Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges Receives $25,000 Matching Scholarship Challenge Grant from the Council of Independent Colleges
With the support of generous donors and partners, OFIC has the incredible opportunity to secure $50,000 for Ohio's independent college students!
Columbus, Ohio, October 8, 2024 — The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges (OFIC) is excited to announce the award of a $25,000 Matching Scholarship Challenge Grant from the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC). This opportunity presents the potential to secure $50,000 in scholarships for students attending OFIC’s 32 member campuses across Ohio by leveraging contributions from partners.
As OFIC approaches its 75th anniversary, the need for increased scholarship aid has become even more critical, especially for students beyond their first year. CIC’s Scholarship Challenge Grant program addresses this growing need by offering state councils the chance to apply for matching funds. For every dollar raised from new gifts or increases to previous gifts, OFIC will receive an additional dollar through this grant, significantly enhancing support for deserving students.
“The Council of Independent Colleges is proud to support The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges and its member colleges through CIC’s Scholarship Challenge Grant Program,” said Marjorie Hass, president of the Council of Independent Colleges. “This grant will provide crucial scholarship aid for students of second-year status or higher at OFIC’s four-year colleges and universities.”
Bill Spiker, president of OFIC, expressed his gratitude for the grant: “We are deeply thankful to the Council of Independent Colleges for this remarkable opportunity. This matching grant empowers us to provide essential financial support to Ohio’s independent college students. With your help, we’re confident we can meet—and even surpass—this challenge, ensuring a brighter future for our students.”
To meet this challenge, OFIC will work with existing partners to secure new and increased contributions, while also actively seeking new donors across the state. With broad support, this initiative will empower students to thrive and succeed throughout their academic journeys.
How It Works:
All funds must be matched 1:1 through new gifts, increased gifts, or grants raised specifically for this challenge.
All matching funds must be received between notification of the award and September 30, 2025.
Scholarship recipients must be enrolled at four-year colleges or universities that offer liberal arts degree programs and be second-year students or higher.
The scholarship will be awarded for use during the 2025–2026 academic year.
This project has been funded through a Scholarship Challenge Grant from the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC). Help us meet this challenge grant! Consider a gift today. Click below to learn the ways to give.
About The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges
The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges (OFIC) connects donors and partners with students in need, positively impacting Ohio’s economic engine. OFIC believes all students who enroll at a member campus deserve the opportunity to complete their college education. Every day we connect and partner with corporations and foundations to make this dream possible by helping to keep education affordable through scholarships, internships and career opportunities. Our goal is to facilitate an exceptional appreciation of independent higher education and its impact on the state of Ohio’s citizens, economy, and culture. Through OFIC’s Scholarship Management Resources, we create national scholarship opportunities by partnering with organizations in Ohio and beyond.
About the Council of Independent Colleges
The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is an association of 758 nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils of independent colleges, and other higher education affiliates, that works to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society. CIC is the major national organization that focuses on services to leaders of independent colleges and universities and state-based councils. CIC offers conferences, seminars, publications, and other programs and services that help institutions improve educational quality, administrative and financial performance, student outcomes, and institutional visibility. CIC also conducts the largest annual conferences of college and university presidents and of chief academic officers in the United States. Founded in 1956, CIC is headquartered at One Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.cic.edu.