Below is a list of organizations that provide tuition and other academic support.
Illuminators Scholarship
The Illuminators Educational Foundation will award up to $152,500 in scholarships for the 2024-2025 school year to eligible high school seniors and college students with one or more years of undergraduate work remaining who work for a food related industry. Of this total, $13,000 has been specifically designated to award Retail Management Certificate Program students and $27,500 has been designated for Retail Management Certificate Program Graduates who want to continue their education.
The Illuminators Educational Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the grocery industry through the California Grocers Association and Western Association of Food Chains.
For additional information and an on-line application, visit the “Scholarships” section of the Illuminators’ Educational Foundation website. Be sure to download the the Scholarship Program brochure and read the instructions thoroughly. You will need the “Program Key” listed in the brochure to apply. Scholarship applications will be accepted beginning September 11, 2023 through March 4, 2024.
Arizona Food Marketing Alliance: Retail Management Certificate Scholarships
The Arizona Food and Drug Industry Education Foundation was established solely and exclusively to support and encourage education, training, and instruction for the Arizona Food and Drug Industry.
Retail Management Certificate Scholarships are available to individuals who are actively employed by a member company of AFMA. To learn more visit: www.afmaaz.org/foundation.html
California Grocers Association: College Scholarships and Tuition Reimbursement
- College Scholarships
The CGA Educational Foundation scholarships are open to high school seniors, college freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are the dependents of employees or are themselves employees of a CGA member company. Graduate students, who are also CGA member employees, are also available for some awards. The employee must have been employed for at least one year as of January 1 of the year in which the scholarships are awarded and still be employed at the time awards are announced.
Applications for the scholarship program are available January 1 through April 1 only. To request a scholarship application, email your name, CGA member company name and CGA member company mailing address to: foundation@cagrocers.com. For further information, visit www.cgaef.org/college-scholarships.
- Tuition Reimbursement Program
The California Grocery Alliance (CGA) Educational Foundation Career Development Program provides tuition reimbursement for the educational endeavors of CGA member company employees. The CGA Educational Foundation will reimburse employees up to $300 for tuition expenses, with a maximum annual reimbursement of $2,400. Employees must complete college courses that qualify under the CGA Reimbursement Program with a grade of C or above. Reimbursement applications must be received by the California Grocers Association Educational Foundation within two months of the end of the course.
To request a tuition reimbursement application or for further information, visit www.cgaef.org/tuition-reimbursement/application. *Reimbursement amount is subject to change.
Iowa Grocery Industry Association: Mary I. Fitzgerald and Piggyback Scholarships
The Iowa Grocers Education Foundation (IGEF) will award $2,000 scholarships to high school seniors and undergraduate students who are children of full-time employees or $1,500 scholarships to students who are full-time or part-time employees of firms that are members of the Iowa Grocery Industry Association (IGIA). For additional information: www.iowagrocers.com/scholarships.html
Minnesota Grocers Association Foundation: “Carts to Careers” – Reimbursement Program
The Minnesota Grocers Association Foundation offers educational opportunities to the food industry and through it’s “Carts to Careers” initiative, provides scholarships to employees of member companies.
Tennessee Grocers Education Foundation: Reimbursement Program
Tennessee Grocers Education Foundation is dedicated to expanding proficiency in the competencies required for effective management in the retail sector. Students taking courses in pursuit of a Retail Management Certificate are eligible to receive up to $200 per term, of reimbursement for their tuition expenses. Each student may receive $600 annually. For additional information: https://www.tgefonline.org/retail-management.html
Washington Food Industry Association: Scholarship Program
WFIA offers scholarships to help students cover the costs of tuition for the highly recommended Retail Management Certificate Program.
For more information email robert@wafood.org or call Robert Mitchell at 360-753-5177 ext. 1. For scholarship information and downloadable application: www.wafood.org/WFIAEF/scholarships.