The Mission of the Scholarship and Endowment Committee (SEC) hereby referred to as the Committee is to provide financial support, in the form of specific grants, to promote and foster all aspects of membership education. Specifically, Committee will work to grant financial aid and support to California Dressage Society Chapters that provide educational events which are consistent with the overall educational goals of CDS, and in compliance with Committee guidelines. Individual scholarships shall be awarded based on guidelines established by the Committee and when applicable in compliance with the wishes of the originator of the specific scholarship fund. Scholarships will be awarded only to CDS chapters or CDS members who are domiciled in California or Nevada. Scholarship grants recommended by the Committee must be approved by the CDS Executive Board.

Committee membership: The Committee consists of two individuals from each of the three CDS Regions, a CDS Board Liaison, and an Advisor. Appointments to the Committee from the regions may be recommended jointly by the two elected Regional Directors or the CDS membership, and must be approved by the CDS Board of Directors. Committee members may serve up to two, 3-year terms. Terms shall be staggered. The Chair shall be determined by vote of the sitting Committee members or may default to the Board Liaison. The Chair will create the agenda, organize, and lead the Committee meetings. The Board Liaison will report to the CDS Executive Board and is not a voting member of the Committee. The Advisor to the Committee shall act as finance coordinator who will oversee funds and invested endowments. One Committee member will act as the secretary and take minutes for each meeting. The CDS Treasurer is an ex officio member of the Committee.

Meetings: The Committee will hold a minimum of one face-to-face or virtual meeting each year which will coincide with the annual meeting of the California Dressage Society. Other meetings will be held quarterly by conference call or virtually as desired. The schedule of meetings for the year will be established at the first face-to-face/virtual meeting. The 1st quarter meeting will be scheduled in February/March prior to the scheduled CDS Executive Board meeting. The 2nd quarter meeting should be scheduled by mid-May each year, to ensure prompt action on the applications submitted in accordance with the April 30th deadlines for the individual scholarships i.e. Jane Jackson, Hans Moeller, Carol Plough, etc. Third and 4th quarter meetings are to be scheduled in August and October/November and prior to the scheduled CDS Executive Board meetings. In order to conduct business, the Committee must have a quorum of four out of six members present, whether personally present or present by telephone. All deliberations of the Committee will be confidential and will be held in closed session. Minutes or a report shall be submitted to the CDS Board detailing all actions taken by the Committee and recommendations regarding scholarship grants and additional administrative issues pertaining to the effective functioning of the Committee. Upon approval by the Board, scholarship recipients shall be notified.

The Scholarship Fund is supported by the proceeds of the Educational Endowment Fund, 60% of the Chapter Basket Silent Auction, and from CDS Pylon sales. These funds are invested, and the total amount available for scholarships in any given year depends on the income produced by these investments. The amounts available for scholarships will comprise 75% of the prior year’s interest and dividend income earned by the Fund. . The remaining 25% will be returned to the capital of the scholarship fund. In addition, CDS receives scholarship income from a variety of bequests and individual donations. Bequests and donations will be deemed donations to capital unless stipulated otherwise by the donor at the time of making the donation. The committee will not invade capital to award scholarships except in extraordinary circumstances. All funding recommendations by the Committee must be approved by the CDS Executive Board. 
      a. By November 1st of each year, the Committee shall develop and submit to the Board a proposed budget for educational and rider scholarships as well as administrative expenses for operation of the Committee based on estimates of available funds for the coming year. 
      b. The CDS Treasurer is the signatory on the Scholarship account. 
      c. The CDS Board of Directors will approve all scholarship grants. 
      d. For the January meeting, Treasurer and SC Finance Coordinator will review and provide information on all funds available for scholarship grants including: General Scholarship Fund, Club 100, Carol Plough, Sharon Carpenter, Linda O'Carroll ,and Bobby Keville Funds. For the amount available from the General Fund, specific detailed information on what the amount is to cover will be provided. 

Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of the merit of the proposal. Scholarship awarded may not be for the full amount requested. Applications will be considered as stated in Section 3 according to application deadlines. If a particular application is denied, it can be resubmitted for future consideration. Scholarships may be considered after the fact for activities already held when those activities meet the criteria such as a Chapter event.

Chapter Educational Scholarships: are intended to provide financial assistance to Chapters to offer educational events that might not break even on their own. In addition to detailed descriptions of the planned program, all applicants must submit a current Treasurer's report, bank account balance and program budget detailing expected revenues and expenses for the program. Successful applicants shall be awarded 75% of the approved amount up front, and up to all of the remaining 25% upon completion of the program and submission of a final program summary and financial report (including a profit & loss statement) to the Committee. Scholarship forms are available online or from the Central Office. All completed applications must be submitted to the Central Office. 

To apply for a scholarship download the fillable pdf form and email to: 
California Dressage Society paula@california-dressage.org
Paula Langan, Office Manager