Kern Community Foundation Scholarship FAQs
Welcome to the Kern Community Foundation Scholarship FAQs. Here you’ll find clear answers to common questions about eligibility, the application process, award details, and what to expect as you apply.
How do I prepare to work on the Kern Futures Common Scholarship Application?
Our Kern Futures Common Scholarship Application is open to graduating high school students in Kern County with an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher who are pursuing higher education. You can preview the application before entering any information.
Please note that our online application system, designed by Foundant Technologies, works best with the Google Chrome browser but will work with any up-to-date web browser.
What types of scholarships are offered by Kern Community Foundation?
Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors through our Common Scholarship Application for Graduating High School Students. Many scholarships are renewable (as applicable through the renewal application) for Continuing College Students pursuing a two-year or four-year degree at accredited community colleges, four-year universities, or career/technical schools in the United States.
Do I need to pick which scholarships at Kern Community Foundation I’m applying for?
No, our Online Common Scholarship Application will enter you into the running for all scholarships administered by Kern Community Foundation. You spend your time submitting the best application you can; we will fit you into every opportunity you qualify for. One application, multiple opportunities.
Can I apply for and receive more than one scholarship?
Our Common Scholarship Application consists of one application that will best match you to the scholarship(s) that you are eligible to receive. In some cases, students have received multiple scholarships through our one-application process. If you are awarded multiple scholarships, you may accept them. To apply, CLICK HERE.
How many scholarships and how much money do you award each year?
The number of scholarships we award and the amounts of each vary from year to year. In 2025, we awarded over $1.1 million in scholarships to over 389 Kern County students.
How much does it cost to apply for a scholarship?
The application is FREE! It does not cost anything to apply for our scholarships, though we do estimate it may take up to 30 minutes to complete the application in full.
Unfortunately, scholarship scams that cost money and provide no useful scholarship information do exist. Beware of organizations and websites that charge a fee, guarantee that you will receive a scholarship, or are sent to you through direct mail or email spam.
Do I have to be a Kern County resident to apply for your scholarships?
Most of our awards require Kern County residency. None of our scholarships is available to foreign students studying outside the United States or to students attending an institution outside of the United States. Undocumented/CA Dream Act students can apply for scholarships.
We have a scholarship for students planning to pursue a career in Agriculture, available to graduates of Kern, Merced, Kings, Fresno, and Tulare counties. To apply, use the general apply link and complete the application for students outside of Kern.
I do not qualify for financial aid through my school. Am I still eligible?
Not all of our scholarships are based on financial need. As well, we may determine your financial need differently from your school’s financial aid office. Because of this, we encourage all high school seniors to submit an online scholarship application.
I am not a straight-A student or athlete. Am I still eligible?
Yes. While some scholarships focus on academics, athletics, or leadership, many prioritize financial need, community service, extracurriculars, work experience, GPA minimums, certain schools, majors, or career goals. Submit an application, and we’ll determine your eligibility.
In the application, you ask for my financial information, but my parents have not yet completed their taxes. How should I gather my financial information?
We ask for your Student Aid Index (SAI), which you receive after completing the FAFSA. The 2026–27 FAFSA is now available.
How will you evaluate my application?
All scholarships have different criteria and different priorities. Staff will check your application for basic eligibility, and depending on the scholarship, there may be a committee that reviews your application for a specific scholarship fund, or we have community members who volunteer to review and evaluate specific information that you provide in your application, such as your volunteer work/extracurricular activities, personal statements, and letters of recommendation.
What are my chances of receiving a scholarship?
Your chances depend on the number of applicants, the number of awards available, and the competitiveness of the pool. Be thorough and thoughtful when completing your application.
Will I be interviewed?
We do not conduct interviews for our scholarships.
When will I be notified about the outcome of my application?
We will notify you at the end of the scholarship term, typically in May, whether you received an award or not. If you are declined, you will be notified whether you are awarded or declined a scholarship at the end of the scholarship term. Notifications typically go out in May. If you are declined, we encourage you to check our website for future opportunities. If you are awarded, we will email you in May with the next steps. Please keep your email address up to date in your application account, as email is our primary communication method.
If I receive a scholarship, how much will I receive?
Awards for each scholarship vary, ranging from $500 to $3,000.
What will my scholarship pay for?
Depending on the scholarship, it may pay for tuition, room and board, books, fees, and/or other related educational expenses. Your award notification will outline the details.
If I already have all the funding I need for this school year, can I defer my scholarship to next year?
Depending on the scholarship, you may be able to defer your award. Our staff works with each scholarship recipient to help them develop a financial plan and protect their best interests.
Will you mail my scholarship check directly to me?
No. After we receive your award agreement and any required documents, we send the scholarship check directly to your school’s financial aid or scholarship office. They deposit the funds into your student account. Scholarships are paid in equal installments by term (quarter or semester).
If I receive a scholarship one year, will I automatically receive it the next year?
Some of our scholarships are renewable for up to 4 years, but others are 1-year awards or require students to submit renewal applications the following year. If your scholarship is renewable, you must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA, enroll full-time (12 units), show financial need, meet any additional criteria, and submit renewal materials.
If your scholarship is NOT renewable (i.e., is only for one year), depending on future funding, we intend to continue offering scholarships for continuing college students and encourage our students to check our website for future funding opportunities.
If I change schools, will my scholarship transfer?
If you transfer schools, please notify us immediately so we can determine whether you are still eligible for your scholarship. If you are eligible, we will transfer your award to your new school.
Is my scholarship taxable?
Your scholarship may be tax-free if you are a student pursuing a degree at an educational institution and the scholarship pays for tuition, fees, books, and supplies that are required of all students in your classes. For more information, consult a tax expert or your school’s financial aid office.
Do I need to pay back my scholarship?
No, you do not need to pay back your scholarship unless you use it for purposes other than those allowed by your scholarship agreement.
Should I still complete the FAFSA/Dream Act Application?
Yes! We require all students seeking aid, regardless of their financial circumstances, to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Dream Act Application to secure the maximum support for their education. Please visit FAFSA or https://dream.csac.ca.gov/ for more information.
If you have any questions, please email info@kernfoundation.org.