Ventura County Community Foundation Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Ventura County Community Foundation

Introduction
The VCCF scholarship program is competitive: there are more than 100 scholarship funds posted each cycle and the program receives several thousand applications every year. Carefully completing your application is essential to be considered. Please read the instructions below completely before beginning your submission.

Before you begin
- Create an account on the VCCF AcademicWorks portal. Use your personal email (not a school-issued address) and check that inbox regularly for communications.
- Choose a secure password that meets these rules:
- Does not include your username or common words/phrases.
- Is at least 12 characters long.
- Contains at least one digit, one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, and one special character from this set: # ? ! @ $ % ^ & * –

Application steps
1. Complete the general application in the AcademicWorks portal. After finishing the general portion, click “Other Opportunities” to verify you meet the specific eligibility requirements for each individual scholarship you want to apply to.
2. Provide two recommenders in the portal by entering their names and email addresses. Where possible, supply their personal email addresses rather than school accounts. One recommender must be a teacher or a school counselor; the second may be a coach, pastor, employer, mentor, or another adult who knows you well and is not a family member. Peer recommendations are not accepted.
3. Ask your two references to complete the required recommendation questionnaire via the portal. Most recommenders need at least two weeks’ notice; give them as much lead time as possible. It is your responsibility to make sure both recommendations are submitted by the deadline.
4. Request your most recent transcript from your academic advisor and upload it as a PDF. The application will only qualify if the transcript is submitted as a PDF. Keep the file name short and free of special characters. Student profile pages are acceptable only if they clearly display your unweighted GPA. Your unweighted GPA must be visible on the document you upload.
5. If you encounter problems or have questions, contact the scholarships team at scholarships@vccf.org.

Recommendation details
- Two recommendations are required for your application to be considered.
- One must come from a teacher or academic counselor; the other must be an adult who is not a family member.
- Recommenders will complete an online questionnaire for you — not a traditional letter. Notify them early so they can meet the submission deadline.

Important submission reminders
- Complete every question. If something does not apply, enter “n/a” rather than leaving it blank.
- Only upload documents the application specifically requests. Submitting extra, unsolicited materials may result in disqualification.
- Ensure recommenders’ contact information is entered correctly in the portal so they receive and can complete the questionnaire.

Scholarship writing and presentation tips
1. Start early — allow ample time to prepare thoughtful answers and gather materials.
2. Make certain both recommendations are submitted before the deadline.
3. Fill out the entire application; use “n/a” where needed. Include all required attachments.
4. Follow instructions precisely. Provide everything asked for and avoid submitting items that were not requested.
5. Craft essays that are personal and specific. Use concrete details (who, what, where, when) to make your story vivid. Respond directly to the prompt for each scholarship and proofread for spelling and grammar.
6. Proofread the whole application one final time and ask a teacher, parent, or friend to review your essays.
7. If you need help, email scholarships@vccf.org. For application-specific questions, contact Ventura County Community Foundation.
8. Remember your application represents you — submit a neat, timely, and complete package.
9. Only apply for scholarships for which you meet the eligibility criteria; if you are not qualified, your application will not be considered.

If you follow these steps and recommendations, you will maximize your chances in a highly competitive pool of applicants. Good luck.