Montgomery County Community Foundation Scholarship Program

In a small county, one application can open access to funds with very different criteria: high school, financial need, field of study, or returning to school. Indiana’s Montgomery County Community Foundation manages scholarships created by local donors; it reports more than $10 million awarded since 1991. Its listings include county high-school students and nontraditional opportunities for current college students and people returning to school.

The standard 2026–27 application opens October 15, 2026 and closes January 14, 2027. Most scholarships use that common form; the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship and nontraditional awards have separate applications. The key first step is to read each listing before entering the portal, because some funds request essays or financial information from the student and parents. For need-based awards, the Foundation requires the Student Aid Report generated after filing FAFSA.

The Foundation encourages students to apply for every scholarship whose criteria they meet and says receiving multiple awards is possible. A common deadline does not erase fund-by-fund differences or guarantee selection. Gather transcripts, FAFSA information, and personal responses before opening the form, then monitor email and administrator instructions. For eligibility or document questions, the Foundation lists scholarship director Ashley Warren and phone 765-362-1267. This guide covers Montgomery County, Indiana, not other counties with the same name.

To compare this benefit with other options, ask financial aid for an estimate separating tuition, fees, housing, and excluded expenses. Confirm whether it can renew, what academic progress it requires, and whom to contact if payment does not appear on the account. Keep award letters and receipts until the school confirms disbursement.

Official program information and application