General Information

Q: What are your administrative costs?
The organization spends about $200/year on postage and website hosting. All work is done by volunteers. There are no paid administrators.

Q: How do you generate funds?
Rubin for Kids hosts one fund raising event per year. Most donations are received at that time, but contributions are welcome at any time. Rubin for Kids is grateful for all past contributions. The operating fund is managed by professional investment counselors on a volunteer basis.

Q: How do you find deserving youths?
Rubin for Kids has close ties to social workers and teachers in the public schools as well as a liaison with the Dane County judiciary and social service systems.

Youth Achievement Award

Q. What students are eligible?
Low-income school-aged children who are succeeding at home, at school and/or in the community. Anyone can nominate deserving children who have been working towards achieving their goals despite overwhelming obstacles.

Q. How much money is available for each child?
The awards average about $100, but up to $250 is available per child. Recipients can also reapply.

Q. What types of awards have been given in the past?
Motivators for improved behavior, achievement or attendance are most often funded. These rewards are for achievement and/or improvement at home, at school or in the community. The awards have varied greatly. Some of the past awards include gymnastics lessons, sports camps, class overnights, clothing, graduation caps and gowns, musical instruments, music lessons, Y memberships, voice lessons, college tours, pizza parties.

Q. Can the nominator suggest an appropriate award?
Yes. Rubin for Kids encourages you to do so and to be creative! The nominator is often the best judge of what would benefit the recipient most.

Q. Is there a deadline for applications?
Applications for Youth Achievement Awards are accepted on an ongoing basis. If nominating a child, you should indicate whether a timeline must be met and Rubin for Kids will try to process the application to meet your needs.

Q. When will applicants be notified of a decision?
Applicants will be notified within several weeks of receiving the nomination. Awards are given throughout the year.

Q. Who determines whether a nominee will receive an award or not?
The Awards Committee makes the determination.

Q. Who presents the award?
A letter is sent to the nominator, and the nominator distributes the award to the recipient.

Q. Is there any follow-up with the nominator or the award recipient?
The nominator is usually someone that the recipient knows well, so there is usually continued contact between the two. In addition, the nominator encourages the recipient to write a thank you letter for the award s/he received.

Q. If I cannot give financially, can I volunteer my time?
Yes. Rubin for Kids always needs volunteers; just email the volunteer coordinator for more information.

Scholarships

Q: Who is eligible?
For scholarships, academic achievement will be considered, but we are especially looking for students who have made significant contributions in their family, neighborhood, school or community despite poverty, disability or other personal hardship. Scholarships are awarded to students who will be attending an accredited two-year college, technical school, engineering or business school, beauty school or other educational institution or apprenticeship program.

Q: Who may nominate a student for a scholarship?
Teachers and/or counselors must submit the application on behalf of a student or students. Students may not submit an application on their own behalf. Please submit only one form per applicant.

Q. Is there a deadline for applications?
Scholarship nominations must be returned by May 1.

Q. When will applicants be notified of a decision?
Scholarship applicants will be selected and notified by the end of May.

Q. Who presents the scholarship award?
A letter is sent to the nominator and the recipient and the scholarship is presented at an awards ceremony.

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