Available Through The United Methodist Foundation
Scholarships available through the Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation are described below. All applicants must be members of a Wisconsin United Methodist Church. The deadline for application for Post High School/Undergrad Scholarships is April 1. The deadline for Seminary/Ministry Scholarships is July 1. All scholarship applications must include:
- A completed one page Scholarship Application Form.
- Two Scholarship Reference Forms – one from your current pastor and another from an active lay person in the church who knows you well but is not related.
- A letter of application in which you describe:
- Your personal situation and vocational, educational goals.
- Your church related activities and involvement.
- Your school and community involvement.
- Your financial plan for funding your education, including any special financial needs and any additional scholarships you will receive.
- Unweighted GPA certification, current academic status.
Post High School Scholarships
(Follow the application instructions located at the top of this web page)
We are blessed to have the following Post High School Scholarships:
Vera Dueno Scholarship –This scholarship was created in 2001 by Vera Dueno to provide an annual scholarship to deserving United Methodist students from Wisconsin attending a four-year college or university.
DeAtley Scholars Award – Funded by the DeAtley Family Foundation, the DeAtley Scholars Award will be awarded to a high school graduate planning to attend an institution of higher education with the intent of majoring in a service-oriented field.
Elmer & Kathryn Harvey Scholarship – In 2006, the Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation Board of Directors established the Elmer and Kathryn Harvey Endowment Scholarship. Elmer Harvey was an ordained clergyman who served in a variety of ministerial appointments including nursing home administration. His wife, Kathryn, was a high school English teacher for 25 years. She majored in Music and Education and was an accomplished organist. The endowment is designed to provide financial aid to students preparing for service in ministry or education.
Hispanic Scholarship – A scholarship program has been established at the Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation to provide assistance to United Methodist Hispanic students who are enrolled or enrolling in college or vocational/technical schools. This program was established with a gift from the Barkes Family Trust.
Kenneth M. and R. Bruce Orchard Scholarship Fund – This scholarship fund was created with funds donated to the Wisconsin Annual Conference. This scholarship can go to students attending the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
WI UM Foundation Craig and Mary Anne Conklin Rural Church Scholarship – This scholarship established by Craig & Mary Anne Conklin is for students attending two or four year educational programs. Priority is given to students who are members of small, rural churches in the North West and North Central Districts.
WI UM Foundation William Stearns Wisconsin Scholarship – Eva and Alice Sterns left money to the Wisconsin Annual Conference. It has since been turned into a scholarship for anyone going to a Wisconsin State School.
WI UM Foundation Scholars Award – This scholarship is funded with current gifts from generous United Methodists in Wisconsin. When available, scholarships will be awarded to deserving United Methodist students attending a four-year college or university.
Seminary / Ministry Scholarships
(Follow the application instructions located at the top of this web page)
We are blessed to have the following Seminary / Ministry Scholarships:
Alvin Briggs Seminary Scholarship – Alvin Briggs began serving Methodist churches in Wisconsin in 1947, heeding his call to ministry after working in agribusiness for several years. Established in 2006, from the final estate of his cousin Eleanor Briggs, the Briggs Seminary Scholarship will assist students interested in attending seminary or local pastor training.
Antigo UMC Ernest Lofton Memorial Scholarship Fund – This scholarship fund was established in memory of Ernest Lofton. Scholarships will be distributed by the Foundation to aid a Seminary student from the Wisconsin Annual conference who is preparing for full-time Christian service. Preference will be given first to students from the Antigo and the North Central District.
Church Vocation Scholarship – Established in the early 1980’s, the income from this fund is designated to assist individuals whose intent is preparing for a vocation in the life of the church, but who are not currently receiving scholarship assistance from the Board of Ordained Ministry.
UM North East District Circuit 12 Scholarship – The Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation serves as trustee for a scholarship established by the Laity from churches within the NE District Circuit 12 of the Wisconsin Annual Conference. This scholarship is open to full or associate members of a United Methodist Church within NE District Circuit 12. Applicants must be pursuing a ministry career and be attending a United Methodist accredited and approved seminary.
Rev. James M. Le Count, Sr. Memorial Scholarship – This scholarship was intended to go to an individual entering the Ordained Ministry of the United Methodist Church. A $500 yearly scholarship can be awarded by the Grants Committee of WUMF, for a student attending one of the following seminaries. Order of selection1st Asbury Theological (KY), 2nd United Theological (OH), 3rd University of Dubuque Theological (IA), & 4th Garrett-Evangelical Theological (IL).
Loraine & Edwin Stefan Sr. Scholarship – Loraine and Edwin Stefan Sr. raised their family during the Depression era and taught their children the importance of saving. They lived a simple life. When Edwin Sr. died in his mid-forties, Loraine returned to secretarial work to support her family. Their son Ed considered a career in the medical field, but felt the Lord calling him into a life of ministry. While attending Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary he received assistance from a scholarship fund. Established by Ed and Katheryn Stefan in honor of his parents, this scholarship will be awarded to a student under the care of the Wisconsin Annual Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, who is attending Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL with preference given to a student demonstrating financial need.
Earl & Marguerite Sumner Seminary Scholarship – This scholarship is for a person in/going into seminary for work in ministry. The scholarship is available to all Wisconsin students, but preference will be given to students who have an affiliation with either The River Falls UMC (or successor church) or the Hudson UMC (or successor church).
Watertown Christ UMC Myra MacInnis Scholarship Fund – The Myra MacInnis Scholarship goes to an applicant for church-related vocations. Members of Christ UMC will receive preference for distribution of the scholarship funds. With no one from Christ UMC seeking funding, then the Foundation will identify ministerial candidates in need of financial support. Funds may be used for activities which include, but are not limited to: Seminary courses, Licensing or Course of Study School for Local Pastors, Workshops or Training Events related to the practice of ministry.
Waukesha County Chapel Hill Scholarship – The Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation is trustee of the Chapel Hill Scholarship Fund that was started with the remaining assets of the Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in Waukesha. It was the wish of the congregation that scholarships are awarded with priority given to Waukesha County students pursuing the ministry.
Wauwatosa Ave. Education Scholarship – Scholarships will be distributed by WUMF in accordance with the scholarship criteria established by the Wauwatosa Avenue UMC. This scholarship fund was established by members of Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church. The income from this fund is designated to assist individuals whose intent is to prepare for ministry in the local church. First priority will be given to Master of Divinity, Master of Christian Education students and persons seeking training as a local pastor. In the event that there are no Master of Divinity, Master of Christian Education or local pastor track candidates who qualify for the scholarship in any given year, the scholarship may be granted to someone seeking training as a parish nurse. First priority will be given to members of Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church, second priority to a member of a United Methodist Church in the Metro North/South districts, and third priority to anyone who is a member of the United Methodist Church and is entering ministry from Wisconsin.
WI UM Foundation Seminary Fund – Stanley Cottrill had a successful career in the Fox Valley. Stan was a very active member and volunteer of the United Methodist Church in New London with a history of quite giving of money, grants, and endowment funds. This helped earn him the Wisconsin Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Outstanding Lifetime Philanthropy Award in 2009. In June of 2014, Stan gave gifts totaling $2.3 million to nine charities, the Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation being one of them. His money went to create a Seminary fund to support Wisconsin UM students who are certified candidates for ministry. The amount available each year will be divided among the number of candidates. Students eligible for this scholarship must be enrolled in a theological master’s degree program.
Clergy Renewal Leave
The Clergy Renewal Leave Grant is intended to financially assist congregations with the added expenses involved with providing pastoral care and worship leadership while the pastor is participating in a study/renewal leave. Once a study/renewal leave has been approved by the church Staff/Parish Relations Committee, the District Superintendent and Cabinet, please complete and submit THIS APPLICATION to the Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation for grant consideration.
The Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation will review all Clergy Study/Renewal Leave Grant Grants will be awarded to those congregations determined to be most deserving based upon financial status of the church and other factors which demonstrate the grant is critical to the successful completion of the pastor’s study/renewal experience.
Churches applying for a Clergy Study/Renewal Leave Grant will be notified within 30 days of application whether or not the church has been selected for the grant award. Awards may be up to $900/ month for up to three months.