Harry and Eleanor D. Nelson Scholarship Grant

Harry and Eleanor D. Nelson Scholarship Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Solano Community Foundation
Amount: Up to US $20,000
Last Updated: March 04, 2026

Summary

The Harry and Eleanor D. Nelson Scholarship, established by the Nelsons in 1967, supports Vacaville high school seniors pursuing higher education. Administered by the Solano Community Foundation since 2008, it aims to promote education, public recreation, and environmental preservation. Eligible applicants must be Vacaville residents, demonstrate financial need, maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher, and show community involvement while planning to attend a four-year college as full-time students.

Overview

NELSON FUND - HISTORY & PURPOSE Originally named “Vacaville Community Foundation” by Harry and Eleanor D. Nelson in 1967, this fund focused on benefitting Vacaville residents. Technically not a “community foundation,” but a private foundation, the Nelsons promoted education through the granting of scholarships to seniors in Vacaville high schools for college and postgraduate study. The secondary purpose was, and still is to promote public recreation, preservation of the environment, and preservation of historical records and relics. In 2008, this private foundation dissolved and moved the assets to a new endowed scholarship fund at the Solano Community Foundation. SCF is now the successor and administrator of The Harry and Eleanor D. Nelson Vacaville Endowment Fund and their scholarship program. Historically, most of the funds distributed have been as scholarship awards. Initially, grants made were one-time, non-renewable awards of a few hundred dollars to a handful of students.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: Vacaville resident and a graduating senior currently attending Vacaville High School, Will C. Wood High School, or Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy have been enrolled at one of the above schools for their entire junior and senior years.ALL APPLICANTS MUST: have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 at the time their transcript is submitted.demonstrate financial need.provide a verifiable record of involvement in school and community service activities.be accepted to (and planning to attend) a four-year college or university as a full-time student.