Yearly Membership Scholarships for New Businesses

NAWBO South Jersey (NSJ) offers scholarships each year to emerging women business owners. Our goal is to reach out for both ethic and industrial diversification. Each year, NAWBO South Jersey will award scholarships consisting of membership dues and regular meeting expenses to those who own businesses of less than two years' age. The businesses must be located within the NAWBO South Jersey chapter boundaries: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem counties and portions of Mercer county.

Please send your personal and business biographies, including a short piece on how you expect to profit from NAWBO membership, to Kathy Wright. Deadline is May 1. Winners will be asked to submit a report at the end of the year on the effect of the scholarship for them.

The winners will be announced by the end of May, and will be honored at our Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner in June. Scholarship memberships will begin July 1.

Grants to Members

Grants are awarded to members wanting to learn business skills which benefit them professionally.  At the conclusion of the training, the member will use those skills to benefit the chapter.  Here are the details:

• Member submits request to President or member of Board of Directors – Request must state specific use for grant, dollar amount and date needed. Member must state in specific terms what she will do for Chapter in return for grant money. A specific timeline must be stated, as well.
• Board will review request and determine if grant is approved, partially approved (and dollar amount) or not approved.
• Member will be notified of status of request.
• If approved, a contract will be drawn up between the member and the Chapter stating the agreed upon terms of the grant. It is understood that if the member fails to fulfill the obligatory requirements of the contract, the member is liable for all or part of the grant money—amount to be determined by the Board based on how much or how little of the contract has been fulfilled.
• If approved, an invoice or receipt for the approved amount must be submitted to the Board for re-imbursement. Normally, the member is requested to pay for the service and then submit the bill for re-imbursement. The Board has the authority to waive this requirement and authorize immediate payment if necessary. In this event, however, it is the member’s responsibility to submit a paid receipt to the Board for its records.

Criteria

• Member must be a current member in good standing of the Chapter.
• Grant may not be used to purchase products-e.g. software, books, CDs, videos, etc.
• The grants are intended for educational purposes, to help members further their professional development and grow their businesses. Examples would include on-line courses, leadership training, etc.