Frequently Asked Questions
General/Donations
What is Crowd Scholar?
Crowd Scholar is a registered charity (#1174788) committed to creating a scholarship programme to help high-achieving students from disadvantaged backgrounds attend university. We believe that students from disadvantaged backgournds deserve to be supported and recognised, and that doing so inspires younger studnets in similar positions.
Our scholarships are not only monetary - we mentor our Scholars throughout university.
Our scholarships are not only monetary - we mentor our Scholars throughout university.
Why was Crowd Scholar founded?
We started Crowd Scholar because we believe in the transformational power education and in people's generosity. When we started the charity, there were few opportunities available for high-achieving students from disadvantaged backgrounds looking to attend university. We decided to do something about it.
When we though about what kind of charity we wanted to create, we realised there is much about modern charities that can keep individuals from donating to good causes. For example, the use of donations to pay for administrative costs, a lack of transparency, and a disconnect between the donors and the good the charity is doing. At Crowd Scholar, we intend to help disadvantaged students while avoiding these ills. 100% of all donations go towards our scholarships, and we provide as much information as possible on our website.
When we though about what kind of charity we wanted to create, we realised there is much about modern charities that can keep individuals from donating to good causes. For example, the use of donations to pay for administrative costs, a lack of transparency, and a disconnect between the donors and the good the charity is doing. At Crowd Scholar, we intend to help disadvantaged students while avoiding these ills. 100% of all donations go towards our scholarships, and we provide as much information as possible on our website.
How is Crowd Scholar different?
Crowd Scholar differs from other charities and other crowdfunding platforms in many key respects:
Qualified candidates: All Crowd Scholar students progress through a competitive and holistic application process; you can be sure that your donations are going to those who need and deserve it the most.
Depth over breadth: £10,000 towards one student’s education makes a bigger difference than £100 to one hundred students’ educations. By grouping donations for a small set of competitive scholarships, we make sure that your donations are making a real difference.
Full transparency: Everything we see, you see. This includes candidates’ full applications, the donations we receive, and how funds are allocated.
Qualified candidates: All Crowd Scholar students progress through a competitive and holistic application process; you can be sure that your donations are going to those who need and deserve it the most.
Depth over breadth: £10,000 towards one student’s education makes a bigger difference than £100 to one hundred students’ educations. By grouping donations for a small set of competitive scholarships, we make sure that your donations are making a real difference.
Full transparency: Everything we see, you see. This includes candidates’ full applications, the donations we receive, and how funds are allocated.
Does Crowd Scholar keep a share of donations?
No, 100% of the funds we receive go directly towards our scholarships. In fact, the trustees even add back to the charity any card processing fees/similar costs that are subtracted from donations before they reach Crowd Scholar
We can make this commitment because Crowd Scholar's costs are fully covered by its founders. We structure our charity like this because we think it is the right thing to do and because we want individuals' generous donations to go only towards benefiting those that need and deserve it the most.
Please note that donors can ensure that we are honouring this pledge. Our website includes a page that tracks all donations (updated daily) and adds it to our scholarship totals.
We can make this commitment because Crowd Scholar's costs are fully covered by its founders. We structure our charity like this because we think it is the right thing to do and because we want individuals' generous donations to go only towards benefiting those that need and deserve it the most.
Please note that donors can ensure that we are honouring this pledge. Our website includes a page that tracks all donations (updated daily) and adds it to our scholarship totals.
Can I donate if I don't live in the UK?
Yes! While our applicants need to reside in England or Wales, we welcome donations from anywhere in the world.
How are scholarship funds managed?
As our scholarships may cover costs over a multi-year period, any funds not put to use immediately are placed in long-term deposits.
We support our Scholars with a discrete set of costs (tuition, rent, travel, school materials), and only grant the funds directly to the billing entity or as reimbursement (supported by sufficient proof).
Scholarhips are not used at the discretion of the winning scholars, though they may choose to, for example, put their scholarship towards tuition as opposed to housing.
We support our Scholars with a discrete set of costs (tuition, rent, travel, school materials), and only grant the funds directly to the billing entity or as reimbursement (supported by sufficient proof).
Scholarhips are not used at the discretion of the winning scholars, though they may choose to, for example, put their scholarship towards tuition as opposed to housing.
How does Crowd Scholar determine if a student is disadvantaged?
Providing scholarships to exceptional students from disadvantaged backgrounds is core to Crowd Scholar's mission. Therefore, to ensure we help those who it it most, students that apply to Crowd Scholar must be eligible to receive Free School Meals. You can learn more here.
All Scholars provide us with evidence that they meet our eligbility requirements.
Scholarhips are not used at the discretion of the winning scholars, though they may choose to, for example, put their scholarship towards tuition as opposed to housing.
All Scholars provide us with evidence that they meet our eligbility requirements.
Scholarhips are not used at the discretion of the winning scholars, though they may choose to, for example, put their scholarship towards tuition as opposed to housing.
What is Gift Aid?
Gift Aid is a UK government tax relief program that allows charities to claim an extra 25p on every £1 donated.
When Crowd Scholar receives a donation from a UK taxpayer, we are are entitled to claim back an amount of tax paid on that donation. The only thing you need to boost your donation by 25% is to tick the requisite box when you donate. Note: you must have paid at least as much in Income and/or Capital Gains Tax as the Gift Aid claimed on your donation for us to make use of the program.
When Crowd Scholar receives a donation from a UK taxpayer, we are are entitled to claim back an amount of tax paid on that donation. The only thing you need to boost your donation by 25% is to tick the requisite box when you donate. Note: you must have paid at least as much in Income and/or Capital Gains Tax as the Gift Aid claimed on your donation for us to make use of the program.
Applications
Who is eligible to apply to become a Crowd Scholar?
In order to eilgible for any of Crowd Scholar's scholarships, you must be:
- Between 17 and 19 at some point in your application year
- Eligible for Free School Meals
- A resident of the UK at the time of your application
- Applying for a scholarship towards an education at a UK university
- Planning to start your university education in 2021-22.
You will be required to furnish proof that you meet all of the aforementioned criteria if you progress to the interview round of the application process.
There are additional eligibility requirements for the Hollyport Capital and John Bennett Trust Crowd Scholarships. Please refer to those scholarships' pages to learn more.
- Between 17 and 19 at some point in your application year
- Eligible for Free School Meals
- A resident of the UK at the time of your application
- Applying for a scholarship towards an education at a UK university
- Planning to start your university education in 2021-22.
You will be required to furnish proof that you meet all of the aforementioned criteria if you progress to the interview round of the application process.
There are additional eligibility requirements for the Hollyport Capital and John Bennett Trust Crowd Scholarships. Please refer to those scholarships' pages to learn more.
What does Crowd Scholar offer students?
Crowd Scholar's long-term mission is to provide our Crowd Scholars with scholarsihps that cover the entirety of their undergraduate educations and offer additional scholarships endowed by generous donors and corporate partners. We are naming five Scholars in 2021:
- 2 Crowd Scholars (£5,000 minimum scholarship, mentoring)
- 2 Hollyport Capital Crowd Scholars (£10,0000 scholarship, mentoring, internship at Hollyport Capital)
- 2 Quinlan Crowd Scholars (£3,0000 scholarship, mentoring)
- 1 John Bennett Trust Crowd Scholar (£1,500 scholarship, mentoring)
- 2 Crowd Scholars (£5,000 minimum scholarship, mentoring)
- 2 Hollyport Capital Crowd Scholars (£10,0000 scholarship, mentoring, internship at Hollyport Capital)
- 2 Quinlan Crowd Scholars (£3,0000 scholarship, mentoring)
- 1 John Bennett Trust Crowd Scholar (£1,500 scholarship, mentoring)
What is the application process?
The application process is split into two rounds.
The first round requires applicants to complete our application form. The form requires applicants to share their grades, write a 500-word essay, respond to a short answer question, provide a teacher recommendation, and detail their extracurricular activities.
The second round consists of thirty-minute video interviews with the trustees. Roughly 10-15 students are invited to the second round, with the exact number determined by the size of the given year's applicant pool. Our Scholars are selected after this round, though we occasionally hold a second interview with certain applicants to confirm our selection.
The first round requires applicants to complete our application form. The form requires applicants to share their grades, write a 500-word essay, respond to a short answer question, provide a teacher recommendation, and detail their extracurricular activities.
The second round consists of thirty-minute video interviews with the trustees. Roughly 10-15 students are invited to the second round, with the exact number determined by the size of the given year's applicant pool. Our Scholars are selected after this round, though we occasionally hold a second interview with certain applicants to confirm our selection.
How do gap years affect eligiblity?
If you are currently on gap year, meet our age requirement, and planning to begin university in 2024-25, you are free to apply during the 2024 application cycle.
If you are currenting in Year 13 and planning on taking a gap year next year, you need to wait for the 2025 application cycle.
If you are currenting in Year 13 and planning on taking a gap year next year, you need to wait for the 2025 application cycle.