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Stamps Family Charitable Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$4.7M
Grant Range
$24K - $0.4M
Decision Time
4mo

Stamps Family Charitable Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,697,932 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $75.5 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Highly competitive - varies by partner institution (e.g., Georgia Tech selects ~150 finalists from ~43,000 applicants)
  • Decision Time: Varies by partner school; typically February-April for incoming freshmen
  • Grant Range: $24,000 - $376,000 (four-year scholarship total)
  • Geographic Focus: United States and United Kingdom (44 partner universities)

Contact Details

  • Website: https://www.stampsscholars.org/
  • Mailing Address: PO Box 98374, Atlanta, GA 30359-2074
  • Executive Director: Mary Snow (from March 31, 2025)
  • Note: Individual students cannot apply directly to the Foundation; applications go through partner institutions

Overview

The Stamps Family Charitable Foundation was established in 1986 by E. Roe Stamps IV and his late wife Penelope W. Stamps to support educational initiatives nationwide. The foundation operates the highly prestigious Stamps Scholars Program, which launched in 2006 at the University of Michigan and Georgia Tech. E. Roe Stamps is a private investor and co-founder of Boston-based private equity firm Summit Partners, an Industrial Engineering graduate of Georgia Tech, and an MBA graduate from Harvard Business School. Penny Stamps was a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Art & Design and a passionate educator who passed away in December 2018. The Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design at the University of Michigan was named in her honor in 2012.

The foundation has grown from two partner schools to 44 universities across the United States and the UK, with a network of more than 3,600 current and alumni scholars. In 2015, the Stamps Foundation received the James L. Fisher Award for Distinguished Service to Education from CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education). Stamps Scholars have earned numerous prestigious national awards, including Rhodes, Fulbright, Goldwater, Marshall, Beinecke, Churchill, and NSF fellowships.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation makes grants exclusively through its Stamps Scholars Program via partnerships with select universities:

  • Stamps Scholarship: $6,000 - $94,000 per year ($24,000 - $376,000 four-year total)

    • Full tuition or full cost of attendance at many partner schools
    • Application via partner institution admissions processes

  • Enrichment Fund: $8,000 - $20,000 per scholar

    • Additional funding for experiential learning and leadership development
    • Used for study abroad, research, internships, conferences, and leadership programs

Priority Areas

  • Merit-based undergraduate scholarships for exceptional students
  • Leadership development and experiential learning
  • Supporting students regardless of field of study or financial need
  • Building a national network of high-achieving scholars

What They Don't Fund

  • Direct applications from individuals (must apply through partner universities)
  • Graduate school scholarships (primarily undergraduate focused)
  • Organizations outside the established partner university network
  • Need-based financial aid (scholarships are merit-based only)

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership

  • E. Roe Stamps IV - President and Co-Founder

    • Private investor and co-founder of Summit Partners
    • Trustee Emeritus of the Georgia Tech Foundation
    • Trustee at the University of Miami and Knight Foundation
    • Former Lieutenant, United States Navy Reserve

  • Elizabeth A. Stamps - Vice President

  • David H. Hopfenberg - Treasurer & Clerk

  • Mary Snow - Executive Director (effective March 31, 2025)

    • Previously served 11 years as President and CEO of Coral Gables Community Foundation
    • Under her leadership, CGCF increased annual community impact from under $100,000 to over $5 million

Founder's Legacy

The late Penelope W. (Penny) Stamps was instrumental in establishing the foundation's educational mission. A former teacher and business owner, she was deeply passionate about education and supporting students in achieving their potential.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Important: Students cannot apply directly to the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation. All applications must go through partner universities.

  1. Apply to Partner Schools: Apply to one or more of the 44 partner institutions through their regular admissions process
  2. Automatic Consideration: At most schools, qualifying applicants are automatically considered for the Stamps Scholarship
  3. Separate Applications: Some schools (e.g., UConn, Virginia Tech) require a supplemental Stamps application
  4. Interview Process: Semifinalists participate in interviews, often both with the university and the Stamps Foundation

Partner Universities Currently Accepting Applications

University of Arizona, Barry University, Boston College, College of William and Mary, Dartmouth College, Elizabethtown College, Georgia Tech, Georgia State University, LSU, Mercer University, Morehouse College, Northeastern University, North Carolina State University, New York University, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Purdue University, Tulane University, US Air Force Academy, West Point, University of Chicago, UConn, University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Miami, University of Missouri, University of Oregon, University of Pittsburgh, University of South Carolina, UT Austin, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, and Queens' College Cambridge

Academic Requirements

  • Minimum GPA of 3.8 on a 4.0 scale
  • Top 10% class rank (if available)
  • SAT 1420+ or ACT 32+ (optional but recommended if submitting scores)

Decision Timeline

  • Early Deadlines: November 1 at many institutions for best consideration
  • Semifinalist Notification: January-February (varies by school)
  • Finalist Interviews: February-March
  • Final Selection: March-April
  • Stamps Foundation Interview: Required for finalists at most schools

Reapplication Policy

Students may apply to multiple partner institutions simultaneously. If not selected initially, students can be considered again if they transfer to another partner institution, though policies vary by school.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Looks For

The Stamps Scholars Program seeks students demonstrating three core attributes:

  1. Academic Merit: Strong academic achievement and intellectual curiosity
  2. Leadership Potential: Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire others
  3. Exceptional Character: Ethics, empathy, integrity, and service orientation

Selection Criteria by School

  • Georgia Tech: From approximately 43,000 Early Action applicants, roughly 425-450 semifinalists are selected, narrowed to 150 finalists invited to Stamps Scholars Weekend
  • University of Pittsburgh: Up to 32 semifinalists interviewed, with 5 recipients selected
  • NYU: Seeks students demonstrating "openness to collaboration, self-reflection, and capacity to both lead and support their peers"

Application Tips from Partner Institutions

  • Start Early: Begin gathering materials as soon as applications open
  • Be Authentic: Highlight unique strengths and genuine interests rather than what you think they want to hear
  • Essay Quality: Responses should reflect independent thinking and creativity; the committee wants to understand your personal perspectives
  • Strong Recommendations: Choose recommenders who know you well and can specifically address your abilities as a scholar and community member, rather than selecting for prestige
  • Interview Preparation: Expect one to three interviews; be prepared to articulate your goals, leadership experiences, and how you would use enrichment funds

Recent Scholar Achievements

  • 4 of 32 American Rhodes Scholars in 2019 were Stamps Scholars
  • 5 of 51 Marshall Scholars in 2023 were Stamps Scholars
  • 30+ scholars have received other prestigious national awards including Fulbright, Goldwater, Truman, and Gates Cambridge scholarships

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

This section is most relevant for university administrators seeking to establish or maintain a Stamps Scholars partnership, rather than individual student applicants:

  • Partnership Model: The Foundation operates exclusively through formal partnerships with universities; grants are made to institutions, not individuals. Contact the Foundation directly if your institution seeks to become a partner school.

  • Cost Sharing: Scholarship costs are typically split evenly between the Stamps Scholars Program and partner institutions.

  • Leadership Focus: Leadership development is central to the program; partner schools must demonstrate capacity to support scholar leadership growth.

  • Enrichment Commitment: Partners must facilitate meaningful use of enrichment funds, supporting study abroad, research, and experiential learning.

  • Network Participation: Partner schools are expected to support scholar participation in the biennial National Convention and alumni network activities.

  • Selection Process: Institutions are responsible for initial candidate identification and semifinalist interviews; the Foundation conducts final interviews.

  • Long-term Relationship: The Foundation maintains ongoing relationships with partner schools and scholars, not just one-time grants.

References

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