Cooperative Leadership Scholarships

The Ralph K. Morris Foundation Cooperative Leadership Scholarship provides financial support to help cover costs associated with training, professional development, and educational programs for rural young leaders interested in the future of cooperatives and rural communities.

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ELIGIBILITY AND CRITERIA

• Applicants must be sponsored by an organization.

• Typical grants range from $300 to $500.

• It is recommended that organizations sponsoring participants provide matching funds of at least 33% of

• the total program costs (including conference registration and travel expenses).

• Funds will be used to cover costs associated with attendance at established cooperative education,

• professional development and training programs.

• Operational or vocational training & formal degree programs are ineligible uses of these funds.

• Scholarship recipients are eligible to receive only one scholarship in a calendar year.

• Morris Foundation trustees and staff, including their immediate families, are ineligible to apply for a scholarship.

 

EXAMPLES OF ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS FOR WHICH THE FUNDS MAY BE USED INCLUDE:

• Young producer programs of cooperatives and state cooperative councils.

• Graduate Institute of Cooperative Leadership (GICL).

• Association of Cooperative Educators Institute (ACE).

• CooperationWorks.

• Cooperative Board Leadership Development (C-BLD).

• Farmer Cooperatives/NCERA-210.

• National Council of Farmer Cooperatives Annual Meeting, LTA Committee Meetings and Director Workshops

• NASCO’s Emerging Cooperative Leaders Program.

• Other programs may be eligible at the discretion of the Foundation.

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Timelines

Preference will be given to those applications received at least 30 days prior to conference date.

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APPLICATION PROCESS

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• Complete an online application form from the link below.

• Attach a copy of any announcement or flyer describing the program and its registration fee.

• Applications must be signed by a supervisor, advisor or cooperative liaison from the sponsoring organization (other than the applicant) to indicate an organization’s support of the application.

• Funds must be applied for and approved prior to attending the activity. The Cooperative Leadership Fund will not offer reimbursement for the fees for previously attended activities.

• Organizations that provide training may not request funds for staff attendance at their own training programs.

• If applications are incomplete they will not be processed.

• Apply online now, or email completed application and required additional information to rkmorrisfoundation@gmail.com.  ​

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SELECTION PROCESS

The Fund is administered and managed by the Ralph K. Morris Foundation.

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All eligible recipients will be approved within the limits of the Fund as stated above and as long as funds are available (on an annual basis) for distribution.

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Notification of the status of each request will be sent via email or regular postal service when a decision is made.

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EVALUATION

Recipients must complete and return to the Foundation an evaluation within 30 days of completion of the program. Evaluation form must be submitted online. 
 

FUND SUPPORT

The Ralph K. Morris Foundation, through the generosity of friends of Ralph Morris, established the RKM Cooperative Leadership Fund. Contributions to the Ralph K. Morris Cooperative Leadership Fund are welcome.

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