I can't really answer your question on the lifespan of memorial scholarships, but I would like to say that it seems a little strange--and very poor planning-- that no one in charge thought to address this before the money ran out. As a parent in your position, I think I would not feel that it was my responsibility to perpetuate this scholarship. Depending on how much fundraising you do now, I might be agreeable to the group running a fundraiser specifically for the scholarship fund, but I wouldn't feel like parents should dip into their own pockets to continue this scholarship. But that's just my point of view [img]smile.gif[/img]

I'm a parent of a high schooler now (pray for me), and have joined the music parents booster club.

Recently, there was some lively discussion on memorial scholarship funds. Does anyone know any "rule of thumb" calculations to determine the life span of scholarship funds?

Background info:

Our very popular High School band director passed away less than 10 years ago. A memorial scholarship fund was set up at the time of her death for donations that came in. Since her death, they have been giving one $500 scholarship per year to a senior who was in band.

Let's say they collected $3,000 at the time of her death? How long would you expect these funds to last?

Why do I ask?

Last year (the night before the honors graduation ceremony), the new band director hits up the music parent group for funds, saying that the Band memorial scholarship fund cannot pony up the $500 and can the music parents make up the difference?

Now our parent group is being asked by the new band director to regularly fund this memorial band scholarship...

Help!

What kind of questions should we be asking on behalf of our group before we are financially bled to death with memorial scholarship funding?

####