Carolina FC - Scholarship Policy

Scholarship Policy

Carolina FC shall provide a player scholarship fund. This fund shall provide financial support to players who may need such assistance to play for CFC.

Funding

The scholarship fund shall be financed through various fundraising events specifically designated as supporting scholarships. Carolina FC shall maintain a Scholarship Committee to coordinate these efforts.

Scholarship Committee

A CFC Scholarship Committee shall administer the scholarship fund. The Scholarship Committee shall consist of a scholarship chairperson appointed by the CFC Board, the CFC treasurer, DOC and the Program Director. The Board may appoint additional members to the committee. The Scholarship Committee’s recommendations will be presented to the Board for approval.

Scholarship Criteria

Scholarships will be awarded based on qualification criteria set by the Scholarship Committee. Qualification criteria will generally track published Federal poverty guidelines based on gross monthly income and family size. It may include other criteria as determined by the Committee. Scholarship awards will be determined by the applicant’s level of qualification, the number of qualified applications, and the amount of funds available for scholarships.

Scholarship Awards

CFC financial assistance will be awarded to qualifying players as reduced fees only for each playing season. Amounts may vary due to individual circumstances and need. Recipient’s family will be expected to pay at minimum one installment per season, uniform costs, and tournament expenses. Special payment arrangements for these may be made with the team manager and/or CFC’s treasurer.

Players participating in Middle School or High School sports programs that coincide with the team’s club season will not be eligible for CFC financial assistance.

Application Process

Scholarship application forms will be available on the CFC website and upon request from the CFC Scholarship Coordinator. Scholarship applications, along with all supporting documentation, should be submitted in a sealed envelope to the team manager with the applicant’s registration paperwork. The application will be forwarded to the Scholarship Committee by the team manager. An application must be submitted in lieu of the first installment payment. If the scholarship application is denied, the first installment payment must be paid in entirety immediately.

The Scholarship Committee’s response will be communicated in writing to the applicant. A letter will be sent to the team manager and team treasurer regarding the financial obligation of the scholarship recipient.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a scholarship, all applicants and their parents/guardians must sign the CFC Scholarship Agreement which requires, among other things, that the recipient and their family agree to participate in fundraising, practices, games, and other regular team activities. Recipients and their families may be requested to provide volunteer service to CFC. When parents or scholarship recipients do not meet the Scholarship Agreement, the CFC grievance procedure shall be followed. The Scholarship Chairperson will be available as a resource to the team manager to provide support and to assist in securing compliance with the terms of the Scholarship Agreement.