How You Can Help

Your support makes the fund possible

The James B. Morris Scholarship Fund strives to encourage, identify, and provide financial assistance to deserving youth who wish to pursue a college education and ultimately a career in their home communities. The number of scholarship applications we receive continues to overwhelm our financial ability to meet the demand. Unlike larger programs with unlimited funds, or programs which have funds remaining after the close of their program year, our ratio of qualified applicants to available funds runs 5:1. Therefore, having to decline a qualified student's request for financial assistance becomes an unpleasant, but an inevitable task for our scholarship committee.

We believe the James B. Morris Scholarship Fund has become a significant player in the movement to pursue diversity in education and the workplace. This is possible through our being able to match businesses and outstanding college students who have the possibility of being future leaders in their chosen professions. We need your support to continue this work.

The Corporate Intern Program

The business community has long been a supporter of the James B. Morris Scholarship Fund. Support from companies such as Bankers Trust, Des Moines Register, Employers Mutual, Principal Financial Group, and American Republic Insurance have long made it possible to help hundreds of students pursue their academic dreams. In addition, our corporate sponsors have as a goal the retention of Iowa talent, including maintaining a diverse workforce within their companies. The Corporate Intern Program is designed to help businesses meet their goals. Each spring a list of the top applicants is circulated to Human Resource Vice Presidents. The list contains up to 200 brief resumes describing applicants who would be available to participate in the program. The list includes students who, due to the limitations of our scholarship budget, will not be scholarship recipients, but are excellent candidates for inclusion in the intern program.

A J.B. Morris fellowship of $25,000 is established with the sponsoring corporation to fund the program. Complete details are available upon written request.

Named Scholarship

Many contributors find having a direct connection to a specific student important. When you support the MSF as a J. B. Morris Fellow or Founder, your donation may be designated to the education of a specific student (or students). This gives you a chance to meet and get to know the outstanding young Morris scholar you're helping and watch his/her progress in school.

Scholarship Contribution Levels

J. B. Morris Fellow	$25,000 and up
Founder	$10,000 - $24,999
Benefactor	$5,000 - $9,999
Patron	$2,000 - $4,999
Investor	$500 - $1,999
Friends of Morris	Up to $499

Gifts to The James B. Morris Scholarship Fund can be designated to the Endowment fund, or for Scholarships only.

To download a pledge form in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format click here.