‘Giving Tuesday,’ meet the new Nellie Student Support Fund

Just in time for #GivingTuesday, the Student Alumni Association announces creation of The Nellie Student Support Fund,  designed to address urgent student needs and inspired by Hurricane Matthew

The fund is administered through the Jacksonville University Office of Student Financial Assistance. It assists current JU students by providing financial support when they need assistance with unexpected emergency expenses surrounding situations such as accidents, illness, death of a family member, fire damage or need for temporary housing.

Students may apply for funds when they have exhausted all other resources. The funding is not intended to replace or supplement existing financial aid and does not have to be repaid.

“The SAA and Green Key Honor Society typically partner each year to rally students for the annual class gift in honor of the graduating class, and this year the hurricane inspired them to set up a fund for students to be able to apply for support that falls outside regular scholarship parameters,” said Kim Grant, Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving. “They liked the idea of creating a special fund that could address urgent student needs with small, targeted sums of money.”

As an example, if a student’s home is severely damaged in a storm and his or her parents are caught off guard with added expenses and can’t pay for books for the upcoming semester, the student could apply for Nellie Fund support to pay for the books.

To donate to the Nellie Student Support Fund, click here. Select “Sport, Department or Other Area” at the bottom of the drop-down menu, and then write in “Nellie Student Support Fund” as your designation for your donation.

Below is more information about the fund:

Nellie Student Support Fund

Examples of Expenses Covered:

• Medications and other costs related to medical care

• Books and other essential academic expenses
• Safety needs (i.e. changing a lock)
• Replacement of essential personal belongings due to fire, theft, or natural disaster
• Travel costs related to a death or illness in the immediate family

Expenses Not Covered

• Tuition, fees, health insurance, and study abroad costs
  • Non-essential utilities (i.e. cable), household, or furniture costs not related to damage or theft
  • Parking tickets
  • Costs for entertainment, recreation, non-emergency travel or other non-essential expenses

Eligibility Requirements

• Applicants must have a financial hardship resulting from an emergency, accident, or other unexpected critical incident.
• Applicants must be currently enrolled students.
• All other resources, including emergency loans through Scholarships and Student Aid must have been considered and are insufficient, unavailable, or not available in a timely manner.
• Applicants must complete all questions in full and submit supporting documentation.

Application Process

Students who are in need of emergency financial assistance may obtain a Nellie Student Support Fund Request Form from the Financial Aid Office, fill it out and submit it and supporting documentation to the Financial Aid Office. The Nellie Student Support Committee, made up of staff members from both the Office of the Senior Vice President of Student Affairs and Student Financial Assistance, reviews the submitted applications and determines the appropriate funding amount. Funds distributed do not generally exceed $500. The committee will review applications requesting in excess of $500 for unique and unusual circumstances of emergency financial need. Applicants may be required to meet with a staff member in the Office of Student Financial Assistance to discuss their application. If you are currently receiving financial aid, please be aware that receiving funding from the Nellie Student Support Fund may affect your future aid packages. For information on the application please contact our office at (904) 256-8000.

The number of students who can be served by the Student Emergency Fund is subject to the availability of funds. The fund must be sustained by continual contributions from alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends of the University.

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