To Mars and Back

If you have the time—and the inclination—there are thousands of unique volunteer opportunities out there. And some are pretty far out—like Mars. About ten years ago, The Mars One Foundation called for volunteers to permanently colonize the Red Planet. More than 200,000 adventurers applied for the one-way trip to outer space targeted for 2023. Unfortunately, in 2016, Mars One ran out of funds and was unable to continue the selection program and the technical studies needed to move forward. Fundraising is still at a standstill. However, while Mars is out, there’s a great volunteer opportunity closer to home. It requires minimal training and a reasonable time commitment. Plus, there’s no need to permanently relocate. It’s The Cape Cod Foundation’s Scholarship Committee.

Last year, the Foundation awarded more than $900,000 in scholarships to deserving, local high school, college, and adult students. They were chosen by a group of people who are passionate about education and committed to helping local students achieve their goals. These volunteers also ensure recipients are selected in a fair and consistent way.

While computers can easily rank candidates by financial need or academic merit, they cannot measure heart, drive, desire, or talent—qualities that help individuals circumvent obstacles and overcome hardships to become successful contributors to society. Our scholarship committee members bring diverse life experiences, outlooks, local knowledge, and human touch to the selection process.

That process begins in February. Scholarship applications are accepted through April 1. Committee Members will review applications in April and May, and we will announce scholarship recipients in June. The total time commitment for each volunteer is around 10 hours. Together, they contribute about 1,300 hours of volunteer time, the equivalent of a $44,000 gift to the Foundation, the community…and to the students.

If that sounds like a great opportunity to you, I’ll be over the moon (not to mention Mars)! To get started, check out our volunteer roles and responsibilities and complete the form on our website.
We’ll be in touch soon.

Dara Gannon
Director of Programs and Donor Services
dgannon@capecodfoundation.org

UPDATE: SCHOLARSHIP EVALUATION PROJECT
Last summer, we announced a major new initiative, a comprehensive evaluation of The Cape Cod Foundation’s Scholarship Program. Our goals are to:

• Collect Demographic Data & Success Rates
• Identify Barriers in Applying for Scholarships & College Completion
• Identify Gaps in Scholarship Support for the Cape & Islands Community
• Understand Students’ Needs for Wraparound Support
• Serve as a Leader in Scholarships and Share Results in the Community

Current Data Analysis
We’ve compiled recent available data on Cape Cod Foundation and Cape Cod Association scholarship applicants and recipients and profiles on graduating classes from area schools. Data includes abandoned, awarded, and denied scholarships, as well as retention rates. Student demographics include race, gender, GPA, areas of study, colleges attended.

All Cape College Day
On October 19, we participated in All Cape College Day. Hundreds of students attended this annual event to meet representatives from about 150 colleges and universities and the armed forces. The Cape Cod Foundation and our partner, the Cape Cod Association, were invited to participate to expand awareness of and access to the region’s largest scholarship providers. Representatives from the Advocates for a Community College Education, one of the Foundation’s scholarship funds, were also among the special guests. This one-to-one contact with local students is critical to our outreach program.

Student Survey
Next week, we will send a short, but comprehensive, survey to about 1,800 individuals who have created a profile in the Foundation’s online Scholarship Portal over the past three years. Recipients include those who did/did not complete the application process and those who did/did not receive scholarships within the three-year period. Responses will give us more detailed demographic data on applicants and information about the ease and accessibility of the application process, public awareness of program, and applicants’ knowledge of other scholarship programs. We will also learn more about the impact scholarship awards have had on students’ financial aid packages and total education expenses, along with student debt accrued for education.

Focus Groups
In November, we will begin a series of Virtual Focus Groups to gather qualitative data from Students, School Partners, Scholarship Committee Members, and Community Partners. These discussions will also inform the evaluation and evolution of our entire scholarship process.

We will share the results of all research when completed.

Previous Columns

THE ATM
DARA GANNON, DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS AND DONOR SERVICES
AUGUST 2022
You’ve probably said this—or (like me) heard this—at least once in your life: “I am not an ATM!” Neither is a community foundation. While we do build and deploy resources to support nonprofit initiatives, the financial transaction is only one part of the equation. We’re also building and deploying partnerships. Our Targeted Capacity Building Grant Program is a great example of this. READ MORE

IF IT AIN’T BROKE…
DARA GANNON, DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS AND DONOR SERVICES
JULY 2022
Thomas Bertram “Bert” Lance served as director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Jimmy Carter. Lance is best known for saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That’s the trouble with government: Fixing things that aren’t broken and not fixing things that are broken.” Well, that’s good advice—and as political as this story gets. This story’s really about a new project, a comprehensive evaluation of The Cape Cod Foundation’s Scholarship Program. It’s not broken. In fact, it’s quite successful. But here’s why we’re fixin’ to fix it. READ MORE

THE CLIFF HANGER
DARA GANNON, DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS AND DONOR SERVICES
MARCH 2022
The term cliffhanger originated with a Thomas Hardy serial when one of his protagonists, Henry Knight, was left hanging off a cliff—literally. Readers love them—those major plot twists they just didn’t see coming, those suspenseful moments when the plotline or story suddenly ends, leaving them anxiously wanting more. But cliffhangers aren’t just for movies and books. They pop up in Foundation work, too. At the end of 2020, we announced we had received a bequest totaling nearly $6.4 million—the largest single bequest to date. An anonymous donor with strong ties to Cape Cod entrusted us to create a permanent endowment fund to support the visual arts and other aspects of community life for years to come. That news generated a lot of buzz—and a lot of activity. How would we invest that money back into the arts community? Well, this is the new chapter you’ve been waiting for. read