A complete application will consist of the following:
- Complete contact information for the organization and its executive officer;
- Location of the organization (street address and zip code required);
- Up to 500 (maximum) word statement describing the proposed use of grant funds
- Up to 250 (maximum) word description of the organization, its history and its accomplishments
- Organizational budget
- Project budget (if applying for a project grant)
- Most recent audit and/or 990
- List of executive staff and/or volunteer leadership and board members with brief biographies
- List of income sources
Applications are submitted via the online portal. After the submission of a complete application, applicants can view updates on the status of their grant application via the online portal. Funding decisions will be announced quarterly depending on the availability of funds and the approval of the grant committee. If you have any questions about the application process please contact vernoncommunityfund@ci.vernon.ca.us or call (323) 351-1198.
Scholarship Grants
The Vernon CommUNITY Fund Scholarship Program targets its grant making activity toward 12th grade students living in the Vernon Area (which includes the cities of Vernon, Maywood, Bell, Huntington Park, Commerce, the area within the City of Los Angeles known as Boyle Heights, and the unincorporated area known as East Los Angeles).
Scholarship Criteria
(not in order of priority)
- Financial need
- Academic achievement
- Community/extracurricular involvement
- Leadership
- Awards and recognition
- Personal and/or family attributes
Eligibility
12th grade students enrolling in a post-secondary educational institution with full-time status who reside in the Vernon Area (as defined above) may submit an application for a Vernon CommUNITY Fund (VCF) Scholarship. Specific eligibility standards are identified in within this section. In order to be considered for award, applicants must meet all of the following detailed criteria:
- Graduating High School Senior
- Achievement of a Minimum Weighted Grade Point Average of 2.0 in high school level coursework for trade school or two-year College applicants; or Minimum Weighted Grade Point Average of 2.5 in high school level coursework for four-year College/University applicants at the time of VCF Scholarship application submission
- Pursuit of a two-year or four-year Degree from accredited College/University; or pursuit of Trade School Certification • Full-time enrollment at post-secondary educational institution of choice (minimum of 12 units for college)
- Immediate transition into a post-secondary educational institution upon graduation from high school (must begin post-secondary coursework within 6 months of graduation)
- Residency in the Vernon Area (U.S. Citizenship is not required); minimum residency of 12 months
- Demonstration of strong leadership skills and responsibility (successfully communicated in scholarship application)
- Active in extracurricular activities (school/community involvement/employment)
- A minimum of 20 hours of community service from 9th grade to first semester of 12th grade
- Not a City of Vernon employee or relative1 or dependent of a City of Vernon employee, Vernon City-appointed official, or Vernon City-elected official
Beginning on January 1st of each year, applications will be available on the Vernon CommUNITY Fund website: www.vernoncommunityfund.org. Access the VCF Scholarship application here. The VCF will accept scholarship applications through the last Thursday in March of each year. Scholarship grants will be awarded at the VCF Grant Committee’s May meeting. If you have any questions about the application process please contact vernoncommunityfund@ci.vernon.ca.us or call (323) 351-1198.