Jeannette Rankin Foundation Blog

JRF blog moves to official website

2009-10-21T15:58:00.003-04:00

Our website recently got a makeover, which included a shiny new blog. All JRF news is now being posted directly to the JRF website. To keep up with the latest JRF news, please follow our new blog.

White House proposes simpler FAFSA

2009-06-24T10:31:00.005-04:00

We're excited to hear about President Obama's proposal for simplifying the FAFSA. The FAFSA, which is the federal government's required form for college financial aid, is currently over 100 questions long. It's so complex that as many as 1.5 million Pell grant-eligible students don't complete the form. In other words, low-income students often find the form so daunting that they simply give up.

It isn't just that eligible students don't get the grants they qualify for. Forbes reports on one study that indicates that the FAFSA's complexity sometimes pushes low-income students to more expensive, private loans instead of publicly-subsidized loans. The study's author, Mark Kantrowitz, found that two-thirds of students who take out only private loans came from families with an income of less than $50,000.

At JRF, we're for FAFSA reform that makes it easier for students to go to college, preferably without taking out expensive private loans. Plus, FAFSA reform couldn't come at a better time, since, due to the recession, applications for student aid are up 12% over last year.

Anonymous donors support women students, college presidents

2009-06-22T10:22:00.000-04:00

Funding for Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund comes from donations large and small. Some donors use named scholarships to honor friends and relatives; others support our general fund so that we can continue to administer scholarships as efficiently as possible.

Many of our donors tell us a little bit about themselves, including the reasons they share our commitment to women's education. But in some cases, they let their donation do the talking. This spring, an anonymous donor stepped forward (through an intermediary, of course) to provide a $20,000 donation to support JRF scholarships.

A donation of this size is especially helpful this year, given the tough economic climate. The struggling national economy creates a perfect storm for organizations like JRF: endowments and donations are down, and the need for college funding is up, as laid-off workers return to school. As we mentioned below, this trend played out in our office, in the form of a 39% increase in scholarship applications. Our generous anonymous donor enabled us to maintain our commitment to provide 80 scholarships to outstanding students across the country.

Our experience with anonymous giving led us to follow another story about philanthropy and women's education. Over the past several months, an anonymous donor has given more than $100 million to at least 15 colleges and universities. A portion of the gift is usually reserved for scholarships for women and minority students, and, most interestingly, all of the colleges are led by women.

Speculation on the Mystery Donor's identity abounds. Maybe it's a controversial celebrity or disgraced Wall Street financier, hoping to spare the colleges guilt by association. Maybe it's a giving circle, ensuring that, as Brian O'Rourke speculates in USA Today, "women presidents in higher education are successful." Maybe it's Oprah. (A spokesperson for Oprah says it isn't. But of course, that's what a spokesperson would say.) The colleges themselves agreed not to investigate the donor's identity; one school, Binghamton University, originally interpreted the request for anonymity so strictly that they didn't even plan to announce the gift, until they realized it was part of a pattern.

Here at JRF, we sort of like the anonymity, both of Binghamton's mystery donor and our own, no-less-important mystery donor. Of course we would like to say thank you, and tell our donor about the wonderful scholars their gift supports. But we also like that these donations say, in effect, "It's not about who I am. I could be anyone, because supporting women in higher education is important to all of us."

JRF scholar Melissa Brooks earns BS

2009-06-19T14:13:00.000-04:00

JRF scholar Melissa Brooks wrote to us recently with great news: she has finished the coursework for her Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management, and she'll receive her diploma from Franklin University in August! Melissa will join us for the Annual Dinner on Sept 17th at The Classic Center here in Athens to tell us more about her education and the role JRF played in her life.

In her letter, Melissa said, "The encouragement and assistance you have extended has made the difference in my life and the lives of my children." In addition to completing her degree, Melissa recently accepted a new job as Director of Human Resources at Arkansas State University - Mountain Home. She writes, "This position will provide an increase in pay and other benefits that will greatly improve our lives in many ways. These two milestones in my life go hand-in-hand, and were both made possible through your dedication to improving the lives of others."

Melissa told us, "I want you to know the Jeannette Rankin Scholarship has made a dramatic difference in our lives. This would not have been possible without your commitment to providing opportunity and support to others. I do believe this story exemplifies the reason Jeannette Rankin decided to promote educational opportunities. She understood the message embedded in the current ASUMH motto, 'Creating opportunities, changing lives.' And that is exactly what you have done for me."

We agree completely; Melissa embodies the values of the Jeannette Rankin Foundation. Her success is a testament to her hard work and dedication. We can't wait to hear more about Melissa's accomplishments as a student, a professional, and a mother.

Melissa joins a long line of women who have earned degrees as JRF scholars. Congratulations, Melissa!

Save the date...

2009-06-17T13:14:00.002-04:00

Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund 33rd Annual Dinner

Friday, September 17, 2009

The Classic Center, Athens, GA

Join us in celebrating our 80 outstanding scholars at our Annual Dinner. The 2009 keynote speaker is award-winning author Melissa Fay Greene. Her first book, Praying for Sheetrock, was named one of the 20th century's top 100 works of journalism by the New York University School of Journalism. Her most recent book, There Is No Me Without You, was celebrated among the best books of 2006 by Publisher's Weekly, Entertainment Weekly, Christian Science Monitor, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and Chicago Tribune.

Featured speaker Melissa Brooks is a graduating JRF scholar. Melissa will receive her bachelor's degree from Franklin University in August. We're excited to hear about Melissa's many accomplishments as a student, professional, and mother.

Keep an eye on the blog and, of course, our homepage, for sponsor information, ticket sales, and more about some of our speakers in the next few weeks.

We can't wait to see you in September!

JRF joins WCFS

2009-06-12T12:02:00.006-04:00

Jeannette Rankin Foundation is proud to announce that we've joined Women, Children, and Family Service Charities of America. WCFS is an umbrella organization made up of charities and foundations serving women and families. WCFS member organizations provide scholarships, job training, and family counseling, aid survivors of domestic violence and child abuse, and research and lobby on family life issues.

By joining WCFS, the foundation becomes an approved charity for the Combined Federal Campaign. If you're a federal employee, you can now designate JRF for a payroll donation.

We're excited to be counted among so many great organizations working to improve the lives of women and families.

JRF applications increase 39%

2009-06-12T11:34:00.008-04:00

As the 2009 selection process winds down, JRF has started to assemble a few facts and figures about our 2009 applications.

The most striking is the 39% increase in applications from 2008. 834 women applied for scholarships this year, up from 601 in 2008.

We aren't surprised at the increased interest in our scholarship program; in tough economic climates, more women return to school as a result of lay-offs or under-employment, and other sources of funding become harder to find. But we didn't realize how dramatic the increase would be.

Our generous donors provided funds for 80 scholarships, and a group of dedicated volunteers went above and beyond the call of duty to help us complete the selection process.

We'll be sending letters to 2009 scholars in the coming days. Keep checking back to learn more about the outstanding students in the 2009 scholar class!

JRF scholar selected for AAUW award

2009-05-05T13:02:00.003-04:00

Rose Bahr, JRF scholar for 2007-2009, was recently selected as the recipient of the AAUW Ashland branch's unergraduate scholarship. The AAUW is a national organization that advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research. Each year, AAUW Ashland raises money to award scholarships to local women with inspiring stories of struggle and success. Congratulations to Rose, who is a criminology major at Southern Oregon University with a 3.96 GPA.

And the winner is....

2009-04-24T15:03:00.003-04:00

We're happy to announce that the winner of our 2009 Quilt Raffle is Susan Reese. With the raffle, we raised enough money to fund a scholarship! Thank you to everyone who participated and made this year's raffle a great success.

Financing your degree

2009-04-03T12:34:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, NPR hosted a live chat called Financing Your Degree in a Rough Economy. Questions were answered by former financial aid supervisors at Ohio State University and Bates College. Read the transcript for topics like how to apply for federal aid, what to do if you've had a decrease in income this year, and how student loans have been affected by the current recession.

The New College Math

2009-04-01T15:05:00.002-04:00

This week, NPR is exploring how students are paying for college in the current economy. Check out The New College Math to see the series of stories, and be sure to tune in for their live chat this Thursday, April 2 at 12:30pm ET to hear tips from the former head of financial aid at Ohio State University.

JRF High Hat Tea!

2009-03-25T15:09:00.005-04:00

Save the Date!

Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund
Annual High Hat Tea and Silent Auction

April 19th
Lyndon House Arts Center
1-3 p.m.

Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund is hosting its Annual spring fundraiser, the High Hat Tea and Silent Auction on Sunday, April 19 from 1-3 at the Lyndon House Arts Center. There will be a raffle for a beautiful hand-made quilt, with ticket sales benefiting JRF, as well as a festive hat contest, wonderful food, and great time with friends.

Join JRF for an afternoon tea party - reserve spots for you and your friends today!

Jeannette Rankin is honored for Women's History Month

2009-03-17T15:37:00.007-04:00

The Women's Museum blog is featuring unforgettable women who greatly impacted history, as part of Women's History Month. March 16th was dedicated to Jeannette Rankin and the post is full of interesting quotes and a synopsis of some major events in her life.

See the full post here.

It is definitely worth a few minutes of your time to remember some important women throughout history!

Athenas give in memory of Vivian Fisher

2009-02-16T09:00:00.010-05:00

This year, Athena Award recipients from Athens, GA are donating a scholarship to be given in fellow Athena Vivian Fisher's memory. Fisher was a long-time supporter of JRF and a great leader and volunteer in the community.

Read the full article from the Athens Banner-Herald here.

Shauna McElroy receives Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Award

2009-02-11T13:30:00.001-05:00

One of our scholars from 2008, Shauna McElroy, was recently honored with the Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Award.

McElroy is currently attending Folsom Lake College and is president of her college's chapter of Phi Theta Kappa.

Read the full article here.

Phi Theta Kappa Judge in the House!

2009-02-10T10:25:00.007-05:00

JRF's own Sue Lawrence has been invited to serve as a Final Round Judge for the 2009 All-USA Academic Team for Community and Junior Colleges sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa.

Sue will be judging all day Tuesday, February 10, at the USA Today headquarters in Washington, D.C.. As a final round judge, she will select 20 students representing the nation's best academic talent to receive $2,500 stipends among other awards. This year, almost 1,500 students were nominated by their college presidents for the Team, and we are proud that Sue was asked to help in this prestigious and honored fraternity's tradition.

Best of luck, Sue!

College is important but pricey

2009-02-04T15:53:00.007-05:00

The number of Americans who think college education is necessary to succeed has significantly increased, according to a survey released Wednesday by Public Agenda and the National Center on Public Policy and Higher Education.

Two-thirds of the people who believe college is essential also believe that it is too costly for some qualified students to afford.

This survey is indicative of the growing need for scholarships who help support low-income people reach their goals of going to college.

Read the full story from the Associated Press.

Getting away from the everyday

2009-01-28T16:21:00.013-05:00

This past Saturday, January 24, JRF's Board of Directors and staff took a little retreat away from their usual Saturday plans to discuss the foundation's coming year.

Pictured to the right are this year's board retreat attendees.

The Board focused on marketing, communications and development, formulating a 90-day strategic plan of goals and projections. Board Secretary, Stephanie Sharp of Plexus Web Creations, brought data from the JRF website. We are excited to announce that the website has a high level of activity, especially for scholarship applications.

With the current economy, we're predicting an increase in scholarship applications this year. We need your support to continue helping low-income women reach their educational goals. The scholarships that JRF provide are unrestricted and can be used for any needs the scholar may encounter while receiving her education. This includes, but is not limited to, books, childcare, transportation, and tuition. In the same way, JRF needs unrestricted donations for scholarship program operations. Please help us to keep JRF running strong!

Seeing Old Friends and Welcoming New Faces

2009-01-21T16:03:00.012-05:00

Our nation's new President and his administration will be meeting this weekend to plan ideas about the year ahead, and they won't be the only ones. This Saturday, January 24, 2009, the Jeannette Rankin Foundation's Board of Directors meets for their annual Board of Directors Retreat at Power Partners Manufacturing in Athens, GA. Look for a post on the minutes next week!

This new year also brought with it some new faces. Our newest intern, Claire Frost, from the University of Georgia, joins us for the semester and is excited to correspond with all of JRF's scholars, members, and volunteers over the coming months.

Remembering the founder of Pell Grants

2009-01-02T14:14:00.004-05:00

With the backing of Claiborne Pell, a U.S. Senator from 1960 to 1997, Congress created the Basic Educational Opportunity Grants, later named the Pell Grants, in 1972. In 2008, Pell Grants provided more than $16 billion to help low and middle-income students attend college.

Pell once said, "The strength of the United States is not the gold at Fort Knox or the weapons of mass destruction that we have, but the sum total of the education and the character of our people."

Pell was also the main sponsor of the bill that created the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. He passed away on Thursday at age 90.

JRF Thanksgiving raffle recap

2008-12-10T16:38:00.009-05:00

Thanks to all of our wonderful supporters, volunteers and everyone who bought a raffle ticket, the first ever JRF Thanksgiving raffle fundraiser was a great success! The raffle netted more than $1,100, which will greatly help JRF during these tough economic times.

The grand prize, a $500 Kroger gift card, was awarded to Maureen O'Brien (pictured above, right). We were touched to discover that Maureen, in true holiday giving spirit, is contributing her winnings to help people in need. She is donating her prize to Athens Land Trust, People of Hope, and two local families in the Athens area.

Congratulations to Tom Krausmann of Illinois who won the second prize, $40 in Kroger gift certificates.

Thank you once again to everyone who helped to make this project a success. We wish you all a wonderful holiday season.

College May Become Unaffordable for Most in U.S.

2008-12-03T13:17:00.003-05:00

The rising cost of college — even before the recession — threatens to put higher education out of reach for most Americans, according to the biennial report from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education...

Mugs in the Morning

2008-12-01T14:04:00.003-05:00

11 Alive features Jeannette Rankin Thanksgiving Coffee Mugs in the morning. Click the Link and search "Jeannette Rankin Foundation" to view the coverage.

Daring to Dream

2008-12-01T13:11:00.002-05:00

Suzi Wong speaks about the newest Jeannette Rankin Foundation publication.

The Grit Factor

2008-12-01T13:10:00.001-05:00

Founder, Heather Kleiner, speaks about what Jeannette Rankin Foundation's newest publication has to offer readers.

Going Back to School

2008-12-01T13:07:00.001-05:00

Karon McDonald, 49, is a recipient of Jeannette Rankin Foundation's Sunshine Lady Award for the 2008 school year. Karon works with the Reno Housing Authority to help senior citizens live independently and safely. With the current fluctuating economy, Karon has decided to go back to school. She is currently enrolled in Truckee Meadows Community College to get a degree in Gerontology.

JRF updates: November

2008-11-17T13:50:00.004-05:00

This month has proven to be a busy and exciting one here at Jeannette Rankin Foundation. In exactly one week (Monday, Nov. 24), our Thanksgiving raffle fundraiser will culminate with the drawing for a $500 Kroger gift card, turkey dinner, JRF apparel and more great prizes. There's still time to enter the drawing, and you don't need to be present to win!

In other Thanksgiving news, JRF has earned a mention on 11 Alive's "Mugs in the Morning" program on Thanksgiving day. Tune in to 11 Alive from 5 to 8 a.m. to catch our appearance.

In the spirit of the season, we are grateful for our leader, Executive Director Sue Lawrence, who continues to inspire others with her dedication to helping women succeed through education. Sue and JRF were recently featured in the November issue of GeorgiaTrend magazine. Check out the article here, or pick up an issue today. On Nov. 11, Sue also had the distinction of being the featured speaker at the Athens chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, an international honor society of women educators.

We're also thrilled to announce that JRF's new board members and executive committee were elected on Nov. 13! JRF is excited to welcome our new leaders, and thanks our retiring board members for their service.

Lend a can to help fight hunger in Athens

2008-10-24T08:38:00.004-04:00

The JRF office (at 1 Huntington Road) is the drop-off site on the West side for the Junior League of Athens canned food drive, "Food2Kids." The goal of the project is to send food packages home on weekends for low-income children who receive free meals at school during the week.

This month, Food2Kids is collecting cans of ravioli (small, with easy-open lids). At least 2,500 cans are needed by the end of October, so if you are in our area please consider donating.

JRF launches Thanksgiving raffle fundraiser

2008-10-10T12:52:00.008-04:00

Since high grocery and gas prices are affecting all of us this fall, we came up with an idea to boost JRF's funds and give others in the community a chance to win big, too. We will be holding a raffle drawing on the Monday before Thanksgiving with the grand prize being a $500 Kroger gift card! The second place prize will be a full turkey dinner with all the trimmings (provided by the wonderful folks at the Alps Road Kroger store in Athens), and we'll have other holiday-themed goodies up for grabs as well.

Raffle tickets are currently on sale for $2 each, or $5 for 3 tickets. You may purchase tickets online by credit card by clicking here. You may also enter over the phone by calling our office at (706) 208-1211. Our volunteers will be making appearances outside Gosford Wine in the Alps Shopping Center, so be sure to keep an eye out for them!

The drawing will be held at the Alps Kroger at 6 p.m. on Monday, November 24. You don't need to be present to win, and the gift certificate can be used at any Kroger location. Don't miss this chance to get in on the excitement and help a great cause, too.

Gail Dendy's surprise birthday party and room dedication

2008-09-17T18:06:00.009-04:00

This past Tuesday, September 16, Jeannette Rankin Foundation founder Gail Dendy was honored with a very special birthday present from her family and friends. When Gail walked in to the new JRF headquarters (in Athens, GA) on Tuesday, she was greeted with flowers, cards, cake -- and a room named in her honor!

Gail's husband, Larry, wanted to give a special gift that would honor Gail and help JRF raise money for our new headquarters. He and several family members gathered together and pledged $5,000 to name one of our offices the "Gail Carter Dendy Room." Gail received a copy of the sign that now stands outside the Gail Carter Dendy Room, highlighting some of her achievements and contributions to JRR.

Gail is one of our organization's "Founding Mothers," a title she is proud to own. Gail, along with founding friends Reita Rivers, Heather Kleiner, Margaret Holt and Susan Bailey started the foundation in 1976 with a charter and 501(c)(3) charitable letter of approval from the IRS.

Pre-order your copy of Daring to Dream today!

2008-09-08T12:49:00.013-04:00

Here at Jeannette Rankin Foundation, we are anxiously awaiting the release of our anthology, Daring to Dream: Women Succeeding Through Education. Edited by Sue Lawrence and Suzi Wong, the book recounts the fascinating stories of 30 JRF scholars, told by the women themselves. Each of the book's five chapters features a different uplifting theme: "I've Waited Long Enough," "Overcoming Obstacles," "The Power of Education," "Giving Back" and "Changing Myself and My World." A history of Jeannette Rankin Foundation, written by founder Gail Dendy, is also included.

Daring to Dream makes a wonderful gift and, of course, proceeds will help to further an important cause. The book will be available for purchase later this month, but we are currently accepting pre-orders on both our limited edition hardcover ($26.70, signed by the editors) and our softcover edition ($16). All pre-orders will receive free shipping.

To Order: e-mail info@rankinfoundation.org with your name, number of copies (and hardcover/ softcover specifications) and shipping information. We would also be happy to take your order by phone, at (706) 208-1211.

As the release date of Daring to Dream rapidly approaches, please stay tuned for information on upcoming launch events, including book signings and more!

Honor Mom with a gift to JRF

2008-05-07T14:21:00.005-04:00

Mother's Day is this Sunday, but it's not too late to do something special for your mom, grandmother, aunt or friend. Make a donation to JRF and you'll be supporting scholarships for adult women and honoring a special woman in your life.

For each donation (the amount is up to you), JRF will send a beautiful card to the woman you are honoring. You can even request a personalized message to be added to the card. Cards will be mailed the same day for all donations made by 4pm EST.

Honor the inspirational women in your life by making a donation that supports women's education. What a great way to celebrate Mother's Day!

Financial aid for graduate students

2008-04-23T13:44:00.005-04:00

Students often contact Jeannette Rankin Foundation in search of funding for graduate school. Because of our limited resources, JRF doesn't award scholarships for graduate study, but we know of some scholarship providers that do. Here are a few organizations that offer financial assistance to women in graduate school. We also encourage you to use Scholarships.com and Fastweb.com to search for additional sources of aid.

American Association of University Women - awards to both undergraduate and graduate students.

Association for Women in Science - open to female graduate students who are pursuing a Ph.D. in a science or engineering field.

American Statistical Association - awards to women in a graduate statistical program.

Women's Sports Foundation - for female graduate students in certain Physical Education or sports-related fields.

Ethel Louise Armstrong Foundation - open to women graduate students with physical disabilities.

Google Anita Borg Scholarship - for women graduate students in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or a related field.

Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation - open to mothers with minor children who are pursuing undergraduate or graduate study.

Turning the page on textbook prices

2008-04-07T14:51:00.006-04:00

Last week marked the start of a new term at many colleges around the country. A friend of mine who worked at a college book store during last week's book rush told me of the horror on students' faces when their purchases were totaled. No matter how long you've been in school, you never get over the shock of paying $200 for just one text book.

Fortunately, lawmakers are starting to pay attention to the continually rising cost of textbooks. Some feel publishers are to blame for producing new editions of books that haven't greatly changed. Others think professors should take more care in choosing the material they require students to purchase. The College Opportunity and Affordability Act (HR 4137) includes three provisions that would help keep textbook prices under control.

1. It requires publishers to provide textbook prices to professors so they can take the price into consideration when choosing their books. 2. It requires that the items in bundled packages must also be sold separately so students won't have to pay extra for CDs and workbooks they may not need. 3. It encourages colleges to provide book lists to students before the semester begins so they have time to look for used copies, if available.

HR 4137 has passed in the House and is now under consideration by the Senate. To learn more about the bill, read this summary from the Public Interest Research Groups website.

In the meantime, some students are proposing the use of open textbooks or textbook rentals at their colleges as alternatives to the expense of new books.

How the credit crunch is affecting student loans

2008-03-21T14:59:00.004-04:00

It’s a necessity for many students to rely on loans to help with tuition and living expenses while in college. But some, especially those attending trade or for-profit schools, will soon find it difficult to get private student loans. NPR recently ran a report on how the credit crunch is affecting student loans. Listen here. Information to help students prepare for the new changes, as well as comparisons of private loan options can be found on the Simple Tuition website.

Don't be "directionally challenged"

2008-03-07T08:27:00.007-05:00

March 1st was Jeannette Rankin Foundation's postmark deadline for scholarship applications, which means our office is covered with hundreds of applications right now. For the next week and a half, we'll be opening envelopes, sorting application materials, and checking them for eligibility. Unfortunately, history shows that at least 20% of these applications will be disqualified.

Although this is my 8th year at JRF, I'm still surprised by how many applications are disqualified each year. Remember in elementary school when your teacher stressed the importance of reading the directions before starting your work? That piece of advice definitely applies to scholarship applications.

We know that students put a lot of time and energy into filling out a scholarship application. That's why it's heartbreaking to disqualify an application because one little detail is missing, or because the student isn't actually eligible to apply. JRF's program, like most scholarships, is very competitive, so we aren't able to be flexible with our rules. If an application arrives without a required document, or if a student doesn't meet the age requirement, her application won't make it to the first round of review. Many of these situations could be avoided if students would read the directions before filling out the application.

So, don't be directionally challenged the next time you fill out a scholarship application. If the directions ask for a transcript, don't send a class schedule instead. If you have to be at least age 35 (as in the case of the JRF award), don't apply if you're only 20. If the directions aren't clear or if you have questions about how to fill out the application, call us. As scholarship providers, we're here to help, and we want to see you succeed.

Is your scholarship taxable?

2008-02-29T08:37:00.003-05:00

This time of year, many students are wondering if their Jeannette Rankin Foundation scholarships should be reported on their tax returns. It depends. A scholarship is tax free if it was used to cover essentials like tuition, fees, supplies and books. But, if your scholarship paid for incidental or living expenses, you’re required to report it.

According to IRS Publication 520:
“An amount you receive for incidental expenses is not a tax-free qualified scholarship. Incidental expenses are expenses for items that are not required for either enrollment or attendance at the educational institution. Incidental expenses include room and board, travel, research, clerical help, and equipment. If all or part of your scholarship is taxable and you are required to file a tax return, you must report the taxable amount.”

That’s the answer in a nutshell, but you should talk to a tax professional if you have a detailed question. Check out this site if you want to do more research on your own.

Paying for college

2008-02-23T11:46:00.006-05:00

If you're a prospective collegiate student, you've got a load of things on your mind. Once you've finished filling out and submitting college applications (and receiving acceptance letters!), the next thing to work on is a daunting task for the typical student. The high cost of college tuition and fees amount to a huge problem for many families, and paying for education expenses can become a disheartening experience. But, take heart - solutions can range from scholarships to state and federal grants and student loans.

In today's technologically advanced world, the process of searching for financial aid has become easier. The web's resources are unending: simply searching Google's search engine with the words "Paying for College" turns up 1,800,000 results!

Some of the more prominent websites to try are:

1. www.collegeboard.com/student/pay/index.html
2. www.fastweb.com
3. www.scholarships.com
4. www.wiredscholar.com

Most importantly, don't give up looking! The stakes are worth thousands of dollars.

Managing your money online

2008-02-23T10:06:00.007-05:00

Jeannette Rankin Foundation knows that managing your finances is a challenge for college students, especially adults who are earning a degree while running a household. We recently found a tool at www.mint.com that can help you manage your money. With the online tools at Mint, you can set up your household budget, get suggestions for lowering your monthly bills, and even find a lower interest credit card. Mint can automatically pull together your bank, credit union and credit card data and provide up-to-date and accurate views of your financial picture. Best of all, using Mint is free.