Thank you for your interest in a scholarship gift to support UNLV students. To attract and retain the best students and to enable many of our students to afford a college education, UNLV relies on philanthropic support from individuals and organizations.

"Scholarship" is a term applied to an award of money made to a UNLV student in support of his/her education. For purposes of these guidelines, “scholarship” also refers to a student award or graduate student fellowship.

You can establish an annual scholarship named according to your instructions with a minimum gift of $5,000 or an endowed scholarship with a minimum gift of $30,000 with cash, securities, real estate, or personal property. A Memorandum of Understanding or a confirmation letter will detail the agreed-upon criteria for the acceptance and expenditure of the funds contained in that account. Named scholarship funds may be set up for the benefit of all UNLV students, or may be restricted to a particular college, school, department or program.

If you would like UNLV to award scholarships to students for the duration of their study at UNLV, (four or five years for undergraduates) the full funding must be received and available when the award is made. For example, if you would like a student to receive $5,000 per year for four years, then the UNLV Foundation must have $20,000 available before a multi-year commitment is made to the student.

For named, annual scholarship funds, and for endowment funds, the UNLV Foundation consults with the individual or organization making the scholarship gift to establish criteria for the scholarship. The criteria should be flexible and general to guarantee the widest possible pool of applicants. Acceptable award criteria may include: minimum GPA; specific major, program, department, school or college; undergraduate or graduate status; class standing; and residency. Donors with strong preferences regarding major field of study may consider limiting the award to upper-level students to reduce the likelihood of recipients switching majors and to ensure commitment to that field.

Donors may also wish to require that a student’s financial need be established. UNLV calculates financial need based on federal government guidelines. If financial need is a criteria used to award a scholarship, students must complete a FAFSA form (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) that requests information contained in the family’s IRS tax returns, and earnings and bank statements. A UNLV Foundation development officer will work with you to help you determine if financial need should be included in your list of award criteria and to approve other criteria you may wish to include.

Statement on Equal Opportunity (Board of Regents Handbook --Title 4; chapter 8 section 1)

The Nevada System of Higher Education is guided by the principle that there shall be no difference in the treatment of persons because of race, religion, color, age, sex, disability, or national origin, and that equal opportunity and access to facilities shall be available to all. This principle is applicable to every member of the Nevada System of Higher Education community, both students and employed personnel at every level, and to all units, facilities, and services of the Nevada System of Higher Education.

This principle governs the admissions and subsequent treatment of students in all colleges, as well as student participation in extracurricular activities. It is a guiding policy in the employment of students, either by the Nevada System of Higher Education or by outsiders through the System. All student services, including financial aid, placement, tutoring, and counseling, are governed by the concept of equal opportunity.

All enrolled UNLV students are eligible for scholarships. Some scholarships require a special application available through Financial Aid and Scholarships or individual awarding units.

A UNLV scholarship committee selects the scholarship recipient(s) based on the donor’s criteria. Due to IRS regulations, the donor may not participate in the selection of the recipients. When recipients are selected, funds are transferred from the UNLV Foundation to the Financial Aid and Scholarships office to disburse the awards to the scholarship recipient(s). The UNLV Foundation serves only as the receiving and investing entity for scholarship gifts given by you or your organization.

UNLV's scholarship committees begin meeting in February to select scholarship recipients. Students are notified of awards beginning in March. Funds are distributed to students prior to the beginning of the fall and spring semesters.

The week prior to the start of a term, scholarship funds are electronically transmitted to a student’s fee account. If a student still owes tuition or other fees to the institution, the amount owed will be subtracted from the scholarship payment. If the student does not owe any amount, or if the scholarship is greater than the student’s tuition and fees, a check will be issued to the student which may then be applied to other related expenses.

Please make your check payable to the UNLV Foundation. The address to mail your gift is:

UNLV Foundation
Box 451006
4505 Maryland Pkwy.
Las Vegas, NV 89154-1006

Contributions may also be made online.

The UNLV Foundation will provide you with a gift receipt for your tax-deductible contribution.

For annual scholarship gifts, we ask that your contribution arrive at the UNLV Foundation by December 31 preceding the academic year in which the scholarship will be awarded to students. This allows the University time to process applications, and select and notify students of their award.

Any scholarship gift received after December 31 may be awarded in the subsequent scholarship award cycle. The UNLV Foundation will send an invoice in the fall to those donors who wish to be reminded that their scholarship gift is due.

The primary donor(s) to each named scholarship fund will receive a report following the close of the academic year listing the names and majors of the student recipients for the previous academic year. These donors will also be invited to attend UNLV’s annual scholarship recognition event, where they will have the opportunity to meet scholarship recipients. Donors may also contact the UNLV Foundation Scholarship & Tribute Giving office to request additional information throughout the year.