Establish a student award
We want to inspire the best and brightest by creating new ways to offer an exceptional student experience. Creating a bursary, fellowship, award, or scholarship is one of the most meaningful ways to make a positive impact on students' lives.
By establishing an endowment or annually funded award, you can join thousands of donors in celebrating students' achievements and removing financial barriers to education.
Types of awards
When you create an award, you can choose the type of award and funding options that work best for you.
Scholarships: A scholarship is a financial award given to a student based on merit, achievement, or potential. It is not a loan and does not need to be repaid.
Bursaries: A bursary is a financial award given to students based on financial need to help students who may not otherwise be able to afford their education. Eligibility criteria and application requirements vary by bursary.
Awards: An award is a financial gift given to students based on specific criteria, which may include academic achievement, leadership, community involvement, research excellence, or other accomplishments.
Fellowships: Fellowships help exceptional graduate students and are a way of advancing their research and excellence in their field of interest.
Funding options
Awards can be funded by outright gifts (cash, cheque, securities) or a pledge payable over a period of time.
The amount needed to create a scholarship, bursary, or award depends on whether you want it to be a long-term, endowed fund or an annually funded award:
- To establish an endowed scholarship, bursary, or award that provides sustainable support to students, a minimum gift of $25,000 is typically required. Larger contributions make it possible to offer higher-value awards or recognize multiple recipients each year.
- An annual scholarship, bursary, or award is an annual fund where the full donation is distributed to students immediately. Donors can create an annual bursary with a minimum gift of $2,500 per year for a three-year commitment, depending on the award amount and the number of recipients.
How to establish a new award
To begin, determine the type of award you wish to support. Terms of reference will be created for approval first by the University of Manitoba Senate Committee on Awards and then approval by the University Senate. A Donor Relations Officer at the University of Manitoba will work with you and will draft terms of reference. The terms will include:
Purpose of the award
This statement will describe the benefit or assistance you wish to provide through your award.
Number of awards, value and renewability
Parameters to consider are:
- Number of awards to be created;
- Value of each award – for endowed awards, the usual practice is to offer the available annual income from the fund as the award; and
- Whether or not a student may renew the award, and if so, under what conditions.
Field of study and selection criteria
This information directs the selection of candidates for the award.
Biographical information
You may wish to provide specific details, relating your award to the life and loves of the person or institution for which it is named.
If you have questions about giving, we’re here to help you.
Whether you’re considering a gift, need help navigating your options or just want to learn how your support makes a difference for our students – we'd love to hear from you.
Email us: donor.relations@umanitoba.ca
Call us: 204-474-9195 or 1-800-330-8066 (toll free)
Visit us: 100-137 Innovation Drive, University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus), Winnipeg MB
Office hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Your support helps to shape brighter futures.