Foundation Bursary Program

General Eligibility Requirements

The Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen offers bursaries to both graduating and returning students, including adult students, in the South Okanagan Similkameen region.

Eligible applicants must:

  • graduate from high school in the Regional District of the Okanagan Similkameen (RDOS) this year, or have graduated from high school in the RDOS within the last five years; OR
  • currently be a resident of the South Okanagan Similkameen region.

Each of our award funds may also have specific eligibility requirements. Please read through each of our funds’ eligibility criteria under the Available Bursaries section below.

For additional enquiries about our bursary program, please contact Kevin Ronaghan at grants@cfso.net.

When to Apply

The following chart shows the timeline for our 2024 bursary cycle:

April 2, 2024May 15, 2024May 15 to June 30, 2024Early July 2024July 2024 onwards
Bursary cycle opensBursary cycle closes.
All applications must
be received by 5pm.
Applications are reviewed
and recommendations are made.
All applicants are notified
and award forms are sent out.
Awards are sent
to institutions
and/or paid out to students.

Application Process

PLEASE NOTE: We use a online application system.  If you are unable to apply online, please contact our Grants Administrator at (236) 500-1243.

To begin your application, click the “Apply Here” button below. You will be redirected to the online application system where you will be asked to “Log On” or “Create New Account.”

If you have applied to our bursary program in a previous year, you will already have your e-mail address and password registered in our system. Please log on using those credentials. If you don’t remember your existing log on information, please click the “Forgot Your Password?” link.

Once you have created and or/signed into your account, you can start your application by clicking on the “Application – CFSOS Bursary” link. You can access your application at anytime prior to final submission by logging in with your username and password.  

Available Bursaries

In 2023, the following funds offered bursary awards:

  1. Sharon Amos Legacy Fund for the Arts
  2. Belyea Brothers Bursary Fund (NEW!)
  3. Dr. John & Kathy Scarfo Bursary Fund
  4. Thea Haubrich Legacy Fund
  5. South Okanagan Indigenous Education Fund
  6. Culver Family Bursary Fund
  7. Lynn & Brian Jackson Endowment for Fine Arts
  8. Irene & Charles Armstrong Bursary Fund
  9. L&R Supplementary Bursary Fund
  10. Eva & Herbert Rosinger Scholarship Fund
  11. Alanna Matthew Fund
  12. Kaleden Bursary Fund (separate application process; please see instructions below)

Eligibility criteria for each of these funds are found by clicking on each fund name below. Please carefully review the criteria before starting your application.  Applicants are welcome to apply for multiple bursaries, provided they meet the criteria of each bursary they apply for.

How to qualify:

  1. Pursue education in the Fine Arts, preferably performing arts
  2. Preference given to those with financial need
  3. Open to youth and adult students

Award amounts:

This fund will typically offer three awards of approximately $500 each.

How to qualify:

  1. meet the high school graduation requirements of the Foundation bursary program (see above) OR have been a resident of the RDOS for at the least the last five years
  2. attend a recognized college, university, technical or trade school in Canada
  3. demonstrate financial need

The character of the individual will be considered by the Grants Committee, as will the applicant’s academic record (if available).

Award amounts:

This fund offers (3) $500 awards.

How to qualify:

  1. Pursue any form of education to improve their lives and better support their families
  2. Must demonstrate financial need
  3. Open to youth and adult students
  4. Must live an active & healthy lifestyle (no smoking/no drugs)

Award amounts:

This fund will typically offer ten awards of approximately $3,000 each.

How to qualify:

  1. Pursuing education in art and artistic training
  2. Preference given to those with financial need
  3. Open to youth and adult students

Award amounts:

This fund will typically offer one or two awards from $250 to $500 each.

How to qualify:

  1. Student self-identifies as Indigenous
  2. Pursuing post-secondary education to improve their lives and better support their families
  3. Preference given to those with financial need
  4. Open to youth and adult students

Award amounts:

This fund will typically offer two or three awards of approximately $700 each.

How to qualify:

  1. Preference given to students entering at least the second year of an undergraduate degree program, or entering a graduate program in modern languages or linguistics, classic languages and native languages
  2. Second preference given to students entering at least the second year of an undergraduate degree program, or entering a graduate program in Humanities, which may include philosophy, anthropology or sociology

Award amount:

This fund will offer one award of approximately $1,400.

How to qualify:

  1. Must be pursuing post-secondary education in a fine arts program at a university, college or trade school with recognized degrees or certificates

Award amount:

This fund will typically offer one award of approximately $500.

How to qualify:

  1. Pursuing any form of education to improve their lives and better support their families
  2. Must demonstrate financial need
  3. Open to youth and adult students
  4. Open to students who have a mental health impairment which impacts the pursuit of their educational goals

Award amount:

This fund will typically offer one award of approximately $1,000.

How to qualify:

  1. Pursuing any form of education to upgrade employment qualifications (i.e. trades programs)
  2. Must demonstrate financial need
  3. Preference given to single parents

Award amount:

This fund will typically offer one award of approximately $800.

How to qualify:

  1. Must be entering into or continuing studies in engineering or physical sciences (such as chemistry, physics, astronomy, biology, etc.)
  2. Demonstrated financial need
  3. The character of the individual will be considered, as determined by the Grants Committee
  4. Demonstrate commitment to complete schooling

Award amounts:

This fund will offer one or two awards totaling approximately $3,500.

How to qualify:

  1. A person wishing to advance their education in the arts (including writing, dance, performing arts and visual arts)
  2. Demonstrated financial need

Award amount:

This fund will offer one award of approximately $240.

How to qualify:

  1. Must live or have lived in the Kaleden area (including Twin Lakes/White Lake Road and St. Andrews by the Lake) and have attended Kaleden Elementary School. Mailing address must be in the Kaleden area (V0H 1K0)
  2. NOTE: You must apply for this bursary directly to the Kaleden Bursary Committee. Please click here to download the application instructions.

Apply Here:

2023 Bursary Recipients:

Our 2023 bursary recipients are listed below. In total, more than $49,000 was shared between the 24 award recipients:

Dr. John and Kathy Scarfo Bursary Fund (11 awards): Erin Campbell; Javier Carlos; Anika Freidt; Gradon Freidt; Lindsey Jones; Alexandria Johnstone; Alyse Kohler-Mergel; Spencer Kingzett; Kalezafar Lawrence; Jessica ter Wolbeek; Megan Tiessen 

L&R Supplementary Bursary Fund: Jessie Fleet 

Eva and Herbert Rosinger Scholarship Fund: Jamison Foster, Josie Nickle 

Culver Family Bursary Fund: Amy Lucich 

Irene and Charles Armstrong Bursary Fund: Kaitlyn Nightingale 

South Okanagan Indigenous Education Fund (2 awards): Cassidy Burns, Kayla Burns 

Sharon Amos Legacy Fund for the Arts (4 awards): Maya Halverson; Samuel Kliever; Emily Nguyen; Ellia Schutz  

Alana Matthew Fund: Miles Murphy 

Lynn and Brian Jackson Endowment for Fine Arts: Hannah Ruttan 

Thea Haubrich Legacy Fund: Miles Murphy 

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