Charles B. Keesee Educational Fund Scholarship Grant

The Charles B. Keesee Educational Fund Scholarship offers financial support for students pursuing eligible Master's and Doctoral degrees at various Baptist seminaries. Grants range from $3,100 to $8,800 annually, depending on the program and applicant status. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and residents of specific states, have a minimum GPA of 2.5, and demonstrate intent to enter Baptist ministry. This fund has assisted thousands of students since its establishment in 1941.

NOTE: Be mindful of the following due dates -
Deadline date for applications for the Master’s Degree grant for repeat applicants is March1 for fall and spring semesters and October 1 for the spring semester only.Deadline date for the Master’s degree grant for new applicants is April 1 for fall and spring semesters and October 1 for the spring semester only. New and Repeat Applicant enrolled in a Doctoral program due May 1st  for fall and spring semesters and November 1 for spring semester only.
The Founding of the Charles B. Keesee Educational Fund
In 1893 an ambitious young man, born and reared in Caswell County, North Carolina, came to Martinsville, Virginia to seek his fortune. That young man was Charles B. Keesee. In 1896 Mr. Keesee was married to Miss Olivia Helms Simmons of Floyd, Virginia. Having no children of their own, it was their desire to help worthy young men and women obtain an education at Baptist institutions. Mr. Keesee provided in his will for the establishment of an educational fund, and after his death in 1940, the Charles B. Keesee Educational Fund was established in 1941. Mrs. Keesee shared her husband’s interest in assisting young people toward greater educational opportunities. At her death in 1944, she left the major part of her estate to the Charles B. Keesee Educational Fund, Inc. Since its inception, the Fund assisted thousands of qualified students in paying their educational expenses.
Funding
Grants in an amount of $4,150 to $8,800 per year (2 semesters) for a maximum of four years may be available to students pursuing an eligible Master's degree who meet the application requirements
Depending upon the seminary or divinity school you attend, a student in the Doctor of Ministry/Doctor of Educational Ministry/Doctor of Education/Doctor of Philosophy program may be considered for a grant in the amount of $3,100 to $4,150 per year for up to three years.

Eligibility

Applicant Requirements
You must be a citizen of the United States of America.

You must be a resident of :Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee or West Virginia.
Students must have lived in one of these states for a minimum of twelve months immediately prior to entering any educational institution.A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 is required of applicants.Applicants must have the necessary academic qualifications required to be admitted by the Keesee beneficiary school to which he/she is applying.You must attend one of the following seminaries or divinity schools:Baptist House of Studies at Duke University, Durham, NC
Gardner-Webb Divinity School, Boiling Springs, NC
Gateway Seminary of the Southern Baptist Convention, Ontario, California
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, LA
Rawlings School of Divinity at Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX
The John Leland Center for Theological Studies, Arlington, VA   Eligible degree programs:Accepted Master's Degrees:Master of Divinity
Master of Arts in Christian Education
Master of Arts in Christian Education with Biblical Counseling
Master of Arts in Christian Ministry (Mentored)
Master of Arts in Christian Practice (Baptist House of Studies at Duke Only)
Master of Arts in Ministry to Women
Master of Arts in Ministry to Women with Biblical Counseling
Master of Arts in Worship Ministry
Master of Christian Leadership (John Leland Center for Theological Studies Only)
Master of Music in Church Music (SWBTS only)Accepted Doctor's Degrees:Doctor of Education
Doctor of Ministry
Doctor of PhilosophyEligible degrees at Baptist House of Studies at Duke University:Master of Divinity
Doctor of Ministry
Doctor of PhilosophyEligible degrees at Rawlings School of Divinity at Liberty University:Master of Divinity
Master of Arts in Theological Studies
Doctor of Ministry in Strategic Christian Ministry (students must enroll in an on-campus intensive each semester to be eligible for a Keesee grant)
Doctor of Philosophy in Theology and Apologetics (residential program only)
Doctor of Philosophy in Biblical Studies (residential program only)
Doctor of Philosophy in Theology (residential program only)You must be preparing to enter the Baptist ministry or religious work in the Baptist denomination as defined in the application and as determined by the Board of Trustees.
You must be a member of a Baptist church. Applicants are required to provide contact information for their church pastor or other ministerial staff member to verify the applicant is a member of a Baptist church, the date the applicant joined the church, the church's denomination and the church's national or state Baptist convention or association, if any. Applicants are not considered for a Keesee grant without a third-party providing this information.
You must attend at least one class on the main campus of the eligible institution, a hybrid class, an equip class, class at an extension center, practicum or mentored internship class each semester. A hybrid class must meet on-campus at least once during the semester to qualify. Zoom or other virtual platforms are not considered as on-campus time for Keesee grant purposes. Equip and extension center classes must be endorsed by the eligible school, taught in person by a professor approved by the eligible school and at a location approved by the eligible school in order to be considered. Practicum/Mentored internships must be endorsed by the eligible school.
Grants are available for fall and spring break intensives. Grants are also available for J-term/winter term hours. J-term/winter term hours should be counted with spring semester hours.Required hours for students in eligible Master’s degree programs:Full-time students (9 hours or more per semester) may take all courses on-campus, hybrid classes, classes at an extension center, equip classes, practicum or mentored internship courses OR students may take two online courses (6 hours) per semester to be counted toward the 9 hours required to receive the Keesee grant as a full-time student. The remaining course (3 hours) must be taken on-campus, a hybrid class, class at an extension center, equip class, practicum or mentored internship course as defined above. Only required courses toward an eligible degree from an eligible school count as credit for a Keesee grant.Part-time students may take one online course (3 hours) AND one on-campus course, hybrid course, class at an extension center, equip class, practicum or mentored internship course to receive the Keesee grant. Only required courses toward an eligible degree from an eligible school count as credit for a Keesee grant.You must reapply each year you wish to receive a grant. Grants are available for a maximum of 8 semesters for an eligible Master's degree and 6 semesters for Doctoral degrees.Students must complete the number of hours for which a grant was awarded. Failure to complete your courses (dropping a course) may result in a grant refund being due Keesee Educational Fund.

Ineligibility

Grants are not available for independent courses, conferences, workshops, seminars, colloquium classes, Competency Based Theological Education (CBTE) classes, synchronous classes in which you are virtually attending or individualized courses. Grants are not available for fully on-line students.Grants are not available for Master's students enrolled for less than 5 hours.