The Cape Cod Foundation Awards Over $1.1 Million In Scholarships

SOUTH YARMOUTH—The Cape Cod Foundation recently awarded over $1.1 million in scholarships to support 154 local students who are beginning or continuing their higher education or pursuing certificate programs. Its partner, the Cape Cod Association, awarded $550,400 to 327 students. Together, the organizations exceeded $1.6 million in scholarship support.

The Cape Cod Foundation currently administers nearly 100 funds that award scholarships annually to students throughout the region; most were established by individual donors to make higher education more accessible to local students.

Foundation President and CEO Kristin O’Malley said nearly 800 individuals applied for scholarships this year, demonstrating the increased need for financial support for students.

“To increase opportunities, The Foundation established two scholarships, The Cape Cod Foundation Scholarship (2002) and The Cape Cod Foundation STEM Scholarship (2025),” she added.  “This year, thanks to the generosity of donors in our community, we awarded over $150,000 in multi-year scholarships to 19 students from these funds. Having the resources to complete their education contributes to student success.”

Approximately 42% of this year’s recipients are first-generation college students. Some of this year’s students will pursue degrees nearby at Cape Cod Community College and Bridgewater State University. Others will venture farther from home to study at Harvard, Northeastern, and the University of Michigan. They are preparing for careers in finance, hospitality, engineering, law, medicine, politics, social work, environmental sciences, education, technology, and the arts.

In addition to scholarship donors, a team of more than 250 volunteers donated 1,300 hours to make this year’s scholarship program a success.

If you would like to support one of The Cape Cod Foundation’s scholarship funds, please donate online at capecodfoundation.org. Anyone interested in creating a scholarship fund can contact Kristin O’Malley at komalley@capecodfoundation.org.

The Cape Cod Foundation is a community foundation whose mission is to build permanent charitable resources for community betterment through informed grantmaking and civic leadership. Founded in 1989, the organization celebrated its 35th Anniversary in 2024. Since inception, the Foundation has distributed more than $115 million in scholarships to local students and grants to nonprofit organizations.