Q: Is the Church Matching Scholarship (CMS) program limited to certain denominations?
All Christian denominations are eligible to participate.
Q: Is there a minimum or maximum limit IWU will match?
There is no minimum. IWU will match up to $1,500 per eligible student, per academic year for Wesleyan denominational churches and up to $1,000 per eligible student, per academic year for all other Christian churches.
Churches may support their students with larger scholarships, but IWU will only match up to $1,500 per eligible student for Wesleyan denominational churches and up to $1,000 per eligible student for all other Christian churches.
Q: Are students eligible for the CMS every year?
Once a student is enrolled in the program, he or she may continue to benefit as long as:
- the student meets all the eligibility guidelines
- the student's church submits an official application to IWU by the CMS deadline
- scholarship funds are received at IWU by any required deadlines
Students of IWU employees are not eligible to receive the IWU Matching award; however, they may receive CMS funds from their congregation.
Q: Is CMS available to all IWU students?
The IWU match is available only to our IWU-Marion (residential) students. However, we do encourage churches to assist their students enrolled in the National & Global, Graduate, and Seminary programs with direct scholarships to their student’s account. Other aid is available for these specialized programs.
Q: What if a student doesn't qualify for financial aid under the existing federal and state guidelines?
The student may still receive the benefit of the CMS program award of up to $1,500 from IWU for Wesleyan denominational churches and up to $1,000 from IWU for all other churches. The middle-income student is most helped by such a scholarship. No federal or state financial aid forms need to be submitted to qualify.
Q: Can individuals and businesses contribute to our CMS fund?
Individuals and businesses from your church can give directly to IWU and designate their gift to your church's CMS account. The individuals would be gift-receipted for a donation to IWU and the dollars would go into your church's CMS account.
To ensure there is no delay in their gift being added to your church’s CMS account, make sure they make their check payable to Indiana Wesleyan University and in the memo line on the check, write "Church Name - CMS” or, the individual can visit our Church Matching Donation page and include the Church Name in the Designation box.
Mail checks to:
Indiana Wesleyan University Church and Donor Relations Office
4201 S. Washington St.
Marion, IN 46953
Q: Can family (parents, grandparents, etc.) of an IWU student give to this fund?
Gifts by immediate family, per IRS regulations, cannot be accepted during any year the contributor's child is a recipient of any gift through the CMS program. The intent of the CMS program is to provide new forms of financial aid for students. Awardable monies in this program must be derived from sources that are "detached and of disinterested generosity." The program is not intended to match the money that would have been provided through other channels.
Per IRS regulations, parents, grandparents, and siblings of students currently receiving or applying to receive CMS may not contribute to their church's CMS account.
Q: If I work for a company that matches gifts to IWU, will my gift and my company's matching gift go into our church's CMS account?
A church's scholarship account at IWU will grow more rapidly as donors utilize their employers’ matching programs. Please contact your employer’s Human Resources office to check if they offer this benefit and to find out how you can participate. We encourage you to take full advantage of your employer's matching gift program, if they have one. If your child is not benefiting from the CMS program that year you may give through this type of program.
Q: State of Indiana Tax Credit
Indiana taxpayers may take a tax credit of 50% of their gift to Indiana Wesleyan University. For a joint return, the maximum credit is $200, based on gift of $400 or more. For a single return, the maximum credit is $100 based on a gift of $200 or more.
Q: What if a student withdraws from school or decides not to attend?
Any unused scholarship money remains in the church's account for future use.
Q: Should our church wait to enter the program until we have a student coming to IWU?
We encourage churches to begin contributing now so you will be prepared when students from your church enroll at IWU. Planning ahead just a few years is a great start in helping your students benefit from the CMS program.
Q: Can I support a specific student through CMS?
Since all donations to the CMS program go to you church's account which is used to cover all the awards made by your church, it is not possible to designate your contribution for a particular student.
Q: My question isn't here. Where can I get more information?
Contact the Office of Church and Donor Relations at 765-677-4971 today or
churchrel@indwes.edu so we can answer your questions.
