on texting alone and the solution becomes clear. This new generation are checking their phones over 150 times a day, reading 98% of their text messages, and replying 4x more to SMS than email. When scholarship engagement is the goal, texting becomes the solution .

Click to Enlarge

Engage, Inform, and Cultivate

Utilizing texting in your applicant outreach isn't just about moving away from email because the numbers say so. Scholarship fatigue is on the rise and students are giving up before they’ve even started. Providing efficient and convenient methods of communication shows your students that your institution cares about their needs.

Engage Your Applicants: Create tailored messages based on reports you pull from student data. Make students feel connected to the application process by utilizing personalization tokens. Your applicant pool will feel personally cared for and know you’re invested in their success.
Keep Applicants Informed: Students want information now . Sending text messages about incomplete tasks and important dates in a timely manner is critical for engagement. Do research into your students’ behaviors so you can send messages at the perfect time (like 2 am during finals week when you know they’re awake!).
Cultivate Lasting Relationships: Meeting students where they are is an early step to building meaningful relationships with your current and prospective students today and in their next award cycle. Send a text over the summer about any new scholarship opportunities available in the fall so they're more inclined to return!

In 160 Characters or Less

Simplify your outreach. Know your stu dents. See results. No other channel of communication compares to texting when you’re looking to increase applicants.

Want to learn more about how AwardSpring could help your institution increase applicants? Click here to let us know and a member of our team will reach out to you to schedule time to chat!

Click to Enlarge

Consider Implementing an Online Scholarship Management Tool

kreilly@awardspring.com ( Kurt Reilly) — Thu, 18 May 2023 20:29:28 GMT

Making the switch from a manual scholarship management process to an online solution can seem daunting. For many, there's not enough time to evaluate new options or the idea or embarking on an implementation can feel overwhelming.

If you're still managing your scholarship program using paper applications and manual processes, it might be time to consider transitioning to an online scholarship management software. Here are just a few of the reasons why you should consider making the switch:

Increased efficiency

One of the main benefits of using an online scholarship management software is that it can greatly increase the efficiency of your scholarship program. With an online system, you can automate many of the tasks that are currently done manually, such as application review, award selection, and notification. This can save you time and effort, and allow you to focus on more important tasks, like building relationships with donors.

Improved accuracy

With a paper-based or spreadsheet-driven system, it's easy for errors to occur, whether it's a typo on an application or a calculation error when determining awards. An online system can help to eliminate these errors by automating many of the processes involved.

Enhanced security

With a highly-manual system, it's easy for sensitive information to be lost or stolen. An online system, on the other hand, can offer secure storage and access to your data, helping to protect your scholarship program and the privacy of your applicants.

Greater accessibility

An online scholarship management software can also make it easier for applicants to apply for scholarships. With a paper-based system, applicants may need to visit your office or mail in their applications, which can be inconvenient. An online system allows applicants to apply from anywhere, at any time, making the process more accessible for everyone.

At AwardSpring, we understand the prospect of changing your process can seem daunting, and that's why we want to make the transition as easy and stress-free as possible for you. If you’re sold on shifting to a digital solution, but worried about a stressful implementation, have no fear! Our customers rave about our implementation and support teams. During AwardSpring implementation , you have a dedicated support specialist to call anytime you have a question. We train you using your real data, so all of your scholarships are set up exactly the way you want once training is over. The whole process takes about two to four months, on average. During that time, we’re doing all the data entry, so you can keep on managing scholarships exactly the way you always have - no interruptions.

We believe that providing our customers with the tools and resources they need to learn how to use our software effectively is critical to their success. That's why we offer a range of training options, including weekly webinars, 1:1 training sessions, and personalized coaching. Along with that, our training materials are designed to be comprehensive and easy to understand, so that you can learn at your own pace and get up to speed quickly.

In addition to training, we also offer ongoing support to our customers . Our support team is made up of experienced professionals who are available to help whenever you need it. Whether it's a technical problem, a feature request, or simply a question about how to use the software, our support team is ready to assist. We also offer multiple channels of support, including email, phone, and online chat, so that you can choose the method that works best. Plus, we’ll get back to you within 16 minutes, on average.

At AwardSpring, we provide an online solution that's been designed from the ground up to simplify and centralize the complexities of scholarship management. Couple that with our outstanding onboarding and support, we take the uncertainty out of a transition and set our customers up for success.

Want to learn more about AwardSpring? Click here and let us know what you’re interested in learning more about and a member of our team will reach out to you to schedule time to talk!

Also published through the National Scholarship Providers Associate . View original post here .

Feature Spotlight: Smart Reports

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 18:18:50 GMT

With Smart Reports, you'll be able to gain pertinent insights into your applicants with just a few clicks.

What Are Smart Reports?

In the past, if you wanted to view specific data on students and scholarships, you’d need to reach out to our Support team to create a custom report if one of our ready-to-go reports didn’t contain the information you were looking for. And though the system works, we know our users want the ability to create their own reports on the fly.

Smart Reports will allow you to build and run reports in seconds. For the past year, our team has been working behind the scenes to build a powerful tool to help you get quick access to data stored in your AwardSpring site - at no additional cost*.

Why Use Smart Reports?

Our goal with this new feature is to help you and your team leverage your data to help you improve all aspects of your scholarship management process. Consider using Smart Reports when you want to:

Optimize Your Application

Glean powerful information to improve your application. Get granular when it comes to which students are qualified for, but haven’t applied to, a given scholarship.

Run a report for qualified students that haven’t applied to scholarships. Look for trends or patterns with particular scholarships to adjust the application process.

Analyze Your Awards

View demographics about your awarded students to review progress toward meeting specific targets, such as awarding more women for STEM scholarships, awarding more low-income students, or achieving gender parity in scholarship awards.

Track Trends

Examine any number of statistics for a given award cycle, including completed, started, or submitted applications, number of awarded students, total dollar amount awarded, awarded student demographics, and many others.

Notify Specified Applicants

Narrow your search for particular applicants that may need to be notified about Special Funds, upcoming deadlines, and more so you can contact them directly via text or email.

How Do Smart Reports Work?

Navigate to the Report tab in the Navigation Bar. You’ll notice two options now populating under the tab: Smart Reports and Stock Library .

Stock Library contains all the functionality you had in the past with custom reports built by the AwardSpring team and stock reports built into the system.

As Easy as 1, 2, 3!

The Smart Reports page has been designed to make viewing your student data as simple as possible.

1. Start your new Smart Report by selecting your desired Report Type. For now choose between your saved Smart Reports or create a new Smart Report by selecting “Students + Scholarships”. With this launch, Students + Scholarships will be the only Report Type. (We’ll be building out more report types in the future, but we’ve focused on this data set as it is the most requested custom report type**.)
2. Filter your report by Award Cycle. Optionally filter further by choosing the Qualification Status and Application Status of your applicants.
3. Click Preview to run your report!

Edit Your Report

It doesn’t end there! If you’d like to view even more applicant information or change how you view your data, hit Edit Columns on the top right of the preview window. Here, you’ll be able to change the order of, remove, and add columns with easy to use drag-and-drop functionality.

Add a new column by filtering through three main categories: Scholarship + Student, Scholarship, and About Student. Scroll through these categories or search to add fields like Qualification Status, Amount Awarded, GPA, Department, Publish Date, or any data you’ve collected through the general application and your scholarships .

Save + Download

Once you have the data you need in the preview window, you’re ready to save your new Smart Report . Saving your report lets you create a new report or update an existing report. You’ll be able to run your report in the future by choosing it in the Select Report Type dropdown, and it will populate with live data. You can also view past versions in your Download History to compare data.

When you download your report, you’ll receive an email with a link to the .CSV file. You can also access the file in the Stock Library page.

Want to see Smart Reports in action? Watch the recording of our webinar here .

*for AwardSpring PRO users

**If this data set doesn’t match your needs, we will continue to run custom reports for the foreseeable future. To request a custom report, get in touch with us at support@awardspring.com .

The Results Are In: The G2 Winter Report

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 17:10:30 GMT

We are excited to announce that AwardSpring has received three badges in the G2 Winter reports: Leader, Best Relationship, and Users Love Us.

For those unfamiliar with G2, it is a leading business solutions review platform that gathers ratings and reviews from verified users. The G2 Winter reports are a prestigious recognition of the top-performing products in various categories.

We are thrilled to have received recognition in the scholarship management software category, specifically as a Leader and for having a Best Relationship with our customers. These achievements are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, the innovative solutions we offer to our customers, and the power of our support team.

In addition to these badges, we are also proud to have been rated #1 in the following categories:

User satisfaction
Review portal
Review comments
Messaging
Administrative dashboard
Reports
Integrations
Likelihood to recommend

Price
Custom application forms
Attachments
Scholarship matching
Application tracking
Automated review assignments
Scoring tools

At AwardSpring, we strive to provide the best possible experience for our users and it is gratifying to see this reflected in the G2 report. We value the feedback of our users and are constantly working to improve and enhance our platform. Building strong, positive relationships with our customers is a top priority for us, and we are grateful to have received recognition for this.

Overall, we are extremely proud of these achievements and will continue to work hard to provide the best possible service to our customers. Thank you to everyone who has supported us and contributed to our success.

If you'd like to review AwardSpring on G2, click here .

Why We Don't Do External Awards

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 20:12:04 GMT

More is only better, until it isn't...

When we started AwardSpring, we looked at what the competition was doing and at our own experience as students, parents, administrators, and software engineers – and we pledged to always stay focused on simplifying.

We want students to see opportunity and a clear path to their education when they log into AwardSpring because the reality is that college life is complex. Today’s students are juggling work, family, rising tuition, housework, you name it – and they deserve something that will make balancing all of this while accessing college easier .

A top priority of ours is to keep students engaged and motivated throughout the scholarship process. We’re in the business of getting more students more funding in an efficient and pain-free way because when scholarship awards make it to students, we all benefit.

While getting an external award is fantastic, sorting through thousands of local, regional, national, and global offers tends to be exhausting. External awards muddy the water, and create an overwhelming experience.

With external awards, students and their families are forever chasing numerous application requirements and deadlines. It’s a tremendous amount of work coming on the heels of an exhaustively charged time: applying for college in the first place.

We’re not here to deceive students.

When students are overwhelmed, they are less likely to finish the application process. It’s time to end the practice of burying more-accessible funds beneath a sea of highly competitive, external awards that very few applicants will ever receive.

The reality is that for students to succeed, the scholarship application process must be as clear and simple as possible.

When we eliminate tedious work and missed opportunities, qualified applicants get the scholarship dollars they need. Using our robust matching criteria and simplified application process, AwardSpring shows students higher education is attainable and substantial funding exists.

We’re here to remove the barriers that keep students from accessing funds. We want students to stay in the game, stay focused on the higher prize, and advance their lives. At AwardSpring, we give students a clear track to their dreams with less work, less frustration, fewer distractions, and more awarding.

3 AwardSpring Features That Drive Donor Engagement

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 05:00:00 GMT

Donor engagement is an essential component to any scholarship program and a top priority for our customers. That’s why AwardSpring includes three features that help foundations, colleges, and universities draw their donors closer to their scholarships and recipients. Donors who wish to be active participants in the award process can do so with the tools offered on the platform, while donors who prefer less direct involvement can still benefit from processes used by administrators.

Start engaging your donors today by:

1. Creating Donor Profiles

You can create profiles for your donors that include as much or as little detail as you (or they) would like, from photos to short biographies to their social media contact information. In our experience, donors feel more connected to the institution and the scholarship when they have a profile. Plus, it helps students connect the scholarship with the person who funds it. It’s a simple way to offer donors recognition for their investment without requiring any proactive engagement from them.

2. Setting Up Your Donor Portal

Donors who wish to be more actively involved and informed about their awards and recipients will appreciate having access to their own donor portal. As an administrator, you can control how much - and how little - information your donors can access through the portal. We recommend that you allow donors to access both applications and awarded student profiles. That way, your entire scholarship process is transparent and accessible. Over time, as more and more students are awarded scholarships, your donors will be able to see the impact of their investment on your student population.

3. Collecting & Sharing Thank You Letters

Administrators can use their AwardSpring platform for professional, streamlined donor outreach - most notably, for “thank you” letters from awarded students to donors. Simply create a follow-up or essay question for awarded students to answer with their expressions of gratitude and then share the “thank you” letters with donors in their portal. You’ll save time and effort on gathering, printing, and mailing these letters while your donors will enjoy a “feel-good” experience on the platform that might just encourage greater future engagement.

If you need any help setting up any of these features, we’re always here for you. Just submit a support ticket or reach out to our sales team to learn more!

Why We Offer Special Pricing for HBCUs

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 19:01:17 GMT

At AwardSpring, we want our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program to benefit our employees and customers alike, but doing so as a corporation is a complex undertaking.

It’s easy to come off as disingenuous when committing to better support minority groups. We don’t want to just check diversity off of our to-do list. Instead, we are offering something that will actually help our customers who serve minorities: special pricing for Historically Black Colleges and Universities .

This special pricing program helps our HBCU customers leverage endowments that could make a significant difference in their existing and prospective students’ access to education. Our scholarship management software can help operationally constrained HBCUs save time and money while boosting applications, making them more competitive among higher education institutions.

If your school is an accredited HBCU, click here to learn more about special pricing and schedule a demo today.

Preparing for Your Next Award Cycle

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 15:00:00 GMT

No matter how well you prepared your AwardSpring site before your first award cycle, there will likely be adjustments you can make to your site to better streamline your process for your next cycle. Perhaps you didn’t anticipate that certain questions that would trip up your applicants. Maybe you forgot to ask an additional question or essay that could better illuminate students’ qualifications for your reviewers.

It's best practice to make these types of changes as you are preparing for your next award cycle. You have the chance to revisit your application and qualifications to smooth any wrinkles that arose during your previous cycle.

Here are some suggestions of changes you might want to consider:

Make workflow corrections

Were there particular sections that made the process difficult for applicants? Did you forget to ask an important question? Look back through old emails and tickets from your applicants if you need a refresher on what needs to be adjusted.

Request custom reports

Although you can request custom reports at any point during your award cycle, it is beneficial to ask for them in advance. During your cycle, you might have discovered that the default reports in the AwardSpring system could be tailored a bit more to your process needs. If this is the case, requesting custom reports at the beginning of your cycle will ensure you have your report when you need it. It’ll be right there in the report dropdown!

Create donor profiles

Between cycles is the perfect time to start building out donor profiles, if you haven’t already done so. We built the donor functionality to drive engagement and educate applicants about who is providing the opportunities. Donor profiles can include both internal fields (contact tab) and public-facing information such as profile photos and social media links (profile tab). Profiles can be maintained by either the donors themselves or by you the administrator, depending on how hands-on your donors want to be.

Acquaint yourself with new features

We are regularly adding new features and improving existing ones so we might have removed a constraint you experienced when setting up your previous award cycle. Release notes from the entire year can be found in the Help Center if you would like a full review of the new tools that have been built over the course of the last year. Implementing them might require making larger changes to the application itself so between cycles is the perfect time to do so. Some notable additions from the past year include external requests, custom reports, and impersonating student users.

Add instructional text

Were there places in your application that presented issues for your students? If you found yourself talking through the same questions, you might want to consider adding instructional text to your application to curtail confusion. For example, if you want to clarify for students where they can look up their student ID, you could include a hyperlink in an instructional text box to help them locate that information.

Ask the right questions

Are there any questions that didn’t work well last year (confusing to applicants, too time consuming) that should be removed? This could be redundant questions, like asking 'Do you have a 3.0 GPA?' when you already have a 'GPA' question or 'Are you an Accounting major?' when you already have a 'major' question. Do any new questions need to be added? For example: How did you hear about this scholarship application? Do any new question options need to be added? For example, you have a new Viticulture program and it needs to be added to the list of majors.

Consider removing 'roadblocks' or barriers to applying

For a point of reference, look at the 'Student Answers' report for your most recent cycle. What sections were most often left incomplete?

For example, if two recommendation letters are normally required, but you found that this is a deterrent for students, perhaps make the second one optional or remove it altogether.
Consider removing time-consuming uploads like transcripts or resumes and instead ask targeted questions on the application.
Consider reducing max. word count for essays to save time for reviewers.

You can find useful articles about how to make changes to your site in our comprehensive Help Center. And, as always, our support team is always available to talk through any questions you have come across or to help adapt features to fit your process. Don’t hesitate to reach out!

Feature Spotlight: Qualification Groups (“OR” Logic)

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 15:17:30 GMT

With AwardSpring’s new Qualification Groups feature (our version of “OR” logic), administrative users have added flexibility when building out scholarship qualifications.

What is OR Logic?

Previously, it was only possible to set “AND” conditions to determine qualified applicants through our platform. “OR” logic was available only as a condition within some types of multi-select questions.

For example, with the previous logic, applicants would only meet qualifications if they met every requirement on an application. So, if your scholarship requirements were a 3.5 GPA or above and an ACT score of 25 or above, applicants who didn’t meet both requirements would not be eligible for the award.

With this new feature, however, AwardSpring users can set scholarship eligibility to depend on either GPA or ACT score, by creating multiple qualification groups, each with their own unique qualifiers — at no added cost.

Why use Qualification Groups?

If you want to drive eligibility for an award, there are several ways that Qualification Groups can help you do so. Here’s how this new feature upgrades your scholarship eligibility game:

Proper logic

Where your applications were previously limited to “OR” logic within multi-response questions, you can now create proper Qualification Groups based on applicant responses that meet one set of qualifications but not another.

Massive flexibility; reduced overhead

With more flexibility within scholarship applications, you can reduce overhead costs by consolidating scholarships.

Less time spent sorting

Qualification Groups are an easy way to eliminate extra steps from your process, so you can spend less time sorting and more time awarding.

More meaningful award decisions

When you are able to separate applicants into different groups based on which responses qualified them for an award, you have more insight into their backgrounds. This way, you can make better-informed scholarship award decisions.

How does our version of “OR” Logic work?

AwardSpring “OR” logic works using Qualification Groups to determine scholarship eligibility. Each scholarship can have up to four groups, meaning that four different sets of qualifications can indicate eligibility for each award.

Ready to activate “OR” logic? In the AwardSpring platform, click on the “Add qualification group” button under the “Qualifications” tab of any scholarship. Then, add qualifications to each group. Applicants will be sorted into groups based on which set of qualifications they meet.

Qualification Groups are a simple yet effective way to boost insight and award eligibility. Get started finding qualified applicants with AwardSpring today.

Two-Year School Enrollment: 2021 by the Numbers + 2022 Projections

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 16:50:13 GMT

Two-year schools can increase their enrollment in 2022 if students are aware of the funding available to them through scholarships.

The past year was a process of recovery for colleges and universities that experienced shutdowns, restrictions, and all-around uncertainty at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Community colleges were hit the hardest — enrollment in 2020 decreased ninefold for two-year schools compared to statistics from fall 2019. Could things have gotten any better in the past year as institutions continue to adjust to a new normal? Fall 2021 data can give us a clue about how higher education fared over the past year.

Overall enrollment in postsecondary institutions was down 2.6% in 2021, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center . This percent decrease is similar to that of last year’s enrollment, which was down 3.4% for a total of a 5.8% decrease since 2019.

The bounce-back from pandemic-related losses is slow, and a closer look at the data reveals that two-year institutions are especially struggling to recuperate enrollment numbers. Two-year colleges saw enrollment decrease by 3.4% in 2021, whereas private nonprofit four-year institution enrollment only decreased by 1.6% and highly-selective four-year institution enrollment actually increased by 3.1%.

The most apparent reason why student enrollment, especially at two-year schools, is continuing to drop is the state of the economy. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , consumer prices for all items rose by a collective 7% in the past year — the largest percent increase since 1981. Potential students are going to work instead of pursuing an education, and inflation is a primary driver in that decision. Especially for lower-income families, when it costs more and more to put gas in the car and food on the table, it’s harder and harder to justify paying for a degree. If students are offered scholarships, however, they may choose a different path.

Two-year schools can increase their enrollment in 2022 if students are aware of the funding available to them through scholarships. AwardSpring’s scholarship-management solution can be the difference when it comes to reaching students in need of funding. The AwardSpring platform can be customized to fit the needs of your school to ensure time efficiency, maximized fund utilization, and most importantly, reach more students in need.

AwardSpring can empower institutions of all shapes and sizes to think big in 2022 and beyond.

Learn more about AwardSpring and request a demo today .

Post-award Best Practices

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 16:00:00 GMT

Managing your awarded applicants can be a time-consuming process. You might need to collect required documents from students, ensure that they still meet minimum qualifications, or have students formally accept your awards. You might need to create information packets for awardees to give them next steps. Some scholarship managers even need to plan events to publicly honor the students who have been awarded.

All of these moving pieces can add up to a lot of manual work on your part. Creating a plan for what items you need in advance of your awarding period will allow you to use your time and effort in a more effective way. Here are some common types of follow-ups that you might want to incorporate into your process.

Instructions for Follow-Ups:

Clear and concise steps will be helpful to ensure that you get all the correct items from each awardee. This will limit the amount of back and forth required to collect everything you need. Additionally, you could pass out information about next steps. Can the student be awarded a second payment for their scholarship? Are they allowed to apply again in future cycles? It is a good idea to spell out this information to reduce confusion for your awarded students.

Thank You Letters:

The most commonly collected items from students are thank-you letters. These letters are not only a great way to drive donor engagement, they also create collateral to demonstrate how important the scholarship management process is in helping students. Awardees will have an easier time writing effective letters if you have provided them with information about the donor that they are thanking or some guidelines on writing a well-crafted letter.

Award Acceptance Forms:

If you need a student to formally accept an award before you can make a payment, you might want to consider creating a form that they can sign, either physically or electronically and return to you.

Headshots for Publicity:

The ability to create marketing materials for your scholarship program can help bolster your donations and attract new donors to your foundation or institution. If you want to include photographs in these marketing materials, you can request them directly from the student. Keep in mind that you might also need to ask them to sign a photo release to publish their image.

Event RSVPs:

If you need to plan a scholarship award ceremony, it will be very helpful for you to know the exact number of guests to plan for. This follow-up will allow students to tell you if they can attend the event and how many people they are going to bring.

School Bursar Address:

If you need to send the scholarship check to the college or university that the student is attending, instead of to the student’s home address, this is a good time to collect that information.

Qualification Validation:

Some scholarships have criteria that need to be met which a student might not have proof of during the application period. For example, if one of your scholarships has a requirement that the student be accepted into a particular program or school, the student might have only recently been accepted. You can collect this additional information during the awarding period to confirm they do in fact meet the requirements of the scholarship.

All of these follow-ups, and many more, can be included in a packet that you physically mail or email to students at the time that you notify them of the award. This packet can be reused with minor updates from year to year which will save you time in the current cycle and streamline the process for years to come.

If you are currently an AwardSpring customer or are interested in becoming one, be aware that we have functionality in our system to automate the follow-ups process. You can collect all materials online as well as provide any necessary documents or instructions. Additionally, you can review student answers and pass back to the student for additional attention if there is something missing or they have missed the mark.

We’ve worked with our clients to provide suggestions, help adapt platform features to fit their processes, and even facilitate conversations with other clients. If you are interested in learning more about AwardSpring to determine if it meets your scholarship management needs, please email inquiries@awardspring.com . If you are a current customer, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team to schedule a strategy call to talk through any questions or concerns you may have.

How Colleges & Universities Can Promote Their Scholarships

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 20:11:50 GMT

The key to getting the most out of your scholarship program is to have as many qualified applicants as possible, which starts with making sure potential applicants hear about your scholarships in the first place.

Higher education institutions of all types usually have direct contact information for a pool of current and prospective students; employing classic direct marketing strategies with this captive audience is an effective way to spread the word about your program.

Direct Marketing Strategies for College & University Scholarship Programs

Marketers know that it can take between 5 and 20 touches – or experiences with a brand – before a prospective customer is ready to buy. How many times do you think a student needs to hear about a scholarship before they take the time to apply?

No matter what your answer is to that question, you can begin thinking like a direct marketer by creating as many touch points, or opportunities for prospects to hear about your scholarships, as possible.

Text and Email Campaigns

If you collect student and prospective student phone numbers and email addresses, you can send messages through both of those channels to promote scholarships. Just make sure you receive permission from students to contact them in this way. You’ll have a lot of competition in the email inbox, so you’ll need to do what the best marketers do to get results: use a concise, intriguing, and informative subject line paired with a clear and simple call to action in the email body. You may want to resend emails to those who don’t open, send regular reminders, and track your email performance to see if there are certain days and times that get better engagement than others (and amend your email schedule to suit). Text messaging generally garners better response rates but be careful: using this channel too often will annoy students and lead them to unsubscribe. If you have a student population that used to hearing from your school to their campus-issued .edu email address, you’ll likely have more success with open and click-thru rates using these addresses.

Social Media Campaigns

Social media advertising is another way you can reach students directly. Its primary benefit is that you can target a very specific market in terms of age, location, and interests. You can also fine-tune your promotions based on budget and need. For example, you can promote all of your scholarships continuously or only those scholarships that are lacking qualified applicants as the deadline nears. The key to a successful social media campaign is to check in your ads’ performance regularly to make sure you’re getting the results you want. Learn more about using social media platforms to reach prospective scholarship applicants . Remember generational differences in social media use – administrators and executives might live on Facebook and LinkedIn, but students tend to gather in places like Instagram and Twitter.

Community Outreach

If your student body tends to come from your immediate area, Senior Days and similar events in your community provide the chance for you to talk to potential applicants face to face. During your presentation, you can ask students to text a friend or two to spread the word about your scholarship opportunities. High school counselors can be a great resource, too.

Institutional Word of Mouth

Instructors have a lot of face time with students, so they’re well-positioned to promote your scholarships for you. Make sure to inform campus staff if your scholarships are available to part-time students, too. Since part-time students don’t qualify for financial aid, they may be extra motivated to apply for scholarships. Create a few images or short messages that can be shared on social media, via email, or in a printed flyer and send them to anyone who may be inclined to promote your scholarship program. This tactic is also extremely important in helping students separate the signal from the noise – they get a lot of information in email and social from the school, partners, potential employers and spam – so hearing about your scholarship program in person will support its validity and importance.

These classic direct mail strategies can help drive more awareness of your scholarship program and increase the overall number of applications you receive, which is a great first step to ensuring a successful scholarship cycle. To make sure your applicants are well qualified, read our guide to increasing qualified applicants , too.

Foundations & Corporations: Here's How to Promote Your Scholarships

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 19:05:12 GMT

Need more qualified applicants for your scholarships? The first step is to make sure your potential applicants hear about your scholarships in the first place.

For foundations, corporations, and other organizations that aren’t higher education institutions, that can be a challenge – there’s no list of current and prospective students to target. Instead, you need to rely on two time-tested strategies: raising awareness through word of mouth and creating urgency by incentivizing early applications.

Start with Word of Mouth

Word of mouth is generally considered the most effective form of marketing, so it’s our top recommendation for creating awareness about your scholarships. As soon as you’re ready to accept applications, target these groups of people to help you promote your program far and wide:

Engage past recipients to help spread the word. Prepare a short message with all important program details for previous recipients to post on social media and forward via email with their networks. Making it simple for people to share your message will increase the chances that they do.
Inform local high school guidance counselors and major employers. Guidance counselors can shepherd high school students through the application process while local employers will help you reach non-traditional students. Focus on those organizations that are likely to employ those students who meet your most specialized scholarships’ requirements. For example, if you want more applicants for a nursing scholarship, your local hospitals and major medical centers will be the best places to focus your promotion energy.
Remind your reviewers, employees, volunteers, and others at your organization. Scholarship reviewers can be enthusiastic supporters of your institution in addition to being knowledgeable about your scholarship offering, making them great scholarship advocates. Ask them and anyone else who is in the know to spread the word among their friends and family!

Stay Top of Mind with Early Bird Deadlines

Once you’ve spread the word about your scholarship program, you can ensure that everyone who heard about your scholarships completes their applications by incentivizing early submission.

Offer the chance to qualify for an additional small scholarship by applying before the early bird deadline. Motivated individuals will complete their applications early, allowing for plenty of time to troubleshoot any problems they have with the process. Plus, the early bird deadline gives you more opportunities to promote the deadlines and incentives. Make sure you have consistent messaging in places your applicants are likely to see it. Create a few images or short messages that your past recipients, local schools and employers, and reviewers, employees, and volunteers can share on social media, via email, or in a printed flyer.

By employing these two strategies, you can drive more awareness of your scholarship program and increase the overall number of applications you receive, which is a great first step to ensuring a successful scholarship cycle. To make sure your applicants are well qualified, read our guide to increasing qualified applicants , too.

AwardSpring Implementation: What to Expect

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 16:30:40 GMT

Traditional software implementations come with a negative stigma. Doesn’t it seem like software companies habitually overpromise and underdeliver? None of that is true with our system. In fact, empirical evidence and feedback from our customers shows that implementing AwardSpring is usually described as “no big deal”. So, what’s our secret?

We’re all about eliminating barriers, whether those barriers are between students and scholarships or between admins and an effective, time-saving scholarship management solution. That’s why we simplified our implementation process into three simple steps:

1. Kick off: We’ll have a kickoff call with everyone who will work within the AwardSpring platform to review your personalized implementation plan. On this call, you’ll meet the implementation manager who is dedicated to your institution throughout your entire first cycle, from the day your contract is signed through the last award that’s handed out. He or she will become an extension of your team, learning as much about your scholarship administration as your best employee.

2. Kick back: The SpringBoard team will build your site to your specifications – we do all the heavy lifting! Just give us your data in any format - spreadsheets, PDFs, web pages, etc. - and we will build a simple, clean version of your scholarship application, with check-ins along the way to make sure you’re happy with our work.

3. Get started: After a grand tour of your site and specialized training sessions using your real data, you’re ready to start accepting applications.

"The SpringBoard implementation team was extremely helpful. They were patient with me and persistent in making sure our site was configured and I was properly trained. They also did all the heavy lifting with my IT team!"

-Elizabeth Gilmer, East Georgia State College

"The ease of setup benefited both administrators and students…

They assisted us from start to finish with custom designing the system to meet our needs."

-James Trimboli, Director of Financial Aid, Niagara County Community College

All told, you’ll spend just a few hours on AwardSpring implementation, broken up into super-manageable one-hour and half-hour meetings over the course of your tailor-made on-boarding experience. Our average partner is fully transitioned to the AwardSpring platform in just 2-4 months. Have a smaller program or transition from an existing online process and you could be rolling even sooner!

After implementation, we’re here for you throughout the life of our partnership. In fact, we’ll respond to your inquiry within 30 minutes during our normal support hours. 98.8% of respondents rate their AwardSpring support experience as “good” after their issue is resolved.

Award Cycle Preparation Best Practices

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Here at AwardSpring, we’ve seen many award cycles come and go - and we’ve noticed some important preparations that can help an award cycle run like a well-oiled machine. Read on for the steps you can take right now to make your next award cycle your best yet!

Determine when your important milestones will be.

Think about the major functions and events you’ll host over the year – how does your application, review, and awarding process fit in with those dates? When should your application deadline be? When should scholarship money be distributed? Once these dates are settled, it’s much easier to work backward to determine when the application window should open, award decisions should be made, and other important scholarship activities should take place. You may want to consider breaking up a single longer cycle into two shorter ones; two shorter cycles can even overlap if necessary, with our Overlapping Cycles functionality .

Set goals for the year.

Figuring out your biggest priorities up front will help you use your time wisely throughout the award cycle. Are you still coping with retention issues after last year’s COVID-19 disruptions? (If so, here’s a guide to getting your award cycle set up in times of uncertainty.) Is recruitment an important aspect of your scholarship program? Consider requesting custom reports to help you track recruitment, retention, and more. Is equitable awarding a focus? What about your endowment - do you plan to give it all away, or reserve some portion of it for next year?

Prepare for the worst, but expect the best.

The COVID-19 pandemic was a reminder that anything can happen to derail your plans. Make sure you have a plan for maintaining your award program if something new were to go wrong on campus or in your community, or if we have to return to lockdowns this year. Your AwardSpring platform is already configured to support remote work but reviewers, administrators, and students may benefit from remote work communication tips and a reminder that they can access their accounts on any device and from anywhere.

Revisit students’ previous questions and problems.

We suggest taking a look back at last year’s biggest problems or most frequent questions to guide you towards impactful changes to make this year. Review correspondence with students, notes you took, or memories you have about any aspect of the application process that proved troublesome.

Confirm all scholarship details.

Review all of your scholarship listings for needed updates before the new award cycle begins. In particular, double check whether the award values and qualifications have changed. If you had a hard time attracting qualified applicants to a particular scholarship in years past, check out our guide on increasing qualified applicants . Making scholarship stipulations more inclusive and improving the application experience for applicants can go a long way toward getting more applicants overall.

Engage donors.

Engaging donors throughout the award cycle can ensure a strong future for your scholarship program. Before a new award cycle starts, consider reaching out to donors to discuss any changes to scholarship requirements, to thank them for their support, and to report their impact on student recipients . You can encourage direct communication between donors and students right in the AwardSpring platform to help donors truly understand the impact of their gift.

Think like a marketer.

Marketers know that it can take 8-20 “touchpoints”, or points of contact with a prospect, before converting a prospect into a customer. Consider that you may need a similar number of contacts with prospective students before you can convert them into applicants! Make sure your prospects hear from you regularly, on a variety of channels, to increase your chances of converting them. Post on social media, send out email reminders, add content to your institution’s home page, and invest in some printed marketing materials – and make sure that your messages are clear, to the point, and have simple, eye-catching calls to action.

Review and update your application.

The final step before starting a new award cycle is to make updates to your application. AwardSpring users may wish to review our previously published blog post about updating your AwardSpring site . For a complete primer specifically focused on applications, check out this guide to optimizing your application .

Optimizing Your Scholarship Application

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 05:00:00 GMT

How to Optimize Your Scholarship Application

The simpler and easier your scholarship application, the more likely students will complete it – so the key to getting more qualified applicants is making it as easy to apply as possible.

Revisiting your application every year to streamline and clarify your application questions is a great way to ensure your application is as simple as it can be. Here are some of the tactics we’ve used to help institutions create their best scholarship applications!

Debrief with your reviewers.

Ask your review committee for feedback about last year’s application. What information was most crucial? What information did they not use at all? And what questions were missing that would have helped them make decisions faster? Your reviewers’ responses will help you make changes to your application that improve the reviewing experience this year.

Imitate successful applications.

Here at AwardSpring, we’ve noticed a few trends among applications that have a high percentage of completion. These applications typically have:

Fewer than five sections. Applicants will feel less overwhelmed by a shorter set of questions, increasing the chance that they complete their applications in one sitting and reducing the risk that they step away and never return.

No more than three essays. Are your reviewers really reading every essay? For your general application, consider requiring just one essay – you can always add another one for specific scholarships.

Only one transcript requirement - the most recent one. Tracking down transcripts can be a big barrier to completion. Requiring only the most recent one makes it more likely a student will have it on hand.

Only one required letter of recommendation. Teachers and counselors are often inundated with requests during application season. Consider transforming this letter into a form to make things even easier on them!

Very specific essay prompts. Specific questions get specific answers. Moving away from prompts like “Why should you receive this scholarship?” and toward prompts like “Tell us about one significant academic, personal, or athletic achievements.” will get you the answers you’re really looking for.

In general, the most successful applications have limited requirements, specific requests, and user-friendly formats that provide students with flexibility in their answers. Adjusting your own application to meet these standards will help you gain more applicants and have a better review experience. If you ever need one-on-one recommendations on streamlining your application, contact support at support@awardspring.com – we’re always glad to help.

New This Year: A Webinar Series Just for You

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 18:24:44 GMT

Introducing Our New Educational Webinar Series

This year, we introduced a new webinar series to help you make the most of your AwardSpring setup and fine-tune the details of your scholarship program. The series includes sessions that are perfect for training new team members, refreshing your memory on how to use different AwardSpring features, and learning best practices to improve scholarship administration. Each season, we focus on the topics that are most likely to be of immediate interest to you, along with special sessions on new features and some always-needed training sessions that we’ll repeat regularly. Haven’t joined a webinar yet this year? Here are all the details about this new program:

What webinars are coming up?

Our current spring/summer series includes sessions on new administrator training, awarding, reporting, best practices for managing recommendation letters, donor configuration, scholarship configuration, and switching to review groups. ( See the full list and schedule here. )

Check your inbox for periodic announcements about new webinars. You can also access the latest schedule and sign-up in the Help Center!

What if I’m interested in a webinar but can’t attend?

You can request a recording of any of our previous webinars by emailing webinars@awardspring.com with the name or subject of the webinar you missed .

I need training on something I don’t see listed. How can I request a webinar topic?

We’d love your feedback on our webinar topics. Submit your name, organization, and idea for a future webinar at the bottom of our webinar schedule page or email webinars@awardspring.com to share your thoughts with us!

Feature Spotlight: Special Funds Applications

Wed, 26 May 2021 15:12:42 GMT

We just released a new feature designed to give you the flexibility to administer special grants and awards on demand, outside of the normal application window: Special Funds Applications.

Why are we offering Special Funds Applications?

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, many AwardSpring users needed a way to administer emergency funds and other grants to address urgent student financial needs. These awards didn’t need to be associated with an application window, didn’t require universal visibility to all students, and had no qualifications or need for the typical universal application. To accommodate these needs, we gave customers access to a free second site just for emergency awards. But there were some drawbacks to this; administrators needed a separate login for the second site and didn’t receive alerts. So we knew that we’d need a more elegant, easy-to-use solution. Now we’ve built it!

Special Funds Applications are a paid feature, but we wanted to keep things simple. Pricing will be as follows:

1 Special Funds Application for $1,200/year
2 Special Funds Applications for $2,400/year
Unlimited Special Funds Applications for $3,600/year

There are a few benefits to adding Special Funds Applications to your AwardSpring platform:

Data sharing: Now you can pull in relevant student data from your general application to make it even easier on student applicants.
Single login: All awards, including those that use Special Funds Applications, will be accessible in your main dashboard.
Notifications: Since the awards that use Special Funds Applications are typically very time-sensitive, you will now receive email notifications as soon as a Special Funds Application is received.

When should you use Special Funds Applications?

This new feature was inspired by emergency awards, but it can be used for other types of awards, too. Consider using a Special Funds Application when you need to award:

Quickly, or outside of a normal application window
A specific student, rather than the best candidate from a pool of qualified students
Outside of your normal qualifications process
Based on factors that are not covered in the general application

If you collect data in your general app that is relevant for Special Funds Applications, such as income, you can pull that data in automatically from your universal application in addition to presenting new, unique questions.

How do students gain access to the Special Funds Applications?

There are three ways to give access to Special Funds Applications:

1. Allow all students to see it in their dashboard by default
2. Allow students access via their dashboard only if they have a special code (given by an administrator, faculty member, or guidance counselor)
3. On an individual, as-needed basis, with access controlled by the administrator

Can I have multiple Special Funds Applications at once?

Yes. Once you activate the paid Special Funds Applications feature, you can have as many of them as you’d like active at the same time.

Are there restrictions on when I can open Special Funds Applications?

Yes. You must have an active award cycle in order to open a Special Funds Application. However, you can open a Special Funds Application at any stage of your award cycle – application, review, or awarding. Special Funds Applications do not require an open application window to be made available to students.

Contact Julie Semyck at jsemyck@awardspring.com or schedule a meeting with her directly We’ll send you a service order to add the desired number of Special Funds Scholarships to your site.

If you’re already paying for a second site in AwardSpring, please reach out and we can discuss adding Special Funds to your main site if you’d like to consolidate your programs.

A Guide to Equitable Awarding

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 20:29:37 GMT

Education has never been more essential to securing a good job, but it’s also never been more expensive to attain.

Scholarships are a particularly vital resource for students of certain socioeconomic backgrounds and can contribute to equity (or a lack thereof) in representation across majors and, eventually, careers. But the very students who need scholarships the most commonly face a variety of barriers to overcome before securing one. For these reasons, we believe it’s more important than ever to make scholarship access as equitable as possible. We’re committed to helping institutions increase access to scholarships, make equitable awarding decisions, and track their progress toward true equity across their program. Here are the actions that we recommend to administrators with the same commitment:

Before you award:

Use inclusive language when configuring your application . If students feel that they don’t have a right answer when applying, they may abandon the task altogether and miss out on a scholarship they really needed.
Simplify requirements for targeted scholarships . If you have a “Women in STEM” scholarship, you’ll get even fewer applicants if you require two essays and two letters of recommendation for that specific scholarship. Simplifying requirements means more applicants and more equitable awarding.
Get peace of mind with automated matching . With AwardSpring, you can rest assured that none of your applicants avoided applying because they don’t think they’re “good enough”; every applicant is automatically matched to the opportunities for which they qualify. This feature also levels the playing field to ensure that requirements are applied consistently across all applicants.
Use the available additional fields on your recommendation requests . If you simplify recommendation request fields using similar language and discrete scoring, you can reduce the impact of a poorly written recommendation that shouldn’t reflect badly on the applicant. Ask us for help; we’ve made recommendations on this for a number of our partners.
Target outreach toward communities with known equity gaps . Reach out to the schools, clubs, and other organizations that might not otherwise find out about your program to advertise your scholarships to potential applicants.

As you review and award:

Use reviewer blinding . This is a best practice that can reduce bias in the assessment process.

Use a consistent scoring rubric across applicants for a specific scholarship . We recommend against any kind of “discretionary points” in rubrics as they introduce the potential for bias and discrimination.
Rely more heavily on reviewer scores to make awarding decisions . There are always external variables to take into account, but enacting policies that ensure all applicants receive an award or admit administrator discretion in the process can lead to bias. Combined with the review recommendations above, prioritizing reviewer scores over all else can lead to more equitable outcomes.
Create a custom report that aggregates awards based on demographic data. This allows you to see how you’re performing long-term against benchmarks and goals for equitable awarding.

We’re always happy to talk with you one-on-one to discuss ways to make your program more equitable. Just email us at support@awardspring.com for help.

Feature Spotlight: Reviewer Blinding

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 17:32:30 GMT

Did you know that you can hide any student application response from your reviewers?

With our new Review Groups functionality, blinding information from reviewers has never been easier, and we recommend doing so broadly and often. Here’s how and why you should do it:

Why blind information from reviewers?

There are three main reasons for reviewer blinding:

1. It keeps reviewers focused on the responses and information that really matter. Blinding application responses that aren’t essential to an award decision is a great way to save time and keep reviewers on task. Many reviewers are only occasional AwardSpring users, so limiting the information they need to process can simplify their experience, eliminate possible sources of confusion, and set them up for the most success.
2. It protects sensitive student information. It’s rare for a reviewer to truly need to know an applicant’s demographic or personal information, so we strongly recommend blinding this information whenever possible to maintain student privacy.
3. It eliminates bias. Basic information such as a student’s name can also signal gender, ethnicity, and age. And studies have shown that revealing an individual’s name can result in bias that impacts hiring, housing, and bidding decisions. While scholarship reviews are ultimately subjective, eliminating as much bias as possible can bring more objectivity to the process.

How can I blind applicant responses?

If you have Review Groups set up, you can blind different information for each of your groups. Simply go to the Blinding tab for a given group and check the box to blind applicant name and email only, or select application questions from the dropdown list to blind individual questions. Repeat this process for each of your Review Groups to ensure that each group only has access to the information that’s truly necessary to make an award decision.

This Is the Year to Maximize Fund Distribution

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 18:15:27 GMT

Student enrollment was down in 2020, especially for two-year community colleges , and there’s still a lot of uncertainty about what to expect in 2021. But that uncertainty shouldn’t leave administrators like you feeling powerless. There’s something you can do right now to optimize 2021 enrollment: make sure you’re distributing every last scholarship dollar . It’s scholarship review season for many institutions, which means it’s the perfect time to make the strategic awarding decisions that will entice as many students as possible to enroll this fall. (Check out this previous blog post for more fund maximization tactics.)

O n top of getting every last dollar distributed to your students, you should take the time to coordinate a communication plan with your admissions, financial aid, and retention teams. Make sure your prospective and returning students know how hard you're working for them behind the scenes, if you're distributing more money, and if emergency aid or other grants are available. With admissions and retention staff sharing updates about this year's scholarship program, transparency around funding can either expedite enrollment decisions for incoming freshmen or give peace of mind to those returning students.

Administrators, now is the time to set yourselves up for enrollment success. If you want one-on-one advice about how to boost enrollment this year, the AwardSpring support team is always here for you. Just send a note at support@awardspring.com .

Feature Spotlight: Review Groups

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 16:14:51 GMT

With AwardSpring’s Review Groups, you’ll save both time and effort with every review you set up. Create as many teams of reviewers as you’d like, for as many or as few scholarships as you want, and all of the applicants for those scholarships will funnel to the same reviewers.

Here’s an example of how it will work. Let’s say your institution has 50 scholarships. Of those, 20 are general scholarships that can share a review team. Another 15 scholarships are specifically for your nursing program, so they require a separate review group made up of subject matter experts. An additional 14 business school scholarships require yet another team of subject matter experts. And then there’s one final scholarship with unique requirements, including a special reviewer (who only ever reviews applicants for this scholarship). Review Groups allows you to set up four distinct teams to accommodate all of these scholarships in the most efficient way possible.

There are three other new improvements that you’ll see when you switch to Review Groups:

Reviewer Instructions:

Now you can add instructions that every reviewer will see in the “Details” tab.

Instructions are specific to each group, so you can give different instructions to each of your review groups.

Blinding Tabs:

In the past, you could hide applicant information from all reviewers on a global basis.

Now you have the flexibility to set different blinding decisions for each review team.

Score Detail Report:

A new report breaks down each applicant score in more detail than before,

so you can see how each reviewer scored each part of an application.

You can also watch our full webinar on Review Groups here:

Have questions about setting up Review Groups? Reach out to our support team at support@awardspring.com . Want to know more about how easy it is to review applications with AwardSpring? Just get in touch with us at sales@awardspring.com and we’ll be happy to answer your questions.

You Asked For It, We Built It: Why We Enabled Overlapping Cycles

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 18:06:10 GMT

Our scholarship management solution offers lots of flexibility within an award cycle, but many administrators wanted more.

The most requested update of the past few years has been to add the ability to start a new cycle while one is in progress. When we originally built the platform, we made a conscious decision not to enable Overlapping Cycles in order to keep the experience as simple and straightforward as possible for all users. We find that one of our core responsibilities is to make the complex, nuanced scholarship management process as simple as possible, and we’re all about that. But it’s important to us to listen to our customers and do our best in giving customers what they want when we can find a compelling solution that retains our commitment to simplicity . That’s why we finally released Overlapping Cycles in January 2021 , with subtleties that preserve a simple and easy user experience for students and reviewers.

Overlapping Cycles allows you to start a new cycle while your current one is in the review or award stage. There are two main reasons why we finally built it:

To give administrators more workflow control. Now you can work on fine-tuning your next cycle while current one is in progress.
To help administrators accommodate the needs of different schools or divisions that have different award cycle timelines.

Our competitors also have this feature, but our version is more thoughtfully designed for an excellent user experience. We designed Overlapping Cycles so that applicants are never exposed to more than one application period at a time and reviewers are never exposed to more than one review period at a time. This keeps AwardSpring as simple and straightforward as it’s ever been for students and reviewers, who are our most infrequent users, and ensures administrators won’t have to field any new questions from confused applicants and colleagues.

We’re committed to improving our platform to serve your needs better. If you have a feature request, email us at support@awardspring.com – we’d love to hear it!

Two-Year School Enrollment: 2020 Data & What to Expect in 2021

Mon, 04 Jan 2021 16:36:59 GMT

As 2020 draws to a close, we’re finally getting data about how truly strange the year has been.

Naturally, we’ve been particularly interested in seeing how colleges and universities have fared this year. And it was a surprise to see that student enrollment was down for two-year schools. Many of us expected to see an increase this year, as a weaker economy generally translates to greater enrollment in two-year schools. The timing and impact of the pandemic led us to expect that many students who had planned to attend four-year institutions would reconsider and enroll in community and junior colleges instead, as proximity to the family home and the prospect of significant cost savings in a turbulent economic climate could make local schools a smarter investment. But that’s not what happened.

The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reports that of all higher education institutions, community colleges endured the largest decline in undergrad enrollment in 2020, at 10.1% - a nearly ninefold increase of the losses experienced in fall of 2019. Of all measures of post-secondary and master’s students at two-year, four-year, non-profit, and for-profit schools, the steepest decline in enrollment was among freshmen at two-year schools at 18.9%, almost 19 times the pre-pandemic loss rate. Demographically, the biggest losses were among Native American, Hispanic, and Black students, and the decline in male enrollment was almost three times as high as the decline in female enrollment.

In our view, these figures reflect the unevenness of the pandemic’s impact on employment across America. Low-income families, whose members are most likely to pursue an affordable education at a two-year school as a path out of poverty, also experienced the most job loss this year. For this population, even a small reduction in income can make the difference between attending school and postponing for another year or two. Affluent families with breadwinners who can easily work from home may have actually saved money this year, as entertainment spending declined but salaries remained largely the same. These families had no economic reason to reconsider their educational plans.

Change is on the horizon, and we’re optimistic about what it means for two-year schools. The incoming Biden/Harris administration has demonstrated an interest in managing the pandemic more seriously than the current administration, which could accelerate a return to safe gatherings that stimulate spending. Plans to vaccinate the general public for COVID-19 in 2021 also suggest the potential for a return to life that’s more like what we experienced pre-pandemic. If previously lost jobs come back, or if the Biden administration provides stronger economic support to working families, new income could result in a return to educational pursuits that had been put on hold. And there’s reason to believe that more students will choose two-year schools over four-year schools: our incoming First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, is a major advocate for community colleges. The cost of four-year tuition continues to rise. And we expect an increased demand for workers with associate’s degrees, particularly in health care, coupled with a smaller pool of graduates. These factors are likely to drive renewed interest in two-year degrees amongst potential students of all ages.

One way you can prepare for what 2021 will bring is to partner with AwardSpring. When enrollment is down, you’ll appreciate the time and cost savings that AwardSpring gives you, so you can redirect funds and energy to your highest priority goals. Plus, our easy-to-use universal application helps you capture those students who would have left a paper application unfinished; two-year schools typically see a 50% increase in applications with our platform. When enrollment is high, our solution maximizes your award distribution, helping you make the case for more funds from your donors and driving more growth over time. Learn more about how AwardSpring can help your institution manage its scholarship program.

Why "Right Now" Is the Perfect Time

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 19:43:51 GMT

If you’re unhappy with your paper-based scholarship management process or software solution, what has held you back from making a change? For many, it’s timing. It just never seems to be the right time to evaluate new options and embark on an implementation. There’s always too much to do, some bigger priority, or a sense of being overwhelmed before even beginning the process.

We’ve all felt it. But the truth is, the best time to make a change like this is NOW - no matter what else is going on. Here’s why:

Easiest Implementation Ever:

We’ve carefully structured our Springboard implementation experience to make it as simple and carefree for you as possible. We train you using your real data, so all of your scholarships are set up exactly the way you want once training is over. The whole process takes about two to four months*. During that time, we’re doing all the data entry, so you can keep on managing scholarships exactly the way you always have - no interruptions. All told, you’ll personally spend about just a few hours on AwardSpring implementation , broken up into super-manageable one-hour and half-hour meetings over the course of a few months

"The SpringBoard implementation team was extremely helpful. They were patient with me and persistent in making sure our site was configured and I was properly trained. They also did all the heavy lifting with my IT team!"

-Elizabeth Gilmer, East Georgia State College

Painless implementation is just the first step. Once you’re up and running, you can expect several benefits right away, but there are two that really make it worth the effort to get to this stage as quickly as possible.

Cost Savings & Efficiency

AwardSpring customers typically save 20–30% when they switch from a competitor. On top of that, adding AwardSpring’s universally beloved support team to your process is like adding another full-time employee at no extra cost. With a new online process, office supply costs - on paper, ink, even staples - are reduced. Best of all, administrators can expect to spend 50% less time on scholarship management once they’re using AwardSpring ; that’s 80+ hours per year for the average 2-year school administrator. Freeing up that time creates the opportunity to focus on more important, interesting work while saving more money than our platform costs!

"Because everything is more streamlined and efficient, I’m able to spend more time being innovative, creative, and entrepreneurial in working toward our overall program goals."

-Nicole Ferris, Pierce College

At AwardSpring, we've been intentional about creating the easiest path possible to better scholarship administration. If you're ready to save time and money on scholarship management, there's no time like the present!

* 2-4 months is our average implementation timeline for a typical customer. Your timing may vary depending on the size and complexity of your program

Institutions We Serve: 4-Year Colleges & Universities

Mon, 02 Nov 2020 15:49:58 GMT

Traditional colleges and universities often have large student bodies and complex scholarship programs, so our scholarship management solution can make life a lot easier for everyone involved. Admins at four-year colleges that use AwardSpring report that the platform makes it possible to centralize and streamline a host of processes, saving time, effort, and expense.

Here are just a few of the specific ways our solution has helped our college and university administrator customers:

Improved retention & enrollment: Our easy-to-use student application reduces barriers to completion, resulting in double the application volume. With a larger pool of qualified students, administrators can award every scholarship available and ensure they have the most attractive admission offer possible. Once enrolled, students with scholarships are more likely to graduate than peers without; data from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS) shows that students with scholarships have about 15% higher graduation rates.

“ We have seen our application numbers grow from the hundreds to the thousands –

and we continue to see an upsurge every year.”

-Taya Flores, Scholarship Director & Student Affairs Senior Financial Officer, Utah State University

Reduced time spent on scholarship administration by 50%: With AwardSpring, reviewers and administrators spend about 50% less time on scholarship tasks. That significant time savings can be spent on more impactful work, accelerating progress against institutional goals and improving quality of life for employees. Our solution’s dashboard, reports, and review interface all help scholarship admins make faster, better decisions, with no risk of human error.
Full support for every working environment. From the very beginning, every AwardSpring process was designed to be mobile- and WFH-friendly. That’s been especially useful this year, when many four-year colleges moved to a remote working model. Seamless integration with every Student Information System (SIS) ensures that data is always up-to-date. And if admins ever have a question, our incredible support team is always available to help. Most software support teams are happy to hand over documentation in response to a question, but AwardSpring’s staff goes way beyond that. We’ll actually log into an admin’s account and screen-share exactly how to fix an issue or tackle a task, so that the solution is clearly understood.

“Since we started using AwardSpring, we’ve added 100 scholarships and doubled the money awarded to students,

from $846K to $1.4M – and we no longer have any unused funds.

With AwardSpring, scholarships have gone from being a chore to being a blessing! ”

-Tracy Monin, Fiscal Support Analyst & Scholarship Coordinator, University of Arkansas

Learn More >

Institutions We Serve: Education Foundations

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 19:49:09 GMT

Foundation scholarships are an important source of educational funding for many students. That’s just one reason we’re always thrilled to onboard a new foundation to our platform. Another reason? Our platform and support can make a huge positive impact on a foundation’s scholarship program , creating efficiencies that ultimately result in bigger endowments and more time for foundations to focus on their mission. We see this as a net good for everyone – at the foundation, the school, and in the community.

We’ve been fortunate to work with many different foundations, each with its own unique service model. Most are education foundations, connected to primary through post-secondary schools. Some support community organizations. And others, like the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations (CFEF), are unique coalitions of many education foundations. Each foundation pursues different student profiles for their giving; some give to students on a specific career path, for example, while others may give based on need. Despite the differences between the foundations we support, we’ve found that each one has benefited from working with us. In part, that’s because we really understand and appreciate their mission to give ; that’s the first step to providing the kind of support that makes a difference. But our platform is also built in a way that truly serves foundations.

Here are just a few ways that education foundations benefit from our scholarship management solution:

Pricing : Our pricing model accommodates all sizes of foundation scholarship offerings . Those foundations with just one to five awards are well served by our AwardSpring NOW platform, with affordable monthly pricing. AwardSpring PRO has competitive pricing for foundations with more than five scholarships. And if a foundation has hundreds of scholarships, they too will find a cost-effective solution with us.

Partnership : Foundations are generally short-staffed or run by volunteers, which can make it challenging to run a scholarship program well. Partnering with AwardSpring is like scaling up your scholarship team; our staff is extremely knowledgeable and hands-on, helping our foundation customers build and scrutinize their programs to make them more efficient. Over time, foundations can leverage the time and energy savings they accrue to focus on other endeavors, like growing their gift-giving funnels and engaging donors. Working with us is like adding a full-time employee while removing operational overhead , increasing efficiency, and adding more institutional knowledge.

Platform : We have a host of platform features that help foundations increase the efficiency of their application collection, review, and scoring processes, which creates opportunity for better decision-making and data usage. And since applying for scholarships is so easy on our platform, foundations can expect to increase their applicant count significantly . A higher applicant count is the key first step to growing an endowment; with more applicants, foundation administrators have the momentum they need to ask donors for more funds.

“At the Foundation, we have seen a dramatic increase in the overall number of applications we receive. AwardSpring has drastically cut down on the time and effort required from all parties involved with the process. AwardSpring has also helped us generate more donors and illustrate our involvement to the community… I’ll just say that we couldn’t be where we are now and on our way to where we are headed without AwardSpring.”

- Karen McDonald, Board Member & Treasurer, Scholarship Foundation of Northshore

Support in a Crisis: How AwardSpring Helps Institutions Overcome COVID-19 Challenges

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 18:54:52 GMT

In March of 2020, the swift and extensive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic took our whole nation by surprise. Here at AwardSpring, we realized right away that students and higher education institutions would soon face a multi-faceted crisis unlike any they’d ever seen before. Students from out of state - or country - had to make fast, difficult decisions about whether to stay on campus or go home. Many schools had to retool their curricula to support distanced learning. And there was a real danger that the most vulnerable students, the ones who were pursuing an education as a path out of poverty, would have the most trouble staying in school if and when unemployment impacted their own households. Eventually, the CARES Act earmarked $4.5B for higher education student need, and schools also stepped up to provide their own emergency funding. But we recognized that the management of those funds would be another burden on administrators who were already pivoting in so many ways to cope with this crisis.

At AwardSpring, we saw it as both a responsibility and a privilege to find a way to alleviate the anxiety and stress of our customers and the students they serve during this exceptionally difficult time. As a team, we decided that the biggest, most difficult problem we could solve was the administration of emergency funds. Our platform makes it easy for administrators to collaborate remotely and for students to access or apply for funds from wherever they end up quarantining. So we quickly built a workflow that would allow us to create a second AwardSpring site for our customers at a much faster pace than usual, designed to manage distributions both efficiently and easily, with the least amount of effort on the administrators’ part. By offering this second site for free for 90 days, we eliminated the most common barrier to adoption for most institutions. About 10% of our customers took advantage of this free second site; half of those decided to keep it long-term. We even extended the free second site option to all schools, even those that are not our customers, in the spirit of helping as many people as possible.

“We are now working from home and about the only thing happening as planned is our scholarship award cycle. That is important for our students as they can see some type of light at the end of this crazy tunnel.”

– Current Technical College User

At a difficult time, the AwardSpring team rallied together to make a difference in the lives of administrators and students, and I couldn’t be more proud of their diligence, hard work, and empathy. Of course, the pandemic is far from over; many schools are still deciding how to keep students engaged and progressing toward their goals this fall. And so we are still supporting all schools, whether they’re customers or not, by offering a free emergency fund distribution site for 90 days. If you are interested in this, please get in touch . And if you have any other suggestions on how we can support you this school year, let us know!

One Less Thing to Worry About This Year: Scholarship Administration

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 15:46:22 GMT

Worried About Scholarship Administration This School Year? Don’t Be.

We’re all facing one of the most disruptive academic years in our memory. Many administrators are now undertaking a host of brand-new procedures to keep campuses safe, including dealing with concerns like PPE, remote learning, and interactions between staff and students. It’s a lot to manage and learn in a short period of time! All of us at AwardSpring just want to say two things: thank you for all you’re doing, and please rest assured that scholarship management will be easier than ever this year.

If you’re an existing customer of ours, you’re already well equipped for managing the scholarship process while adhering to social distancing guidelines. You never have to be in the same room as your colleagues, reviewers, or students to award scholarships; everyone can contribute to his or her part of the process from home. You can engage your donors through the platform to keep up with fundraising needs. And many of you have already taken advantage of our offer to create a free second site for emergency funds, so disbursement can be managed more easily. (If you haven’t taken advantage yet, get in touch - we’d be happy to set one up now!)

If you’re already using a SaaS scholarship management platform like AwardSpring, there are a few things you can do right now so you can rest easy during the busy first few weeks of this upcoming school year:

• Set up your next award cycle early, including all deadlines, scholarship changes or additions, and fund availability, so that you’re not scrambling at the last minute while managing any other challenges the pandemic may pose.

• Communicate early and often with your students; marketing your awards is more important than ever this year.

• Set expectations with donors about what will happen with their funds this year. Donors are living through the same uncertainty you are, and they’ll appreciate the early guidance!

• Choose reviewers as early as possible and encourage them to start their review process earlier than usual. We’ll all have new distractions this year, so the extra time will help ensure you can still meet deadlines.

Taking steps now to get your scholarship management process moving will allow you to stay nimble amongst all the other uncertainty that’s waiting for you this year.

Not a customer of ours? Feeling overwhelmed about what lies ahead? We can help. There’s still time to get set up on our platform before the school year starts, so that you, your students, and everyone else involved in scholarship administration can apply for and award scholarships remotely. We’ll even give you a free emergency fund site now , no strings attached.

How AwardSpring Maximizes Fund Utilization

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 19:12:27 GMT

Do you want to enroll more students? Retain more of the students you have? Increase your scholarship offering or donor investment? A simple way to improve upon a host of institutional benchmarks like these is to maximize your scholarship fund utilization. And AwardSpring was designed with several features that help administrators and institutions do just that.

There are three main ways that AwardSpring can help your institution award all of its scholarship dollars:

1. Increasing Your Applicant Pool

The student interface is simple and easy to use, which helps nudge more students to finish their application. Simply using AwardSpring can more than double your application volume, which means you’re much more likely to find an excellent candidate for each of your awards. (To make sure those applicants are well qualified, check out some of our tips in this blog post .)

2. Collecting & Centralizing Critical Student Information

Making the best possible award decisions is about more than just identifying the most qualified candidates. You also need to understand how your award decisions impact your institutional goals. For example, if one of your goals is to cover as much financial need as possible, then financial need should be a focus of your application. Make sure that you’re asking the right questions of your applicants so that you can make better awarding decisions down the line. AwardSpring’s flexible application gives you many options for soliciting information from applicants, and centralizing that information in AwardSpring allows you to use the platform’s tools to visualize and understand that data – leading to a fuller picture of your applicant pool and better decision-making (see below!).

3. Making Strategic Award Decisions

With AwardSpring, administrators have total control over which scholarships they award first, and we can recommend a strategy to ensure that all of your scholarship dollars are awarded to as many students as possible. Start the award process with the scholarship that has the most stringent qualifications and/or the fewest applicants. Then, award the next-toughest scholarship, and so on, until you make your way to the scholarships with plenty of applicant options. AwardSpring will identify the top applicant for each scholarship for you; you’ll also be able to see if that student has already been selected for one of your less accessible awards. If so, you can choose a different recipient to spread more of your scholarship dollars across a larger population.

“Since we started using AwardSpring, we’ve added 100 scholarships and doubled the money awarded to students, from $846K to $1.4M–and we no longer have any unused funds.”

-Tracy Monin, Fiscal Support Analyst at University of Central Arkansas Foundation, Inc.

Distributing all of your scholarship money each year is a strong sign that your scholarship program is running efficiently, which makes it easier to ask donors for more. With AwardSpring, you can create a feedback loop of utilizing all of your scholarship funds, telling that story (with hard data!) to donors to grow endowments, utilizing your new endowments to their fullest, and starting the cycle over again until you meet your institution’s financial goals.

If you aren’t yet using AwardSpring to maximize fund utilization, contact us at sales@awardspring.com to find out how AwardSpring could transform your scholarship process. Customers with questions about maximizing their fund utilization can always email us at support@awardspring.com for help.

How We Built AwardSpring NOW

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 06:00:00 GMT

Did you know that there are two different versions of the AwardSpring platform?

AwardSpring PRO is our main platform, used by both big and small schools to manage scholarship programs with more than five scholarships.

AwardSpring NOW is a version made for foundations, businesses, and small organizations with five or fewer scholarships to administer. Since most scholarship management platforms focus on bigger schools (with bigger budgets), we saw an opportunity to create something that would help smaller organizations get all the benefits of our platform, without paying big bucks for it.

When we designed AwardSpring NOW, our goal was to preserve the features that made the biggest impact and were of greatest utility to small foundations and organizations - and then lose the rest. We knew this would simplify the software and make it even more manageable for administrators who may not be well-versed in scholarship administration. It would also reduce the price to a point where it made good financial sense for any organization with more than one scholarship to manage.

Our conversations with administrators from small foundations and organizations revealed four main problems with their scholarship management process that we could alleviate:

1. Too much overhead or effort involved in matching students to scholarships

For a small team, manually matching incoming applications to the right opportunities is a burdensome enterprise. AwardSpring NOW totally eliminates this step by automatically matching students to the opportunities for which they’re qualified.

2. Lack of expertise in scholarship administration

At smaller organizations, scholarship management is usually just one aspect of a person’s job, which means they have many other priorities and obligations. By partnering with AwardSpring, all administrators get access to our team’s knowledge and experience in addition to our platform.

3. Tracking down and collating application materials from applicants

Contacting applicants for essays, letters of recommendation, transcripts and other documents can take up a lot of time and energy. By requiring these documents within the AwardSpring NOW application, administrators no longer spend any time at all on this frustrating part of the job.

4. Low volume of applications

AwardSpring NOW is designed to be super simple for students to use, which makes it easier and more likely that students will actually finish their applications. Administrators can expect to see 50%+ more applications when they switch to AwardSpring NOW.

By focusing the AwardSpring NOW platform on solving these main problems, we’ve created a solution that has everything smaller foundations need - and nothing that they don’t. At $99 per month for one scholarship, plus $29 for each additional scholarship, it’s a small investment that should pay dividends in time savings and scholarship program growth.

If you administer five or fewer scholarships, you can try AwardSpring NOW for two weeks for FREE before committing. Start your trial now.

Why We Created AwardSpring NOW

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 06:00:00 GMT

When we first created AwardSpring, we had just one version that was built to serve schools with robust scholarship offerings. But we soon realized that there were many small schools, foundations, and organizations with just one or two scholarships - and there just wasn’t a scholarship management solution that made sense for them. These folks didn’t need all the bells and whistles that larger schools expect, but they still invested a lot of time and effort in scholarship management that could be better spent elsewhere. In fact, small organizations with few scholarships are more likely to have ad hoc scholarship management processes run by individuals who only do it as part of their job rather than dedicated staff. Creating an organized and effective process in that environment can be really tough, and there are no benefits of scale when administering so few scholarships.

So we wondered - could we create a version of our solution that served the needs of these smaller organizations while bringing the price down to a level that made financial sense for them?

In 2017, we did. AwardSpring NOW is a slimmed-down version of our PRO software for smaller schools, foundations, and professional organizations with five or fewer scholarship opportunities. By whittling our PRO version features to just the essentials, we were able to bring the price down to just $99 per month for one scholarship, plus $29 per month for each additional scholarship. Now small schools and foundations can eliminate significant overhead, increase their number of applicants, and benefit from our expert guidance and assistance to make their scholarship programs more effective - and they don’t need to break the bank to do it.

At AwardSpring, our ultimate goal is to help more students get the scholarships they need. AwardSpring NOW makes it possible for us to partner with small schools and foundations to do just that.

To learn more about AwardSpring NOW’s features and benefits, read this post by our COO, Daniel Orofino.

Feature Spotlight: Budget Calculator

Mon, 21 Oct 2019 22:00:00 GMT

Have you ever found that an “official” financial aid calculation doesn’t accurately capture a student’s financial circumstances? If your institution factors financial need into awarding decisions, then it’s critical that you find a way to properly assess each applicant’s finances. AwardSpring’s newest feature, the Budget Calculator, is designed to help you do just that.

The Budget Calculator is a simple, customizable calculator that documents a student’s incoming and outgoing funds to establish cash flow - and financial need. When the Budget Calculator is activated, students will see it within the application flow. There are two sections to the calculator, initially named “Resources” and “Expenses” (administrators can rename these sections if desired). The “Resources” section is designed to include fields like income, scholarships, grants, and parental or spousal contributions. The “Expenses” section is designed to include fields like housing, groceries, utilities, and child care. Administrators can create, label, and customize as many fields as they like under each section. In addition, administrators can provide introductory and field instructions as needed.

We expect the Budget Calculator to be particularly useful in areas with high costs of living, where government estimates aren’t always accurate. You may also want to use the Budget Calculator if you suspect that your students’ EFC numbers aren’t telling the full story. You can always add the Budget Calculator for a cycle or two to see if it helps you make better awarding decisions. If you already use a different method of assessing student financial need, you don’t have to replace that method with this calculator - just use both, and see if you get any new insights!

If you’d like to try the Budget Calculator, we recommend adding it between award cycles. Contact us at support@awardspring.com and we’ll be happy to walk you through the configuration.

Want to learn more?

Join our Budget Calculator Webinar:

Screen Share Link: Click Here

Audio by Phone: 1-773-231-9226

Use Code: 911 234 9065#

Feature Spotlight: Custom Fields

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 05:00:00 GMT

AwardSpring administrators now have a simple way to add more information to scholarship records with our newest feature: custom fields. With custom fields, you can track and report on any data that’s important to you and your institution - and you have control over how that information appears in each scholarship record. Read on for more details about this new feature.

What kinds of custom fields can I add to my scholarship record?
In the “Details” tab of each scholarship record, you can add fields like:

- Additional Fund ID
- Scholarship Type
- Endowed Account
- Renewable
- College Designation
- Selection Committee

What custom field formats are available?
You can require a single response, multiple responses (as many as you’d like), an open-ended response, or a numeric response. That way, you can customize fields to your precise specifications.

Do custom field responses influence AwardSpring functionality in any way?
Your custom fields will be attached to the scholarship record only as additional data. They will not have an impact on eligibility, follow-ups, or any other AwardSpring functions.

What is the benefit of adding custom fields to my scholarship records?
If your previous paper or spreadsheet method of scholarship management included more details about your scholarships than your AwardSpring site does, now you can get back to tracking that data. You can also run reports on this information. To set up a custom report that includes data from your custom fields, email support@awardspring.com with the details of your request and we’ll be happy to set it up for you.

Click here if you'd like to see a video overview of the new custom fields functionality.

Feature Spotlight: Award & Deny

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 05:00:00 GMT

Once all of your scholarship applications have been reviewed, it’s time to make award decisions - and AwardSpring makes it so simple to find the perfect candidate. Here’s how to make the most of the options and information available in the Award & Deny tab of your AwardSpring application, so you and your donors can be certain you’ve made the very best award decisions!

The Applicant Table

Each applicant to a given scholarship appears in an applicant table located in the Award/Deny tab. By default, you’ll see columns that list each applicant’s average reviewer score and the amount of money already awarded. Hover over the average reviewer score to see a breakdown of each individual reviewer score. You can add new column to reveal information that will be important to your award decision. Answers to any questions asked on your application can be added here, and you can add as many new columns as you’d like.

Filtering Applicants

Once you have customized all of the information you need, you can add parameters around that information to narrow down your list of applicants. For example, you may wish to only award students with a specific major, a GPA over 3.5, or those who have indicated that they have a financial need. (This is a great time to filter based on your donors’ preferences!) Use the “Add Filter” button to add as many filtering criteria as you’d like; once your filters are applied, any candidates who do not meet the requirements will be removed from the list.

Selecting Your Candidates

With filters in place, your applicant table is now full of the very best candidates for your scholarship. Clicking the arrows in each column header will sort the table by that header; this can help you see, for example, the least-awarded students or best-reviewed students rise to the top of the list. Once you’ve chosen the best candidate, click “Award” in the Action column for every student you wish to award. You can then click the arrow to the left of the Action header to deny all non-awarded students, or you can go down the list and manually choose “Deny” for each non-awarded student.

If you ever have questions about how to use the Award & Deny features, or if you’d like a refresher training course, just send us a note at support@awardspring.com and we’ll be glad to help!

Feature Spotlight: Student Integration Engine

Wed, 22 May 2019 05:00:00 GMT

Only about 40% of AwardSpring customers take advantage of one of our most powerful features: the Student Integration Engine. So, what does it do? And how does it benefit institutions and scholarship administrators?

#1: It maintains accurate student data.

By pulling student data from your backend system, you no longer have to rely on students to provide accurate data during the application process.

#2: It keeps data in sync across multiple platforms.

With our Student Integration Engine, you can pull information like a student’s major, class schedule, or GPA directly into AwardSpring. Use that data to maintain a student’s scholarship eligibility and you’ll eliminate a few administrative tasks for yourself!

#3: It makes the application process even easier.

Populating your application with student data points from your SIS can dramatically reduce the time it takes a student to finish applying. In fact, if you can import a large volume of data points, you may be able to eliminate the application process altogether! Just let AwardSpring become your decision engine and match students to awards. Simple scholarships with no additional requirements will not necessitate any further action on the students’ part; if there are additional requirements, students can simply respond to those questions and essay prompts without re-entering any of the data that was pulled from the SIS.

Our Student Integration Engine can be added at any time for a one-time integration fee and a small annual maintenance fee. If you’re interested in learning more about our Student Integration Engine or would like to add it, simply contact us at support@awardspring.com .

Making Informed Scholarship Management Decisions with Report Data

Tue, 14 May 2019 05:00:00 GMT

Have you fully explored AwardSpring’s reporting capabilities? If not, you should know that the information available within our standard and custom reports can reveal important statistics about your application, awarding decisions, review process, and applicants - all of which you can use to track trends over time or improve the management your scholarship program. Follow our guide to discover which reports to run (or ask for) to help you track and achieve your most important goals.

Improving Your Application

We recommend revisiting and optimizing your application after every award cycle, and our Student Answers report will help you understand what exactly should be updated. This report will show you which sections of your application were left incomplete by each applicant. Notice a particular section that was abandoned often? You might need to edit the question, change the format, or even eliminate it altogether to boost application completeness in the next award cycle.

The Qualified Students Report is another standard report you can use to glean information that will improve your application. This report shows you all of the students who were qualified for, but not applied to, a given scholarship. Run this report to look for trends - you may need to re-enable auto-apply or reduce your qualification requirements if you have a large number of qualified-but-unapplied students for a particular scholarship.

Refining Your Review Process

First, ensure that your application includes questions that are relevant to your goals and targets, so that the relevant responses are picked up in reports. For example, if gender parity is a focus of your donors or organization, be sure to ask a question about gender on your application! (And remember, any question you ask can always be blinded from reviewers later - so you don’t need to avoid asking questions that could potentially introduce bias to the review process.)

Ask us for a custom report that overlays your reviewer scores with demographic data to assess whether your review process is fair and unbiased. If you notice preferential scoring for specific demographics, this can be the justification you need for blinding more of your data or even changing up your review staff.

Analyzing Your Awards

Custom reports that include demographics about your awarded students can reveal progress toward meeting specific targets, such as awarding more women for STEM scholarships, awarding more low-income students, or achieving gender parity in scholarship awards. Let us know which demographics are important to you, and we can create a report that suits your needs.

Tracking Trends

Report data can help you tell a story about the success of your scholarship management program over time, too. We can create a custom report for you that examines any number of statistics for a given award cycle, including completed, started, or submitted applications; number of awarded students; total dollar amount awarded; awarded student demographics; and many others. The longer you use AwardSpring - and the longer you keep the relevant application questions unchanged - the more complete your picture of progress will become.

For help accessing reports, or to request a custom report, get in touch at support@awardspring.com .

Syncing AwardSpring Data with Other Systems

Tue, 23 Apr 2019 05:00:00 GMT

AwardSpring collects a wealth of data about students and applicants - and you can sync that information with your institution’s other data systems to solve problems, gain insights, and improve efficiencies.

The Awarded Students report is a great starting point for using data to solve a wide range of scholarship-related problems. This report covers the basics, including student name, awarded amount, and fund ID, all in a .csv format that’s universally compatible with other systems. How can you use it? Here’s an example: Sync your awarded students data with your donor engagement platform so you can see at a glance how much of your donors’ funds were utilized during a specific time frame. Or sync this report with your accounting platform, so you have an accurate record of expected and actual scholarship money disbursement.

What if you have another goal that requires information beyond the data contained in the Awarded Students report? For example, your institution may wish to improve diversity, and would like to collect information about existing students or applicants to set a baseline and track trends over time. The first step is to talk to your counterparts in your institution’s relevant offices to find out what data points are required. If those data points are represented in your application, you can ask AwardSpring’s support team to create a custom report for you. Custom reports eliminate the errors and processing time associated with manual data entry, and they can be created for you in just 5-7 business days. Once your custom report is built, it will be available in your reports dropdown forever, ready to run whenever you need it.

In some cases, using your AwardSpring data may require some advance planning. Let’s say your institution wants to encourage retention of high-risk students. Collecting information about family income and scholarship awards would help you track the impact of scholarships on retention - but your application doesn’t include a question about family income. In this case, you can add the question to your application and begin collecting relevant data after the next award cycle.

If you need a custom report or want to brainstorm ways to extract the information you need from AwardSpring, contact our customer support team at support@awardspring.com and we’ll be glad to help!

Maximizing Scholarship Fund Utilization

Tue, 16 Apr 2019 05:00:00 GMT

Maximizing the use of your scholarship funds is a simple way to improve upon a host of institutional benchmarks - and AwardSpring can help you do it.

First, identify your institution’s goals so you can understand how full fund utilization can help. Do you want to enroll more students? Retain more of the students you have? Focusing on fund utilization can contribute to your success achieving a wide range of goals, including helping as many students as possible, increasing donor investment, improving retention, and increasing enrollment.

There are three ways that AwardSpring can help your institution award all of its scholarship dollars:

Increasing Your Applicant Pool

The student interface is simple and easy to use, which helps nudge more students to finish their application - or begin one in the first place. Simply using AwardSpring can more than double your application volume, which means you’re much more likely to find an excellent candidate for each of your awards. To make sure those applicants are well qualified, check out some of our tips in this blog post.

Collecting Critical Student Information

Making Strategic Award Decisions

With AwardSpring, administrators have total control over which scholarships they award first - and we can recommend a strategy to ensure that all of your scholarship dollars are awarded to as many students as possible. Start the award process with the scholarship that has the most stringent qualifications and/or the fewest applicants. Then, award the next-toughest scholarship, and so on, until you make your way to the scholarships with plenty of applicant options. AwardSpring will identify the top applicant for each scholarship for you; you’ll also be able to see if that student has already been selected for one of your less accessible awards. If so, you can choose a different recipient to spread more of your scholarship dollars across a larger population.

Distributing all of your scholarship money each year is a strong sign that your scholarship program is running efficiently. If you have any questions about strategies to maximize your fund utilization, contact us at support@awardspring.com .

Feature Spotlight: Reviewing

Fri, 12 Apr 2019 05:00:00 GMT

When we designed our centralized reviewing interface, our goal was to help both reviewers and administrators make the best awarding decisions possible, as quickly as possible. So administrators can take advantage of the customization options they need, while reviewers benefit from a simple, streamlined, and easy-to-use interface.

A paper-based review process just can’t compete with the time savings, accuracy, flexibility, and insights offered by AwardSpring’s online review process. Here are just a few of the ways that AwardSpring’s reviewing features improve upon a paper-based process:

Bias Elimination & Time Savings

Before the review cycle begins, administrators can hide certain pieces of student information from reviewers, like name, email address, and financial details, to eliminate any potential bias. Administrators can also hide select application responses from reviewers. We recommend hiding any responses that don’t directly pertain to your scorecards; that way, your reviewers won’t waste any time reading responses that won’t impact their evaluation.

Personalized Review Methods

The AwardSpring platform offers you two different ways to conduct reviews: a global review or a scholarship-specific review. With global review, each applicant is considered individually using the same scorecards and review committee members across all scholarships. A scholarship-specific review requires reviewers to assess every candidate for a given scholarship individually. This review style allows for more fine-tuning of your process, including create different scorecards and assigning unique review committees for each scholarship, but it can take longer to complete.

If you have lots of scholarships, you’ll save quite a bit of time using global review. That’s because each student application will go through just one review cycle, no matter how many scholarships the student is eligible for. On the other hand, a scholarship-specific review is essential for those scholarships with that need a specific review committee or have unique qualifications. Luckily, you can get the best of both worlds: use global review for those scholarships that can share the same scorecard and review committee, and then conduct a scholarships-specific review of the rest of your scholarships.

Simple, Adaptable Scorecards

Our online score cards are designed to be flexible, easy-to-use translations of your old paper rubric. Using simple labels eliminates scrolling for reviewers, which can save a surprising amount of time. If you need to include more context or explanation of your scorecard methodology, we recommend that you provide it in a separate document to keep the reviewing experience as simple as possible.

Flexible Reviewer Assignments

Choose your assignment methodology - random, all, or manual - with a single click in AwardSpring. If you have more than 50 applicants, or lots of reviewers, we recommend assigning reviewers randomly. Small review team? Choose “all” so that all reviewers will see all of the applications. And if you have a scholarship that requires a specific review team, you can always select “manual” to make your assignments on a per-reviewer basis.

Quick & Seamless Reviewing Experience

Every detail of the AwardSpring reviewing experience was designed to help reviewers work quickly, accurately, and without unnecessary distractions. As your reviewers make their way through each application, their work is saved automatically, so there’s no chance of losing a single score. Navigation buttons at the top and bottom of the page make it easy to move on to the next application. And if a reviewer wants to take notes to explain a score, remind herself about something, or share an idea with the administrator, she can do so right in the scorecard - and the note will be kept private from everyone except the author and the administrator.

Insightful Awarding & Denying

Designed to help administrators make faster decisions, AwardSpring’s Award & Deny screen gives you deep insights into your applicant pool without a lot of complication. Pre-filter your applicant list for secondary preferences, which can help you please donors or make tie-breaker decisions. Once reviewer scores are in, your applicant list will automatically re-sort to bring the highest scored students to the top. Hover over a student’s overall score to see just how many individual scores are in from reviewers, or click on a student’s name to see all of the individual scores. The wealth of information available at the Award & Deny stage will help you - and your donors - feel confident about your awarding decisions.

If you or your review team ever have questions about how to optimize your customized AwardSpring platform for the best reviewing experience, or if you’d like a refresher training course, just send us a note at support@awardspring.com .

Remote Work Communication Tips

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT

Since AwardSpring makes it possible to manage scholarships and review applications from anywhere, many users decide to restructure their workflow to include remote work. Whether that means distributing responsibilities across several campuses, working with remote reviewers, or working from home occasionally yourself, there are a few important adjustments that should be made to include all team members, regardless of work location. Here at AwardSpring, we support a remote work environment for many of our staff, so we have some tried-and-true methods for maintaining clear communication without face-to-face contact. Read on for our advice, and enjoy the freedom that remote work offers you and your staff!

- Define responsibilities. The key to successful remote collaborations is to assign each team member clear responsibilities. In AwardSpring, grouping remote departments together under department administrators can help you manage this process better. Since department administrators are limited to managing only those scholarships in their department, it’s one way to define duties.

- Make expectations clear. Once your team has divvied up tasks, you can create guidelines around timing, task milestones, measurable results, and anything else that’s important to your team. Make sure that everyone understands how and when they’ll know when it’s their turn to take action. Will there be someone responsible for tracking project progress, or are you using a project management tool? Creating a clear process will help everyone play his or her role at the right time.

- Choose a primary communication method. While your team may use a variety of formal and informal communication tools, such as instant messaging, email, phone calls, video chats, and texts, selecting one as your primary vehicle for important project-related messages will help ensure that no messages are missed. A project management tool like Basecamp is ideal for managing project-related communications.

- Communicate regularly. Structured meetings - daily and weekly - can help identify problems early, provide opportunities for collaboration or advice, and keep team members informed about progress. But don’t forget about impromptu check-ins; since you won’t bump into remote workers in the hallways, it’s important to make an effort to connect with coworkers occasionally to build and maintain a friendly relationship.

The Secrets to Keeping Reviewers on Task

Tue, 19 Mar 2019 17:00:00 GMT

Managing the personalities, busy schedules, and complexities of human reviewers can be challenging, even if your scholarship management software has streamlined much of the review process. Through the years, we’ve identified a few simple, strategic organizational tactics that will keep reviewers focused and on task, easing frustrations for everybody. Read on for a collection of strategies you can employ before and during reviews to make this year’s review process seamless and stress-free!

Before Your Review Process Begins

- Pre-deny your least qualified applicants to reduce the number of applications that need to be reviewed. For example, if you have a scholarship with a 2.5 GPA requirement and you have many applicants with much higher GPAs, you can pre-deny applicants on the lower end of the GPA threshold. To take this a step further, we recommend observing your qualifications, applicants, and awarded students over a couple of years to see if you can tighten up qualifications well before the application period even starts.

- Determine your assignment methodology. Decide how many reviewers you need and how many reviews each application should have. We recommend giving each application two initial reviews, with the option for a third review if there’s high variation between the first two scores.

- Create a simple, easy-to-use rubric. Use as few scorecards as possible (3-5 is ideal) and keep possible scores between 1-10 points. Managing the complexity of your scoring rubric will make it easier for each reviewer to evaluate applications accurately, uniformly, and quickly.

- Suppress unnecessary information from reviewers. There’s no need to bog down your reviewers with any application questions that aren’t directly related to your scorecards. In AwardSpring, you can suppress as many questions as needed so that reviewers can focus only on those responses that need to be scored.

During Your Review Process

- Communicate a clear deadline to your reviewers, even if it’s not truly critical. An unambiguous timeline will give you cover to check in with reviewers periodically, which may be all it takes to get everything done on time.

- Host a group kickoff to communicate expectations, answer questions, and troubleshoot. It may be challenging or even impossible to regularly gather all reviewers at the same time, but a single meeting can give your reviewers the confidence to work independently afterward. (And that’s one of the perks of using AwardSpring - your reviewers can work from anywhere, on any device they choose!)

- Send reminder emails. Send messages to the entire review team or just to individual reviewers to keep them on track. We recommend setting up consistent communications throughout the review period to ensure that important tasks remain top of mind for everybody involved.

Reviewing: Best Practices

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 16:00:00 GMT

One of the biggest benefits of using a scholarship management application like AwardSpring is the time savings for you and your review committee. This year, invest some of that saved time into optimizing your review process following our best practices below. You’ll find that your process becomes simpler, faster, and more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Collaborate with peers to improve your process. Network with similar or local colleges, universities, and foundations to see what works for them - and take their experiences into consideration as you set up your review process. You’re likely to run into similar obstacles or decisions, so it’s helpful to know what your peers have done to overcome them.

Pre-screen applicants to save reviewers’ time. If a scholarship has a large number of applicants as well as preferred qualifications, consider eliminating those applicants who don’t meet the preferred qualifications before the review period to cut down on evaluation time. For example, if your scholarship awards to college students with a 2.0 GPA or higher and gives preferential consideration to female applicants, have the committee evaluate only the female applicants.

Decide how many times each application will be read. Perhaps you’d like all review committee members to read all applications. Or perhaps you’d like to divide applications up amongst the committee. Either way, decide ahead of time how many times each application should be read so none of your committee members take on a disproportionate share of applications.

When it comes to score cards, forget about scholarship eligibility. If this is your first time managing your scholarship process online, your review committee may be accustomed to screening applicants for eligibility in addition to evaluating the more subjective elements of their applications. With AwardSpring, you can be confident that every applicant in your pool is qualified. There’s no need to include any eligibility criteria in your score cards; allow your reviewers to focus on other areas of the application instead.

Establish scoring consistency. Make sure your review committee understands how to score essays by thoroughly outlining your expectations for each possible essay score. Clear expectations will minimize confusion and maximize scoring consistency among all reviewers on your committee.

Blind some information from reviewers. What elements of the application are absolutely essential for reviewers to see - and which aren’t? Keep your review process unbiased and uncluttered by hiding any unnecessary information from reviewers, and you’ll create fewer opportunities for unintentional FERPA violations.

Promote your process. If this is your first year using a scholarship management application, your review committee may be apprehensive about the changes that accompany a new online process. Take some time to remind your reviewers about the reasons you’ve switched to an online application - to save time, improve accuracy, maximize fund utilization, increase applicants, eliminate paperwork, etc. Overall, everybody’s goal is to award scholarship dollars to the most qualified and deserving applicants. Centralizing your applicant data, reviewer scores, and award information in one application helps you do that, even if it takes some getting used to in the beginning.

Managing Incomplete Scholarship Applications

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 06:00:00 GMT

Switching from a paper process to an online process can reveal a challenge that you may not have dealt with before: incomplete applications. With an online process like AwardSpring, you can see who has started, but not yet submitted, a scholarship application. That gives you an opportunity to help those students submit before your deadline, ensuring that you have plenty of qualified applicants to choose from during the review process.

There are a few reasons why students don’t finish their applications, including:

- Students have technical difficulties that prevent them from completing their applications.

- After beginning an application, they take a break to work on essays or other sections that require more thought and effort.

- Students decide they aren’t good candidates for the scholarship(s) and abandon their applications.

- With most sections completed, students wait for required documents from a third party before submitting.

- Students step away from their applications and simply forget to return.

You can alleviate the problems faced by most of the students described above by planning to take some concrete steps before, during, and at the very end of your application window.

BEFORE YOUR APPLICATION WINDOW BEGINS

Make your application easy to complete. The very best way to ensure that students actually finish applying is to make it as easy as possible for them to do so! Check out our Universal Application Best Practices for guidance on how to optimize your application for students.

Offer students a way to get in touch if they have questions or problems. Make sure that your contact information is readily available on any flyers, websites, or social media posts that advertise your scholarships. You can also include your contact information within your online application, in case students have trouble as they apply.

DURING YOUR APPLICATION WINDOW

Run the AwardSpring Student Answers report. AwardSpring’s Student Answers report will tell you which applicants have started and not yet finished their applications, along with the specific questions that have not yet been answered. Consider running the report halfway through your application cycle and again a couple of weeks before the application deadline to see what questions are holding students up. It’s common for essays to be completed last; it’s less common for basic demographic questions to keep students from submitting. If straightforward sections are incomplete, you may have confusing instructions in your application.

Check your dashboard when you log in. Your dashboard can also alert you to application problems that are holding students back from submitting. Check for major discrepancies between the number of applicants and the number of completed applications in your dashboard. If you’re approaching your application deadline with less than 50% of applications submitted, it’s time to investigate what the problem is.

Email your stragglers. We recommend sending out just one or two emails to remind students that their applications aren’t yet complete. If you send more than a couple of emails, you may find that applicants begin ignoring your messages, so make them count! Your last reminder email should go out at least a week before your deadline, so that students have plenty of time to track down documents or write essays.

AT THE END OF YOUR APPLICATION WINDOW

Run - and save - a Student Answers report one final time. Since every institution has its own unique application process, typical completion rates vary. It’s best to track yours so that you have a benchmark for future award cycles.

Check for students that haven’t completed additional requirements. At the end of your application window, you may find that some students submitted their general application but haven’t yet completed the additional requirements for specific scholarships. Follow up with those students via email to encourage them to finish the final steps.

Feature Spotlight: Additional Requirements

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 06:00:00 GMT

Just like conditional questions, additional requirements can help streamline your application while collecting specific information from qualified students. But you can also use AwardSpring’s additional requirements to make administrative tasks easier after awarding. Here are three super useful ways you can use additional requirements:

Further Qualify Students

Additional requirements are useful when asking for essay responses or other information that will help you make award decisions. Since students will only see a scholarship’s additional requirements once they’ve already qualified, you can ask very specific questions without the need for conditional questions. For example, let’s say you have a scholarship for Latinx students with a GPA above 3.5, and you want qualified students to write an essay about what their heritage means to them. Rather than making this essay a conditional question in the main application, where all Latinx students would see it, make it an additional requirement of your scholarship instead.

Employing additional requirements in this way gives you more configurability options if a donor has a long list of qualifications. To increase qualified applicants, we recommend limiting requirements on the main application and including as many additional requirements as you’d like for individual scholarships. This way, donors still get to include their “wish list” of preferred student qualifications without eliminating students from consideration who don’t quite match up.

Manage Post-Award Tasks with Additional Requirements

Another useful way to use additional requirements is to help you manage all of those post-award details that can take up a lot of time. You can require awarded students to upload a thank you letter, confirm their attendance at a celebration dinner, acknowledge that they’re aware of GPA requirements to maintain their award, or take any other actions that you need. Your AwardSpring application will automatically send reminders to students about fulfilling these additional requirements until all tasks are complete.

Maintain Student Eligibility for Renewable Rewards

If you have renewable rewards that require students to periodically reaffirm their eligibility, use additional requirements to collect the information you need. You can ask questions about GPA, a student’s major, or anything else - and only those students who need to answer the questions will see them.

If you have any questions about additional requirements or how best to employ them, contact us at support@awardspring.com .

How to Increase Qualified Scholarship Applicants

Tue, 15 Jan 2019 06:00:00 GMT

Promoting your scholarships far and wide is the first step to increasing applicants, but there are two more effective tactics you can employ to ensure those applicants are well qualified:

Tactic #1: Encourage donors to make scholarship stipulations more inclusive

Many donors feel that they should include as many requirements and qualifications as possible to find the perfect scholarship candidate. The truth is, the more requirements a student must meet, the greater the likelihood that none of your applicants will qualify. Encourage donors to reduce their requirements to the most basic level - and to share any preferred qualities above and beyond the minimum, which can help tip the balance when making award decisions.

Tactic #2: Make it easier for students to complete their application

The easier the application process is for students, the more completed applications you’ll receive. An easy place to start is by reevaluating the questions you ask applicants. How many of those questions yield data that you actually use in awarding decisions? Ask your reviewers what questions and information are most important to them and consider dropping the rest. (Students and reviewers alike will appreciate shorter applications!) Also consider how many recommendation letters are really necessary. Many scholarship applications require three letters of recommendation, but 50% of students’ requests for these letters go unanswered. Would a single letter of recommendation suffice? As for application essays, help students focus by providing clear, specific prompts rather than open-ended, general questions. You can also set essay length limits, which will help students present stronger, well-edited work.

While these two tactics are sure to expand your pool of qualified applicants no matter how you manage your scholarships, using the AwardSpring system can help even more. Automatic matching, for example, applies students to all opportunities for which they qualify - even those the student may not have known about. To learn more about how AwardSpring can help you increase qualified applicants, contact us for a platform walkthrough .

Feature Spotlight: Conditional Questions

Mon, 07 Jan 2019 06:00:00 GMT

AwardSpring’s customizable application allows you to structure your questions however you like, including using conditional questions. We highly recommend incorporating conditional questions to collect applicants’ background information and make your application simpler and easier to use; in fact, your implementation expert will likely use them when initially configuring your site.

Conditional questions use “if/then” logic to personalize the questions you ask students based on their answers to previous questions. That way, you can ensure that students only answer questions that are relevant to them.

Here are some examples of common conditional questions:

- Asking a student to choose his state from a list that appears only when he selects “United States” as his country of residence.

- A multiple-choice “Which branch of the military have you served in?” question that appears only if a student answers “Yes” to a question about prior military service.

- An essay question that pops up for a student to write about her volunteer work once she indicates that she has extensive volunteer experience to share.

Conditional questions are most useful for collecting background information in an efficient, customized manner, because you can nest conditional questions to dive deeper and deeper into a specific topic without making your basic application any longer. Using conditional questions will give students a better, simpler application experience - which can increase your total applicants.

If you need help implementing conditional questions, contact us at support@awardspring.com .

3 Simple Ways to Promote Your Scholarships

Mon, 26 Nov 2018 06:00:00 GMT

Need more qualified applicants for your scholarships? The first step is to make sure your potential applicants hear about your scholarships in the first place. Here are three scholarship promotion strategies that can increase awareness and drive more applications.

Strategy #1: Word of Mouth

Word of mouth is generally considered the most effective form of marketing, so it’s our top recommendation for promoting your scholarships. As soon as your scholarships are ready to accept applications, reach out to four key groups of people for scholarship promotion help:

- Engage alumni and past recipients to help spread the word. Prepare a short message for alumni to post on social media about the scholarship and send an email with all the scholarship details for them to forward on to their networks. Making it simple for alumni to share your message will increase the chances that they do.

- Inform local high school guidance counselors and major employers. Guidance counselors can shepherd high school students through the application process while local employers will help you reach non-traditional students. Focus on those organizations that are likely to employ students who are a good match for the scholarships that lack applicants. For example, if you want more applicants for your nursing scholarship, your local hospitals and major medical centers will be the best places to focus your scholarship promotion energy.

- Notify your institution’s instructors and counselors. Instructors have a lot of face time with students, so they’re well-positioned to promote your scholarships for you. Make sure to inform campus staff if your scholarships are available to part-time students, too. Since part-time students don’t qualify for financial aid, they may be extra motivated to apply for scholarships.

- Remind your reviewers and volunteers. Scholarship reviewers can be enthusiastic supporters of your institution in addition to being pretty knowledgeable about your scholarship offering, making them great scholarship advocates. Ask them to spread the word among their friends and family!

Strategy #2: Contact Potential Applicants Directly

If you collect student phone numbers and email addresses when students apply to your institution, you can send messages through those channels to promote scholarships. Just make sure you receive permission from students to contact them in this way.

Senior Days and similar events in your community provide the chance for you to talk to potential applicants face to face. During your presentation, you can ask students to text a friend or two to spread the word about your scholarship opportunities.

Strategy #3: Early Bird Deadlines

If all of your scholarships share the same application due date, consider implementing an early bird deadline to attract more applicants. Offer students the chance to qualify for an additional small scholarship if their applications are received before the early bird deadline. Motivated students will complete their applications early, allowing for plenty of time to troubleshoot any problems they have with the process. Plus, the early bird deadline gives you more opportunities to contact students about the deadlines and incentives.

By employing these three strategies, you can drive more awareness of your scholarship program and increase the overall number of applications you receive, which is a great first step to ensuring a successful scholarship cycle. To make sure your applicants are well qualified, read our guide to increasing qualified applicants, too.

Data Protection: How AwardSpring Complies with New GDPR Guidelines

Tue, 11 Sep 2018 05:00:00 GMT

Have you heard about the new data privacy law affecting European Union (EU) citizens? Are you wondering whether there’s anything you need to do with the student data you collect through AwardSpring to comply? Some of our competitors have released complicated and confusing explanations of GDPR. At AwardSpring, we think it’s important to explain the new law in an easy-to-understand way. Read on for a plain-English primer of the new regulation and an explanation of how AwardSpring can help you comply with the new law.

About General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

On May 25, 2018, the EU implemented GDPR, a law that regulates how companies store, use, and explain how they use personally identifiable user data. All organizations that handle the data of EU citizens must comply with GDPR, no matter where those organizations are based.

Here are the core elements of GDPR, along with details about how AwardSpring facilitates customers’ compliance:

Organizations must be clear about how data is used. Since AwardSpring’s launch, we’ve been committed to making our data usage policies clear and easily available to our users. Our privacy policy was written in plain English to make it as easy to understand as possible.

As a service provider, AwardSpring actually does very little with user data; it’s our customers who collect and use user data through our platform. That’s why we require all customers to provide us with their own easy-to-understand privacy policy that explains how they use applicant data. We publish a link to your privacy policy alongside our own on every page of the application.

Organizations must collect only necessary data. AwardSpring recommends that customers limit the user data they collect to just the essentials for the scholarship application process..

Organizations must allow users to request the deletion of their data if the personal data is no longer necessary. Any AwardSpring customer or user can request that we delete his or her data at any time. In response, customers can delete users, which removes all associated data - so be sure that you no longer need the data before deleting a user!

Organizations must meet technical requirements for data storage. AwardSpring meets the technical requirements outlined by the law, which includes:

-Having an information security policy and regular reviews

-Utilizing encryption

-Maintaining multiple, redundant forms of backup across disparate geographic locations

-Training staff on user privacy

Organizations must disclose any privacy breaches. In the unlikely event of a data breach, we are contractually obligated to notify our customers in writing as soon as possible.

Organizations must test regularly for vulnerabilities. AwardSpring regularly uses automated scans to check for vulnerabilities in our system.

While the vast majority of AwardSpring’s data is for non-EU citizens, we are still committed to complying with GDPR’s common-sense, user-first data protection guidelines. If you are an AwardSpring customer, we recommend that you review your own privacy policy to ensure it complies with GDPR, too. Be sure to send us an updated version of your privacy policy if you do make any changes. And if you have any questions at all about our data protection policies, please get in touch !

Feature Spotlight: Auto-Apply

Wed, 29 Aug 2018 05:00:00 GMT

AwardSpring’s Auto-Apply feature makes life easier for student applicants and administrators alike. For administrators, Auto-Apply eliminates tedious work, enhances award decisions, and increases long-term student retention. Meanwhile, student applicants save time with one universal application and appreciate the opportunity to be considered for all qualified scholarships.

Here’s how it works. Let’s say that John, a prospective student, just completed a simple scholarship application for your college. AwardSpring will scan all of your other scholarships to see if John qualifies for any of them. If so, John’s application will be automatically submitted for each qualified scholarship.

“The AwardSpring Auto-Apply feature is amazing.” -Cassie Fleming, Grants Manager, Community Foundation of Grant County Indiana

With Auto-Apply, you have a larger applicant pool to choose from for each of your scholarships. You’ll be able to use more of your scholarship funds, and you’ll have a better chance of finding the student who best matches your donor’s goals. That will keep your donors both happy and engaged!

“Our first year, we had a one-third increase in the number of completed student applications over all previous years.” -Sonja Hix-Cortina, Director of Member Services, Civica Management, Colorado Nurses Foundation

Students love Auto-Apply, too. It eliminates any confusion about eligibility and saves students time in the application process. Students instantly become eligible for more scholarship funds, making your institution more attractive.

AwardSpring’s Auto-Apply feature is turned on by default, but you can always turn it off if you’d like. If you do turn it off, just keep in mind that you’ll miss out on 5-10% of your qualified applicants.

Other scholarship management software solutions may offer similar qualified matching, but they typically still require several additional steps and may not capture all qualified students. AwardSpring auto-applies students based on robust matching criteria that you customize. During implementation, our incredible staff will take care of setting up all of your scholarships - including your matching criteria. Then, you can sit back and enjoy watching all of those qualified applications roll in!

To learn more about AwardSpring, request a walk-through of our platform and its benefits.

AwardSpring Implementation: What to Expect

Mon, 27 Aug 2018 05:00:00 GMT

Here at AwardSpring, we have a long tradition of making incremental improvements to our implementation process based on our customers’ feedback. We’ve made it our mission to make implementation as smooth and seamless for our customers as possible. Here’s how:

--Dedicated implementation support. At the very beginning, we assign you your very own implementation manager who is dedicated to your institution throughout your entire first cycle, from the day your contract is signed through the last award that’s handed out. He or she will become an extension of your team, learning as much about your scholarship administration as your best employee.

--Optimized training path. We’ve developed a very specific order of operations for all of our implementation milestones that maximizes your understanding of the process while minimizing your time commitment. We’ll train you using your real data, not a simulation, so you truly understand every aspect of your new scholarship management system.

--Streamlined data entry. Many of our competitors force their customers to do all the data entry work required to set up scholarships in their system. Not us! Just give us your data in any format - spreadsheets, PDFs, web pages, etc. - and we will build a simple, clean version of your scholarship application, with check-ins along the way to make sure you’re happy with our work.

--Highly responsive customer service. Have a question? We’re here for you throughout the life of our partnership. In fact, we’ll respond to your inquiry within 30 minutes during our normal support hours. 98.8% of respondents rate their AwardSpring support experience as “good” after their issue is resolved.

"The ease of setup benefited both administrators and students…They assisted us from start to finish with custom designing the system to meet our needs." -James Trimboli, Director of Financial Aid, Niagara County Community College

If you’re currently using a manual process to manage your scholarships, implementation should take 8-12 weeks. It can take even less time if you’re switching from another scholarship management software to AwardSpring. Find out more about implementation through a one-on-one conversation with us .

Why Usability Matters

Mon, 20 Aug 2018 15:00:00 GMT

When evaluating scholarship management solutions, ease of use might be the most important factor to consider. The three main populations of people using the software - administrators, reviewers, and students - are quite diverse in age and technological savvy. An intuitive, well-designed user interface is essential to serving all users well and minimizing mistakes and frustrations.

AwardSpring was specifically designed to address ease-of-use concerns that we heard from our first customers. Here’s how the application is specially designed for each of our main user groups:

Administrators

We know that administrators come and go, so it’s essential that even brand-new users feel comfortable and confident using AwardSpring. Intuitive drag-and-drop functionality makes it simple to add or modify questions and add conditional logic for applicants. And since AwardSpring is designed for mobile, administrators can seamlessly switch between working on a desktop, laptop, and iPad.

Reviewers

Some reviewers are very tech-savvy; others, not so much. The reviewer’s AwardSpring experience was designed specifically for those who may be less comfortable with technology to make it as user-friendly as possible. There’s just one button to click on each page, so it’s impossible for a reviewer to get lost. Once an application is scored, scores are automatically saved and the next application is just a single click away, saving time and effort. And everything can be done on the reviewer’s preferred device.

"The usability of the program has helped empower our team and translates to serving our students well. It's efficient on multiple fronts. Even reviewers with no technology experience picked up on the process quickly due to how neat the system is." -Darren Echols, Director of Admissions, Lee University

Students

These days, students are generally very comfortable with devices and technology, but the scholarship application process may be a new experience. AwardSpring guides students through their applications step by step and automatically saves students’ progress after every answered question. Once a student completes an application, he or is is automatically applied to any other scholarships for which he or she is qualified. And of course, these tech-savvy students are able to use AwardSpring on any device they want!

"It is very user-friendly. And the web-based system allows me to access it from anywhere and help people on the go." -Rachel Debigare, Executive Director, The Education Foundation of Alachua County

How We Create Outstanding User Experiences

To ensure that the user experience is always top of mind, we ask ourselves two important questions before we design anything new: Where are there opportunities for mistakes or misunderstandings? What would the consequences of a mistake be for our end users? The answers to these questions drive our design decisions.

We use three techniques to make our application easy to use:

--Clear, simple language. We scrutinize all of the text in AwardSpring to ensure it is accurate, clear, and easy to understand.

--Additional explanatory text. In areas where there is a potential for confusion, we’ve included explanations that clarify the action about to be taken. Just click or tap on the question mark icon to reveal the explanatory text.

--Confirming important changes. When a user is about to make a disruptive or irreversible change, a pop-up confirmation box details the results of the action and asks the user to confirm that he or she wants to continue. This way, we reduce the risk of accidentally making a permanent change.

Creating an excellent user experience doesn’t happen by accident. It requires thousands of little decisions that seem individually inconsequential but result in a simple, understandable experience in the end. Every time we add a new feature, we have to consider how it fits into the administrator’s, reviewer’s, and student’s workflow. There is a significant development cost to building for usability first, but we wouldn’t do it any other way.

Simplify Your Day-to-Day by Leveraging the Cloud

Tue, 10 Apr 2018 14:00:00 GMT

Whether you’re a foundation serving a unique constituency or an accredited college or university serving your student body, being able to efficiently award your applicants is a time-consuming, multi-layered process. You have to juggle applicants (who may be using many varying applications), piece together their final submission, figure out how to match them to the various awards you offer, and get them scored and awarded, all while keeping your donors in the know and satisfied with your approach. More than likely, you’re doing this with too small a staff, or in some cases, entirely on your own. This can be frustrating for everyone involved as your applicants may be confused, your donors may be lacking valuable insight, and, most importantly, you may be inundated with the volume of work and the dollars you’re leaving on the table un-awarded.

To exacerbate the issue, it’s difficult to rely on your own IT team to deliver tools you need to ease the tension that exists in the award management process. To be fair, in a vast majority of cases, this isn’t even your IT team’s fault as they are also spread too thin and have too many competing priorities to properly service your organization. In many instances, the combination of supporting a large Student Information System (SIS), coupled with managing the core custom applications the IT organization has built, is too herculean a task to keep tackling – leaving smaller custom applications or the management of other infrastructure by the wayside and core systems in “maintenance mode”.

There’s a solution for these problems, however. Leveraging a cloud-based platform to manage a business-critical task like award management can benefit your organization in two meaningful ways:

Let us take a few minutes to better understand these benefits.

Cloud Partners & Focus

When you decide to take a core operational process, in this instance, your award management process, to a cloud partner, you should immediately presume some significant benefits. I’ll outline some key benefits in a moment, but first I want to talk about why these new benefits even exist. The answer, quite simply, is focus.

As a cloud-based, or more accurately, a Software as a Service or SaaS, partner ourselves, we focus solely on delivering the best awards management platform we can possibly deliver. We over-focus on scholarships as our “awards” as that’s been our historical area of expertise, but we think largely about focusing on award management as many other award types are analogous to scholarships. Everything we do can be traced back to building the best possible awards management platform and delivering user-focused, friendly, and personalized onboarding and support. We aren’t bogged down by other products or competing internal initiatives. That’s a level of focus very few, if any, internal IT teams can provide. This level of focus allows you, as a user of a SaaS awards management platform, to make positive, meaningful changes to your day-to-day.

Time Spent (we like to call this “Time Recovered”). When you start to take advantage of the benefits of a SaaS awards management platform, you should immediately see a shift in how you spend your time. Staff that normally tracks down completed applications, collates submissions, matches applicants to awards, coordinates reviewers and their scores, and makes awarding decisions can now rely on the platform to do a majority of this heavy lifting. This allows you and your team more time to spend helping students find the path to financial support and engaging with your donors to either drive increased gifting or identify new donor sources, or both.

Constant Innovation. Having a partner that provides this kind of focus should also guarantee you that you’ll be provided new features to help increase your efficiency, drive more completed applicants, connect you to your donors, and provide you insight into your performance. These kinds of enhancements, both to your software and the support you receive for it, are difficult to achieve with an internally developed solution.

A Trusted Partner. Here are some quotes that may seem cliché, but will ring true with any good SaaS partner: “We’re in it with you.” or “Your success is our success.” A good partner will always think this way. In our example, every single staff member likes to think of themselves as an extension of your office. Our onboarding and support teams want to understand your application, your opportunities and awards, and your constituents as well as you understand them. By embedding ourselves in your unique processes, we create a really interesting feedback loop: We learn your operations and become experts in your processes. » This knowledge gives us ideas for how to better build our SaaS platform and improve our support processes. » These improvements create more efficiency for you and your team.

Reducing IT Burden

You might be wondering how exactly adding a SaaS partner to the mix can reduce the burden on your IT staff. There’s actually quite a bit of research that has gone into this, and there’s a particularly good white paper that was released by Oracle in 2014 that covers these concepts in significant detail in case you’re interested in exploring it further (or if you’d like to provide some additional supporting data to your own IT team when pitching the concept of using cloud services). But on the surface, the benefits for your IT team boil down to a few key points:

Staff Reduction or Repurposing. By moving core business processes to the cloud, your IT team can either get along with fewer resources thanks to the smaller internal IT footprint or these IT folks can be repurposed to focus on other core initiatives.

Reduced Operating Costs. As your organization embraces the cloud, your IT team will see their footprint reduced, which drives down expenses on physical infrastructure, licenses, and other overhead related to hosting and maintaining business-critical applications.

Improved Performance and Scalability. When you partner with a SaaS provider, performance and system availability generally become cornerstones of delivery. For example, we pride ourselves on building specific Service Level Agreements (SLAs) into our contracts that give our partners something tangible to expect out of the performance of our platform. In order to meet these requirements, your SaaS partner must keep their environments flexible to scale as you grow (and their volume of partners grows).

Hopefully the tangible benefits I’ve outlined that are created by a partnering with a focused SaaS provider encourage you to take the plunge into moving your awards management processes to the cloud. Taking this step not only benefits you and this core business process, but also helps reduce the strain on your IT staff, creating wins across your organization, and most importantly with your applicants and donors. And for what it’s worth – we’d love it if you took the plunge with us. Drop us a note if you’d like to hear more.

Thanks, and come join us in the cloud.

Kurt Reilly
Co-Founder & CEO
AwardSpring

AwardSpring and Arbor Day: The Positive Environmental Side Effect of Optimizing Scholarship Management

Wed, 26 Apr 2017 18:00:00 GMT

We here at AwardSpring pride ourselves on providing a platform and corresponding world-class service to organizations seeking a meaningfully optimized approach to managing their scholarship offerings. By nature (pun intended), we’re also able to help reduce the impact on the environment through the reduction of paper waste by transitioning organizations from paper-based, manual processes to a digital, paperless system.

Let’s say you’re an organization with a 5-page application that garners 250 applicants. And, because you haven't optimized your application down to a single questionnaire (like you can with AwardSpring, wink wink), you have 4 different applications to cover the dozens of scholarships you offer. This means you are receiving, at minimum, 5,000 sheets, or 10 reams, of paper per award cycle. (Also consider shipping materials required and fossil fuel emissions generated to ensure those applications are delivered!)

So, what does that mean for the environment? Research shows that every adult pine tree, the standard tree used for making paper, can produce about 15-20 reams of paper. If you can eliminate 10 reams of paper from use in one award cycle alone, you’re saving almost one entire tree from needing to be used for paper. Imagine what our industry can accomplish if we move scholarship management online and away from paper-based application processes!

The best part? This is simply a positive side effect of our core mission to provide customers with a remarkably easy-to-use, cloud-based scholarship management platform that drives an increased number of applicants, and decreased workloads for you, your administrators, and your reviewers.

We call that a win-win.

Happy Arbor Day from the AwardSpring Team!

Dealing with the Ongoing IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) Outage

Wed, 22 Mar 2017 20:05:00 GMT

We all know the importance the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) plays in the lives of Financial Aid administrators, student applicants, their parents and the affordability of higher education in general. The FAFSA is complicated, time-consuming, and collects a wealth of information about a given student’s ability to qualify for additional aid. The IRS has a Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) that has helped students and their families fill out the FAFSA with greater efficiency and accuracy.

As you’re likely painfully aware, the DRT has been unavailable since March 9, 2017. The IRS has issued a formal statement, available on the US Department of Education website , that outlines their perspective on how the outage of the DRT affects students and the application process. In short, the implications are:

- Tax data usually made automatically available by the DRT is unavailable indefinitely

- Students and their families have been directed to manually review their most recent tax returns in order to find the information usually provided by the DRT. They should request copies from their family’s tax preparer, the IRS website , or by calling 800-908-9946

- Online applications for the FAFSA and Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Plan are still operational

Our friends at the National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA) have been doing an excellent job staying on top of this issue. If you’re an NSPA member, we recommend following their updates on the matter which have been coming through their usual weekly announcements. The National College Access Network (NCAN) also has an excellent running blog post about recommended actions to take that doesn’t require membership to follow.

Our team at AwardSpring has been briefed on the implications of this outage. If your students or their families call in to our team for support on this matter, we’ll be sure to share this information with them and direct them to your Financial Aid team for any additional information or concerns.

Kurt Reilly
Co-Founder & CEO

2016 Year in Review

Fri, 16 Dec 2016 17:00:00 GMT

As happens during this time of the year, I have been reflecting on what a momentous year it has been. While searching through my notes, I realized that not only are we closing out 2016, but the AwardSpring platform is two years old. Given that, let's take a look at what we've accomplished in those two years.

Two years ago, we had our first customers start using the platform as a beta. We had three customers daring enough to start preparation work in December for January 1 go-live. We added conditional (skip) logic into the software just three days prior and it wasn't yet possible to delete a scholarship. We were hurrying to prepare our platform for real customers and closing lots of bugs. We didn’t sleep much.

We learned a lot from our customers during that first cycle. Features that we thought were important got put on the back burner, features that we thought could wait were needed immediately. In a lot of ways this exemplifies how we work. Being responsive to customers is crucial to our success. In the first six months, we shipped the following:

- Reviewer Blinding
- Help Center
- SIS Integration
- Single Sign On

We also revisited the design of several pages on the site. For example, we completely redesigned the awarding screen to make it customizable. This was a common theme for work that we have done since our initial launch. Each customer has a unique process and features we build need to allow for this wide variation.

We continued to improve the software through the back half of 2015 and into 2016. In total, we have updated the software with 29 feature releases in 24 months. The frequency of releases is important to us as it means we can quickly address smaller issues and customer requests. In previous lives at other companies, my team was only able to address concerns during quarterly or yearly releases.

It is easy to focus only on the software when looking back. The software has many tangible, visible changes. However, one of the biggest, less visible changes has been to our support process. Prior to taking over STARS Online, support was… interesting. Since then, we have introduced a dedicated support team, added the ability to message our support team from inside the software, and expanded our phone coverage. We have also added dedicated implementation specialists to guide our customers through their first award cycle to ensure they can effectively use the software.

As you can see, our customers are the center of nearly all of the changes we've made in two years. To help formalize the feedback process, we automatically ask customers for feedback after every support interaction. Our client development team also reaches out multiple times a year to see how things are going, address any issues, and schedule additional training.

In many ways, we're an entirely different company than we were two short years ago. However, our core values remain the same which keeps us focused on customer needs and drives constant improvement.

We couldn’t be more excited about the future. We have some amazing ideas about how to continue to make scholarship management easier and expand the kinds of tasks the software can help you accomplish.

If you have feedback, questions, or ideas for where we should head in the future, feel free to send me a note or give me a call.

Thanks,
Daniel Orofino
VP, Product Management

Contact me: 847.859.5017 x 7325 | dorofino@awardspring.com

Introducing External Requests

Fri, 28 Oct 2016 12:00:00 GMT

We’re excited to introduce a new feature called External Requests. External Requests provide a new, flexible way to collect letters of recommendation, transcripts from counselors, approvals, and really anything you might want from a third party.

Key parts of the new External Requests feature:

With External Requests, applicants send emails to third parties to ask them to complete forms you have created. The applicant never sees the response, but is able to see that the request has been completed. This allows you to collect:

We're excited to see how you use External Requests to move more of your process online.

Thanks,
Daniel Orofino
VP, Product Management

Scholarship Management, and Why It Matters to Us

Fri, 21 Oct 2016 16:00:00 GMT

The reality of our careers today, especially for those of us in higher education, is that we have many more responsibilities than defined by our “job description”. Rarely do we spend a majority of our time and energy working on what we had in mind to accomplish at the start of our day.

We get that. And that pull you feel towards the dozens (or hundreds) of items on your to-do list is why we do what we do. We want to help make scholarship management less of a burden so you can complete your to-do list every day.

So why scholarship management? What about the process of administering scholarships (and peripherally fellowships, stewardships and grants) is compelling? The answer is simple: we all understand how significant a role scholarships play in connecting students with their goal of advancing their education. Everyone at our company has scratched and clawed our way through finding a way to afford college. Everyone here understands how rewarding higher education can be in our lives and in the lives of those we care about. And every last one of us wants to help you continue to provide a way to make higher education more accessible and more affordable.

Sounds too simple, but it’s the truth. The goal of AwardSpring and this blog is to share ideas on how to make your job easier. We’ll share stories about what’s happening with scholarships nationwide, changing trends in managing the process, upcoming industry events, and how our platform can help you achieve your goals.

From each of us at AwardSpring, thank you for what you do. We hope our platform and the information provided in this blog will be a springboard for more efficient processes for you and your team.

Kurt Reilly
Co-Founder & CEO