MacDonald Scholars Program

Office of Enrollment Management - Bloomington

The MacDonald Scholars Program endowment provides undergraduate, full-time students with scholarship amounts based on residency. Scholars are selected based on a variety of factors, including financial need and experience with community service. In addition to financial assistance, recipients gain access to a structured program that encourages leadership development and civic engagement.

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MacDonald Scholars Program

Office of Enrollment Management - Bloomington

The MacDonald Scholars Program endowment provides undergraduate, full-time students with scholarship amounts based on residency. Scholars are selected based on a variety of factors, including financial need and experience with community service. In addition to financial assistance, recipients gain access to a structured program that encourages leadership development and civic engagement.

Additional Info

MacDonald Scholars pose with IU alumnus Scott MacDonald.

The MacDonald Scholars Program endowment supports IU Bloomington undergraduates with a passion for civic engagement and a drive to create positive change in their communities and around the world. On campus, MacDonald Scholars connect with supportive staff members, community leaders, and one another through unique engagement opportunities. Scholars make a difference by completing a minimum of 280 hours of meaningful service every year in Bloomington and their home communities.

The MacDonald Scholars Program endowment at IU Bloomington was established in 2016 through the generosity of IU alumnus Scott MacDonald. Despite having worked his way through college, including every semester and summer break, MacDonald graduated with student loan debt. He eventually paid off his loans and embarked on a successful career. Later, he felt the desire to “pay it forward” by helping students who, without his help, would incur significant debt from university studies.

This account is an endowment. Your gift to this fund will be invested in perpetuity to provide annual income to support this program. A portion of the funds in this account may also be used for out-of-pocket expenditures to support the MacDonald Scholars and related programming.

Thank you for supporting the next generation of leaders and difference-makers!

Your giving matters

Dana Nissan, MacDonald Scholar Alumna

As a MacDonald Scholar, I served the community by volunteering at non-profits like WonderLab and the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington. Graduating from IU as a MacDonald Scholar represented not only the culmination of my education, but also how I maximized my role as an engaged citizen.

Dana Nissan MacDonald Scholar alumna

Important Disclosures

Please note, the name and purpose of the fund displayed on this page constitute the authorized description of the fund by the Indiana University Foundation, Inc. Your gift supports the fund as described herein.

This account is an endowment. Your gifts to this fund will be invested in perpetuity to provide annual income to support the purpose of the account. Per Indiana University Foundation, Inc. policy, endowment accounts which do not ultimately become fully funded at the required minimum through pledges/gifts will be converted to an expendable account supporting the same purpose as the original endowed fund.