WomenGive
Scholarships
WomenGive provides support and financial assistance through child care scholarships to single mothers pursuing postsecondary education. WomenGive helps families achieve self-sufficiency allowing them to focus on their studies, knowing their children are receiving high-quality care in a safe environment.
Scholarships are available three times a year to new and returning applicants during fall, spring, and summer semesters. The scholarships are paid directly to the provider and cover the cost of direct care services per child during the time the student (mother) is enrolled in classes.
Our WomenGive Program Coordinator supports WomenGive scholarship recipients through the online application process and navigating Emergency Assistance funding available one time per semester.
Please see below for our upcoming scholarship opportunities.
How to Apply
The WomenGive Fall 2024 scholarship open on May 31, 2024 at 10:00 am, to apply click here
Eligibility Criteria
- Single mother or female with primary custody of children not cohabitating with an intimate partner
- Resident of Larimer County OR live outside of Larimer County, but meet two of the criteria below:
- I attend school in Larimer County (verified through transcripts)
- I work in Larimer County (verified through pay-stubs)
- I and/or my children receive public benefits in Larimer County (verified through benefits letter)
- My children attend school and/or daycare in Larimer County (verified through enrollment letter)
- Income at or below 225% of the Federal Poverty Level, including wages and child support (see chart below)
- Pursuing a certificate, Associate’s, Bachelors or Masters* program that aligns with traditional semester cycles.
- Due to scholarship timelines, programs that are based on a quarter schedule or based on hours must be approved for the scholarship. Please contact womengive@uwaylc.org to inquire about your program
- *Scholarships for Masters degree students are limited to available funding. Students pursuing their first undergraduate degree have priority
- Using a licensed child care provider
- Plan to enroll in a minimum of six credits for Fall/Spring semesters (3 credit minimum for Summer semester)
WomenGive uses 225% of the Federal Poverty Level* to determine program eligibility. The following guidelines are used: Family Size Including Parent Maximum Annual Income Maximum Monthly Income Single parent with 1 child $55,440 $4,620 Single parent with 2 children $69,908 $5,826 Single parent with 3 children $84,375 $7,031 Single parent with 4 children $98,983 $8,237 Single parent with 5 children $113,310 $9,443
*retrieved from https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty- guidelines?cid=708d07a50b3d6fb327d328dfb989bbd8 on 1/27/2022. Poverty guidelines are updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2).
Meetings with the WomenGive Program Coordinator include resources and referrals to assist you on your journey through education and a thorough review of your application before submission.
For any applicant not working with Project Self-Sufficiency, meetings must be held with the WomenGive Program Coordinator prior to application submission. The WomenGive Program Coordinator can only accommodate rescheduling a WomenGive applicant meeting 1x per semester to ensure all applicants can be supported.
Eligibility Criteria Update
WomenGive was created more than 15 years ago in response to a community need for increased child care access for single mothers pursuing higher education. It has always been a priority of United Way of Larimer County to continually adjust the WomenGive program to meet the needs of our community. WomenGive is proud to announce that beginning in Fall 2021, new eligibility criteria will be implemented for the WomenGive child care scholarships. During the previous scholarship cycles, requests for child care scholarships were coming from individuals pursuing non-traditional school programs who did not meet the current eligibility criteria. An increasing number of individuals are choosing to achieve self sufficiency through pursuit of certificate and trade school programs. These programs and certifications can serve as building blocks for further education or achieving success with graduation and employment. After discussion of including non-traditional university programs, research and data collection regarding graduates, employment outcomes, and program successes at Front Range Community College and other Colorado schools offering similar certificate and trade school programs. The data results and possible solutions informed the WomenGive Leadership Committee members, the WomenGive staff and United Way of Larimer County staff who approved the following eligibility criteria changes beginning in the Fall 2021 semester.
Current Criteria | New Criteria | Rationale |
Degree Programs Following a Traditional Semester Schedule including Associate, Certificates, Bachelors and Masters. | WomenGive will open scholarship eligibility criteria to include up to Five slots for single mothers pursing vocational school and certificate degree programs at Front Range Community College or Colorado State University. Applicants must meet all other eligibility criteria. | Larimer County is a highly educated community, and for some single mothers, non-traditional semester schedules and accelerated programs based on hours are more suitable for their lifestyle. This is one way that WomenGive can support increased levels of education for all women. |
Due to our generous WomenGive Members, we are able to adapt to the changing Larimer County climate and grow our program to impact even more lives. WomenGive looks forward to continuing to broaden horizons and open doors for single mothers to achieve higher education and self-sufficiency! If you have any questions about these changes, please don’t hesitate to contact WomenGive@uwaylc.org.
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WomenGive FAQs
What Are the Criteria for receiving a scholarship?
- Single mother or female with primary custody of children not cohabitating with an intimate partner
- Resident of Larimer County OR live outside of Larimer County, but meet two of the criteria below:
- I attend school in Larimer County (verified through transcripts)
- I work in Larimer County (verified through pay-stubs)
- I and/or my children receive public benefits in Larimer County (verified through benefits letter)
- My children attend school and/or daycare in Larimer County (verified through enrollment letter)
- Income at or below 225% of the Federal Poverty Level, including wages and child support (see chart below)\
- Transcripts reflect a minimum 2.0 grade point average for college classes OR new student
- Pursuing a certificate, Associate’s, Bachelors or Masters* program that aligns with traditional semester cycles.
- Due to scholarship timelines, programs that are based on a quarter schedule or based on hours must be approved for the scholarship. Please contact womengive@uwaylc.org to inquire about your program
- *Scholarships for Masters degree students are limited to available funding. Students pursuing their first undergraduate degree have priority
- Using a licensed child care provider
- Plan to enroll in a minimum of six credits for Fall/Spring semesters (3 credit minimum for Summer semester)
Meetings with the WomenGive Program Coordinator include resources and referrals to assist you on your journey through education and a thorough review of your application before submission.
For any applicant not working with Project Self-Sufficiency, meetings must be held with WomenGive Program Coordinator prior to application submission. WomenGive Program Coordinator can only accommodate rescheduling a WomenGive applicant meeting 1x per semester to ensure all applicants can be supported.
What does the scholarship cover?
The scholarship covers the cost of direct care services per child depending on the number of credits you take and the age of your children. It does NOT cover previous balances, registration fees, activity fees, late fees or extra meals. WomenGive CAN cover a CCAP parent fee. Maximum awards are based on the rates below. Please note that Fall/Spring maximums are different than Summer semesters for number of credits required and costs. *These rates are adjusted every year*
Maximum WomenGive Scholarship Rates | |||
Fall 2024 - Spring 2025 | |||
# of Credits | 0 - 3 yr olds | 4 - 5 yr olds | K - 12 B/A |
12 or more | $450 | $373 | $171 |
9 to 11 | $388 | $323 | $171 |
6 to 8 | $300 | $244 | $171 |
Maximum WomenGive Scholarship Rates | |||
Summer 2023 | |||
# of Credits | 0 - 3 yr olds | 4 - 5 yr olds | K - 12 Full Day |
12 or more | $409 | $354 | $320 |
9 to 11 | $348 | $308 | $264 |
6 to 8 | $269 | $233 | $205 |
How do I set up a meeting with the WomenGive Program Coordinator?
Request an appointment via email by contacting WomenGive@uwaylc.org
Meetings with the WomenGive Program Coordinator include resources and referrals to assist you on your journey through education, information about self-sufficiency and expected wages for your career and a thorough review of your application before submission. For any applicant not working with Project Self-Sufficiency, meetings must be held with WomenGive Program Coordinator prior to application submission. WomenGive Program Coordinator can only accommodate rescheduling a WomenGive applicant meeting 1x per semester to ensure all applicants can be supported.
I don’t know if my child care provider is licensed. How do I find out?
Requesting a current license from a provider is an important step in ensuring your child is in quality care. You may also search your provider at www.coloradoshines.com. Providers with a level 1 are licensed with the State of Colorado.
I have received WomenGive in the past, but it has been over 2 years. What application do I use?
If you are applying for WomenGive after not receiving for WomenGive for 2 years or more, you must fill out a “New” applicant application. A lot can change in 2 years. Filling out the “new” applicant application provides the committee with the information necessary to make their decision if things have changed.
What happens if I have to leave school?
Because scholarships are based on number of credit hours, dropping out or leaving school for some extenuating circumstances will cause you to forfeit your scholarship. It is your requirement to notify WomenGive within 10 days of dropping your classes so WomenGive funds can be recovered.
What if my child care costs are more than my scholarship award?
Any costs not covered by the scholarship award are to be paid by the recipient. Individuals who are participants in Project Self-Sufficiency may have their application submitted to the Project Self-Sufficiency childcare fund to cover additional costs. Please speak with your advisor or the WomenGive Program Coordinator. If you attend Front Range Community College, you may be eligible for CCAMPIS to cover a difference of anything 40% of your costs or under.
What if I want to change child care providers at some point during the semester?
WomenGive cannot facilitate changes in child care providers after the child care provider form and contract have been returned.
Exceptions to this may be considered under special circumstances. Please speak with the WomenGive Program Coordinator about any concerns.
Can my scholarship amount increase after it is awarded if I add more classes?
You cannot change your scholarship amount after the award letter and provider MOU agreements have been signed. If you believe that you will take more credits than you are registered for at the time of applying then you should factor that into the scholarship award calculator and then notify WomenGive of any changes to your credit hours IMMEDIATELY.
I am applying for the scholarship and do not have my official class schedule yet, what should I do?
Continue to fill out the application, making sure to include the highest number of credits you may take for the scholarship award calculator. When you do have an official schedule, be sure to email it to the WomenGive Program Coordinator as soon as possible. Please note that we cannot increase a scholarship amount once it has been awarded.
When can I use my WomenGive Scholarship?
WomenGive scholarships apply for the time you are in school and the week of spring break and finals. It is your responsibility to include finals week on your paperwork if you will need child care during that time. WomenGive does not cover Winter Break or any gaps between semesters. You are responsible for paying for your child care if you continue to use care during those times. It is important to check with your child care provider about how to reserve your slot for your child if you stop using care during those breaks.
WomenGive connects participants with information about other resources – like our partnership with Project Self-Sufficiency – that may help their families thrive. To learn more about Project Self-Sufficiency, click here.
FOR HELP FINDING CHILD CARE, CLICK HERE.
FOR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, CONTACT WOMENGIVE@UWAYLC.ORG
Steps to Success
Step 1: Setting Up for Success
Plan ahead!
- Put the due date in your calendar/planner/phone where you will see it
- Start the application early
- Send in the application early- it can be reviewed for missing pieces and re-submitted
If the application is turned in incomplete after the deadline, it can NOT be considered. - **You must use the Survey Monkey platform to fill out the application. If you do not save your application often in the platform, you risk losing information in the case you refresh your page or your internet crashes.**
Please Note: This application works best in the Google Chrome internet browser. Always complete an application on a PC or MAC. Using a phone is more difficult to use and is likely to result in an incomplete application.
View the Application:
- You can access the application by clicking here for the WomenGive information page on the United Way website.
- Scroll down to the “How to Apply” tab to access the link to the Survey Monkey Platform Log In page.
- If you have applied before, please log in with the credentials you used for the last semester you applied for. This will create a new application for this semester.
- If you are a first-time applicant, please create a log-in with an email you check regularly because you will be receiving a lot of emails regarding important application information.
Step 2: Gather Important Documents/Preparation for Upload
- Eligibility Quiz (pg.1 of application)- Please read these questions carefully, if you answer a question making you ineligible, you will not be able to access the rest of the application
- Advisor Review/Signature (New and Returning applicants)- Please ask for the WomenGive Program Coordinator or advisor review & signature. Please plan accordingly before you submit your application- plan with time accordingly
- Obtain unofficial transcripts
- Financial aid report from school
- Non- Project Self-Sufficiency Participants:
- Schedule 1-hour appointment with WomenGive Program Coordinator BEFORE the deadline
- Meetings with WomenGive Program Coordinator can only be rescheduled once
- Project Self-Sufficiency Participants: You may want to make an appointment with your Project Self-Sufficiency advisor to review your application with you.
- Verify child care provider fees and confirm provider is licensed
Step 3: Prepare for Essays
- Returning Applicants: Returning applicants do not need to complete the personal essay. Please instead complete the short answer question found in the applicant application
- New applicants are required to complete a one time personal essay. There are no words counts, but please be thorough and use this as a space to tell us more about you!
Step 4: Fill Out Application
- Log in to Survey Monkey with your credentials
- Select correct scholarship semester and click “Apply”
- Complete all tasks in application
- You are able to save the application and continue editing by clicking the “save and edit” button
- Do not click “Mark as complete” at the end of each task until you are finished editing and filling out all the information and editing, you will not be able to edit any tasks once this button is clicked
- Reusable Tasks (Returning Users only) – When completing a task that is a reusable task you will be prompted with a pop up question asking if you would like to reuse information from your past application. By selecting this option, your application will automatically be filled with the information from your last application.
- If you do not click yes, you will still have the option to reuse the data (on certain tasks only) by clicking the reuse data button in the top right corner of the application
- You are able to edit this information
- Please update any information
- Change any information that is no longer correct
Step 5: Submission Instructions
- Carefully review your application
- Check for all materials
- Confirm that all materials requested have been uploaded
- Check for proper spelling, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation
- Submit Application and all supporting documents. Once finished, please email WomenGive Program Coordinator for confirmation that your application is complete.
Emergency Assistance
WomenGive created the Emergency Assistance Fund as a means to respond to unforeseen circumstances involving basic needs for recipients of the WomenGive Scholarship while in the WomenGive program. The purpose of this fund is to meet unanticipated needs that cannot be resolved through alternative community resources and assist with a circumstance that requires an immediate response.
The Emergency Assistance Fund is intended to be used as a “last resort” option, one that does not duplicate existing assistance programs. The Emergency Assistance is intended as a resource that helps the recipient stay in school and complete the requirements for the semester in which they are enrolled.
The following requirements must be met:
· Applicant must be a current WomenGive scholarship recipient.
· Applicant must have not have already exhausted their maximum of $800 in emergency assistance available each semester.
· Application must be completed in its entirety, with supporting documentation attached.
How to Apply
How to Apply
Email womengive@uwaylc.org
In your email, please describe the scenario you are requesting assistance for and what additional resources you have already explored.
After discussion with the WomenGive Program Coordinator, a formal application will be provided that includes short-form questions, invoices, or additional material requests.
Please allow up to seven business days for processing.
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