How much funding does The Ike Foundation® College Scholarship Program provide?

The Ike Foundation® College Scholarship Program provides $3,500 per scholarship (5 scholarships awarded annually) in funding.

When is the deadline for The Ike Foundation® College Scholarship Program?

The deadline is April 30, 2026.

The Ike Foundation® College Scholarship Program

THE IKE FOUNDATION

Foundation Annual Grants for Education Recreation Grants

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Funding Amount

$3,500 per scholarship (5 scholarships awarded annually)

Deadline

April 30, 2026

22 days left

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

The Ike Foundation® College Scholarship Program

Funder: The Ike Foundation® (NJ, US)

Mission: Introduce urban and rural children to the wholesome sport of fishing while instilling in them a love and respect for the outdoors.

Status: Active, ongoing annual program

Geographic Scope: United States (all states eligible)

Award Amount: $3,500 per scholarship; 5 scholarships awarded annually

Eligibility:

High school seniors pursuing full-time enrollment in a 2-year or 4-year college or university in the United States

Minimum GPA: 3.0 or better

Must be an avid angler OR contribute to outdoor conservation

Must be accepted to and headed to college in the fall

Selection Criteria:

Academic achievement (GPA 3.0+)

Demonstrated volunteer commitment (preferably in the fishing or conservation world)

Personal essay about lessons learned from fishing experiences and how fishing has impacted their life and prepared them for college

Letters of recommendation

Extracurricular activities

Blind review process using pre-defined point system

What Awards Can Be Used For:

Tuition

Fees

Supplies

Books

Equipment

Application Process: Blind review conducted by Foundation trustees; submissions scored using pre-defined point system

Contact Information:

The Ike Foundation®

PO Box 818

Elmer, NJ 08318

Phone: (856) 712-2328

Email: [email protected]

Website: theikefoundation.org

Background:
Founded by Mike and Becky Iaconelli, professional bass angler and his wife. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Past scholarship dinners have raised significant funds supporting the program ($15,000-$17,000 per year). The foundation also created The Purple Memorial Scholarship in honor of Brenda Butenewicz, a biology teacher and passionate photographer who was an original team member.

How to Apply

Application Process

1. Submit Online Application - Complete application form available online at theikefoundation.org
- Alternatively, mail completed application materials

2. Required Materials:
- Completed application form
- Official transcript
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal essay (response to prompt about life events relating to the outdoors and how fishing/outdoor experiences have impacted your life)
- Information about extracurricular activities
- Proof of acceptance to college (if available at time of application)
- GPA documentation (must be 3.0 or better)

3. Essay Prompt (2020):
- "Most foundations are started because of a personal connection. What life events relating to the outdoors have taken place for you to want to share your experience to help others? How would you create a foundation based on your own life experiences relating to the outdoors and what would your mission statement be?"
- Earlier applications asked applicants to write essays about "lessons learned from their fishing experiences"

4. Submission Method:
- Online submission preferred
- OR mail with postmark date before deadline

5. Review Process:
- Blind review by Foundation Scholarship Committee/Trustees
- Submissions scored using pre-defined point system
- Winners announced after review

6. Timeline:
- Application deadline: April 30 (or approximately April 1-5 in some years)
- Review process follows
- Awards announced in May
- Scholarships distributed for fall semester enrollment

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