The Ventura County Community Foundation Scholarship Program awarded $2,009,312 to students across Ventura County in 2026, surpassing the nonprofit’s previous scholarship grantmaking record.
“As another incredible scholarship season closes and we enter a new school year, we are proud to celebrate the hard work and promise of the students this program exists to serve,” said Kirsti Vomund, VCCF scholarship director. “This year, we awarded 610 scholarships to 441 students, making this our biggest award year ever.”
VCCF launched its scholarship program in 1990, working with fundholders who wanted to support local students. Since then, the program has grown significantly, awarding scholarships to thousands of students pursuing higher education.
For the third consecutive year, more than 1,200 applications were submitted, underscoring the growing need for scholarship support throughout the county.
The program works closely with local high schools to ensure students are aware of available opportunities, including first-generation college students, students returning to school after a gap, trade and technical students, and foster youth, among others. Individual students can receive multiple awards ranging from $500 to $11,000.
“This milestone wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our donors,” said Board Chair Leah Lacayo. “They are the reason we are able to lift up hundreds of our community’s students every year to help them reach their educational dreams and full potential.”
The annual scholarship season runs from October through January. Students can apply for hundreds of opportunities through a streamlined process and are automatically matched with individual scholarships based on their major, city, and other criteria.
The program’s award selection process is supported by 169 volunteer readers, including former educators, community members, past scholarship recipients and fundholders. Each reader spends approximately 10 to 15 hours reviewing and scoring more than 30 applications. Every student has at least three volunteers reviewing their application as part of the selection process.
“I asked myself how I was actually going to pay for college, and at the time I honestly had no clue,” said Miguel, a VCCF scholarship recipient. “Then a couple days later, I opened my email and was surprised with a couple of emails congratulating me for winning some scholarships. I was in shock and extremely excited. Opportunities like this are what really makes or breaks going to college for a lot of people, including myself.”
The next scholarship season opens later this fall. VCCF is also working to establish its first community-endowed scholarship fund, allowing donors at any level to contribute toward scholarships for local students.
With this year’s applicant pool among the largest in recent years, VCCF says additional support is needed to meet the demand from Ventura County students.
To learn more about the Ventura County Community Foundation Scholarship Program, visit vccf.org/scholarships.
About the Ventura County Community Foundation
Since its founding in 1987, the Ventura County Community Foundation has believed that everyone has something of value to contribute. With more than 24,000 donors from throughout the community and across the nation, VCCF connects people, resources and solutions to create lasting impact.
VCCF’s Philanthropic Consulting Office helps individuals, families and businesses with their philanthropic goals. As part of a network of more than 900 community foundations nationwide, VCCF is also committed to serving as a community leader in the region. Learn more at VCCF.org.
