Greater Des Moines Community Foundation Scholarships
The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines administers distinct funds rather than one scholarship for every local student. Mary E. Wood Scholarship accepts applicants with a high-school diploma or GED and states a preference for Black students. In 2026, the foundation also launched the Teree Caldwell-Johnson Servant Leader Scholarship for Des Moines Public Schools graduates, focusing on underserved students and giving special consideration to those who lived in Oakridge N
About Greater Des Moines Community Foundation Scholarships
The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines administers distinct funds rather than one scholarship for every local student. Mary E. Wood Scholarship accepts applicants with a high-school diploma or GED and states a preference for Black students. In 2026, the foundation also launched the Teree Caldwell-Johnson Servant Leader Scholarship for Des Moines Public Schools graduates, focusing on underserved students and giving special consideration to those who lived in Oakridge Neighborhood or took part in its programs.
The 2026 application announced by the foundation opened April 2 and closed May 1; that deadline has passed. Mary E. Wood’s page describes an annual May deadline, but students should not assume the next form will use exactly the same schedule without confirmation. Check the fund page and foundation news in early spring, and ask whether the award requires full-time study or can be combined with other aid.
The inaugural Teree Caldwell-Johnson scholarship distributed a total of $13,500 among five DMPS graduates in June 2026. That figure describes the cohort, not a per-student promise for future years. Selection considers servant leadership and the Oakridge connection described in the program; students who live in Des Moines but do not graduate from DMPS should check other funds.
For a competitive application, prepare transcripts, diploma or GED proof, service activities, residency history, and a clear education plan. Ask whether the shared portal requires a separate application for each fund and when decisions are announced. Awards may be sent to the college and affect need calculations; confirm the treatment with financial aid before relying on the money.
Ask the financial-aid office for a written term-by-term estimate separating tuition, fees, housing, books, and other costs. Keep the award letter, records, and any service agreement. If your studies, residence, or course load change, contact the administrator before that decision affects your aid.
College scholarship and financial-aid program