The Types of Scholarships Offered

As our scholarship program evolved, the number and types of scholarships we offer have increased.  This evolution is the result of two modifications.  The first is due to changes made by The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation (e.g., expanding scholarships to universities other than Fairfield University, making scholarships for two-year colleges available, and providing partial scholarships).  The second modification is a significant expansion of the number of partnerships we have with colleges and universities.  The Deeley Foundation discovered that many of the area colleges were receptive to forming partnerships, and we attempted to seek out those colleges and universities favored by our scholarship applicants.  This resulted in the Deeley Foundation forming partnerships with several public and private universities and colleges in the surrounding area.

The Positive Impact Our Partnerships Have On Scholarship Awards

Beginning in 2017, the Deeley Foundation engaged in a significant effort to increase the number of our college and university partnerships, and, as a result, partnerships were extended to include the University of Bridgeport, Sacred Heart University, and the University of Saint Joseph.  As these partnerships increased, so did the number of our scholarship awards. The amount of scholarship funding each year from The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation has grown from $20,000 in 1996 to over $150,000.  Our partnerships have accounted for about a third of this increase.  The Deeley Foundation continues to seek partnerships with those colleges and universities to which significant numbers of students apply.  In addition, the Deeley Foundation continues working with existing partners to increase the types and amount of aid available for our recipients.

Although our scholarship recipients are free to attend any college or university, about half of our recipients attend one of our partner schools.  The chart below illustrates the distribution of students between our partner schools and other colleges and universities.

It is not surprising that over half of our scholarship recipients attend one of our partner schools.  The Deeley Foundation tracks where our scholarship applicants apply and attempts to form partnerships with those colleges and universities that receive significant numbers of applications.

What has been the effect of forming these partnerships?  The answer is simple.  It has allowed both the colleges and the Deeley Foundation to gain from these relationships.  The colleges are attracting more applications from students, and they also have the opportunity to receive additional funding from the Deeley Foundation to enhance their institutional financial aid offerings.  In exchange, the Deeley Foundation can use these partnerships to increase the dollars available for funding scholarships and to offer scholarships to a greater number of students.

About one-third of our scholarship awards are now funded by our partners.  The following chart shows the distribution of funding between The Deeley Foundation and our college partners.

This additional funding from our college and university partners allows students to benefit in two ways.  First, the Deeley Foundation can increase the total amount of funding for scholarships.  Second, the partnerships allow the Deeley Foundation to increase the number of students receiving scholarships.  The next chart shows the distribution of the funding the Deeley Foundation has received from its partner schools.

Fairfield University has provided the majority of our partner funding, followed by Southern Connecticut State University.

In addition to this increase in funding, these partnerships have resulted in a corresponding increase in the number of students receiving a Deeley Foundation Scholarship.

What began in 1996 as a single scholarship for a student to attend Fairfield University has grown to support as many as 18 students each year, including some attending graduate school.  These students have attended over thirty different colleges and universities, and the Deeley Foundation has formed partnerships with several public and private colleges and universities in the Connecticut area.

The Types of Scholarships and the College/University Partners that Participate with The Deeley Foundation

All our partnership scholarships require students to apply for non-binding “early action” at the colleges of their choice.  This allows our college and university partners time to make acceptance and financial aid decisions in a timely manner.  All scholarship applicants must also complete a Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form (and in some cases, the CSS Profile – check with your specific college for this requirement) and forward this information to their college choices.  

There are two types of scholarships offered:  scholarships for students attending a school that partners with the Deeley Foundation, and scholarships for students attending schools where no partnership with the Deeley Foundation exists.  There is no requirement for an applicant to apply to or enroll in one of our partner schools.  There is no financial need requirement for any of our scholarships.

The current list of our college and university partners is as follows:

MATCHING PARTNERSHIPS

        • Albertus Magnus College
        • Boston College
        • Central Connecticut State University
        • Eastern Connecticut State University
        • Fairfield University
        • Sacred Heart University
        • Southern Connecticut State University
        • Stonehill College
        • Trinity College
        • The University of Bridgeport
        • University of Hartford
        • University of Massachusetts
        • University of New Haven
        • University of Saint Joseph

OTHER FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS AND SCHOLARSHIPS TO SCHOOLS WITHOUT A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEELEY FOUNDATION

        • All Colleges And Universities (Including Partner Schools)

Although students have no restrictions on where they attend college, over half of our scholarship recipients attend one of our partner colleges.  Since the Deeley Foundation seeks partnerships with schools where the majority of our applicants apply, this is not surprising.  Most of our recipients attend colleges and universities in the Connecticut area, regardless of whether the school partners with us.    The chart below provides details of where our scholarship recipients attend college.

The Deeley Foundation has provided over $2,600,000 in scholarships to students.  Students attending Fairfield University have received the largest percentage of our funding, followed by students attending UConn and Southern Connecticut State University.  A summary of the institutions receiving our scholarship funding is shown below:

Details of the Types of Scholarships Offered by the Deeley Foundation

This next section provides a detailed description of the types of scholarships available from The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation.  The total values listed for each scholarship are the four-year values.  

Our scholarships are available only to seniors at our sponsored high schools and are for any college or university, including both 2-year and 4-year institutions.  There is no need for a scholarship applicant to apply for a specific scholarship.  All applicants to colleges and universities partnering with the Deeley Foundation are automatically considered for all scholarship programs related to the school(s) to which they have submitted applications.  Our scholarships have no specific financial need requirements.

Below are the four-year values of the partnerships we have with both public and private colleges/universities.  Most scholarship awards limit the amount of financial aid to no more than the cost of tuition and fees.  In all cases, students remain eligible to apply their federal aid (Pell Grants, student loans, and work-study) towards the cost of room and board.

Albertus Magnus College – This scholarship is limited to an amount up to the cost of tuition and fees.  The Deeley Foundation contribution is up to $90,000+and Albertus Magnus matches this amount, and the value of the scholarship is up to $180,000+.  This scholarship is in addition to any financial aid awarded during the acceptance process.   Resident students may use their federal aid (Pell Grants, student loans, and work-study) towards the cost of room and board.  Commuter students must apply all federal aid towards the cost of tuition and fees.  No student can receive more aid than the Cost of Attendance (COA) from their original financial aid and the Deeley Scholarship.

Boston College – The Deeley Foundation portion is up to $60,000 and is limited to matching self-help aid (the value of federal financial aid for Pell Grants, student loans, and work-study).  This scholarship is in addition to any financial aid awarded by Boston College during the acceptance process.  Boston College does not match the Deeley Foundation contribution, but permits us to supplement a student’s financial aid awards from Boston College.

Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) – This scholarship is limited to an amount up to the cost of tuition and fees.  The Deeley Foundation contribution is up to $24,000+; the CCSU Foundation matches this amount, and the value of the scholarship is up to $48,000+.   This scholarship is in addition to any financial aid awarded by CCSU during the acceptance process.  The total financial aid from all sources cannot exceed the cost of tuition and fees.

Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) – This scholarship is limited to an amount up to the cost of tuition and fees.  The Deeley Foundation contribution is up to $28,000+; the ECSU Foundation matches this amount, and the value of the scholarship is up to $56,000+.   This scholarship is in addition to any financial aid awarded by ECSU during the acceptance process.  The total financial aid from all sources cannot exceed the cost of tuition and fees.

Fairfield University – The Deeley Foundation contribution is matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis by Fairfield University.  This scholarship is in addition to any financial aid awarded by Fairfield University during the regular acceptance process.  The total financial aid from the Deeley Foundation and Fairfield University cannot exceed the total cost of tuition and fees.  There is no limit on the number of matching scholarships that can be awarded in any academic year.  The combined value of this financial aid is up to $220,000+. The total financial aid from all sources cannot exceed the cost of tuition and fees.

Sacred Heart University – The Deeley Foundation contribution is up to $14,500, and Sacred Heart University matches that amount.   The scholarship value is up to $116,000.  This scholarship is available to students who previously received financial aid that is less than 50% of the tuition and fees.  It is in addition to any financial aid awarded by Sacred Heart University during the acceptance process.  For students who previously received financial aid greater than 50% of the tuition and fees, the scholarship is up to $5,000, with the Deeley Foundation providing $2,500 and Sacred Heart University providing a matching $2,500.

Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) – This scholarship is limited to an amount up to the cost of tuition and fees.  The Deeley Foundation contribution is up to $24,000+; the SCSU Foundation matches this amount, and the value of the scholarship is up to $48,000+.   This scholarship is in addition to any financial aid awarded by SCSU during the acceptance process.  The total financial aid from all sources cannot exceed the cost of tuition and fees.

Stonehill College – The Deeley Foundation contribution is up to $20,000; this amount is matched by Stonehill College, and the value of the scholarship is up to $40,000.   This scholarship is in addition to any financial aid awarded by Stonehill College during the acceptance process.  There is a limit that the combination of financial aid already awarded by Stonehill College, when combined with the Deeley Foundation Scholarship, cannot exceed the cost of tuition and fees.

Trinity College – Trinity meets 100% of a student’s financial needs.  However, the formulas used to determine this funding do not always meet what a student can afford.  The Deeley Foundation can contribute up to 50% of the tuition and fees, and Trinity has agreed to match the Deeley Foundation award.  This scholarship is in addition to any financial awards a student has already received from Trinity.  The total value of this scholarship could have a value of $200,000 over four years, but it most likely will be less.

The University of Bridgeport – The Deeley Foundation contribution is up to $80,000, and the value of the scholarship is $120,000.  The University of Bridgeport will match any scholarship provided by The Deeley Foundation on a 1:2 basis.  This means for every two dollars the Deeley Foundation provides, the University of Bridgeport will provide an additional one dollar of financial aid.  The total amount of scholarships is limited to no more than $20,000 for an academic year for all students attending the University of Bridgeport.  This scholarship is in addition to any financial awards a student has already received.  The total financial aid from all sources cannot exceed the cost of tuition and fees.

University of Hartford – The Deeley Foundation contribution is $45,900, and the value of the scholarship is $61,200. The University of Hartford will match any scholarship provided by The Deeley Foundation on a 1:3 basis.  This means for every three dollars the Deeley Foundation provides, the University of Hartford will provide an additional one dollar of financial aid.  The total amount of scholarships is limited to no more than $15,300 for an academic year for all students attending the University of Hartford.  This scholarship is in addition to any financial awards a student has already received.  The total financial aid from all sources cannot exceed the cost of tuition and fees.

University of Massachusetts – The Deeley Foundation contribution is up to $72,000; UMass matches this amount, and the value of the scholarships is up to $144,000+.   These scholarships are in addition to any financial aid awarded by UMass during the acceptance process, and the total cannot exceed the cost of tuition and fees.

University of New Haven – The Deeley Foundation contribution is up to $20,000; the University of New Haven matches this amount, and the value of the scholarship is up to $40,000.   This scholarship is in addition to any financial aid awarded by the University of New Haven during the acceptance process.  

University of Saint Joseph – This scholarship is limited to an amount up to the cost of tuition and fees.  The Deeley Foundation contribution is up to $72,000, and the value of the scholarship is up to $144,000+.   This scholarship is in addition to any financial aid awarded by the University of Saint Joseph during the acceptance process, and the total financial aid cannot exceed the cost of tuition and fees.

Any College or University – The Deeley Foundation portion is up to $12,000 per academic year; there is no matching arrangement, and the value of the scholarship is up to $48,000.

Recipients are required to maintain a G.P.A. of 2.5 – 2.8 to remain eligible for these scholarships.

We have, on occasion, made exceptions to these guidelines and modified our awards to better match the needs of our recipients.  In all cases, we are guided by what is needed to help a student succeed.