Financial Assistance Information

The Mathematics Foundations of America and Canada -- the joint sponsors of Mathcamp -- are committed to enabling every qualified applicant to attend the camp, regardless of financial circumstances.

Automatic Tuition Reduction

Every student whose family income is less than $US 100,000 receives an automatic tuition reduction, according to the following formula: if gross household income is X thousand (in US$),

• Residential students: deduct (100-X)/75 from full fee, up to a maximum of $800.
• Non-residential students: deduct (100-X)/120 from full fee, up to a maximum of $500.

Beyond the automatic tuition reduction, Mathcamp also gives out over $15,000 a year in additional scholarships. Awards are based on a combination of merit and need, with special consideration given to girls and minority students. Scholarship recipients will be notified by phone or email in mid-May.

Local Fundraising Program

Because our own resources are limited, Mathcamp may not be able to offer a scholarship to every student who deserves one. However, by organizing a fundraising campaign in your area on behalf of the Mathematics Foundation of America (MFOA) or of Canada (MFOC), you yourself can help raise the necessary funds! All the money you raise will be used by MFOA/MFOC to reduce your Mathcamp tuition, transportation, room and board. Since both organizations are non-profit, donations are tax-deductible. Many businesses and individuals will gladly make a tax-deductible donation when they know that it will directly benefit a student in their community.

Historically, the fundraising program has proved extremely successful. In past years, the average amount raised by each applicant was over $1000. More than a quarter of those who tried it were able to raise the entire camp fee. The remainder of this letter will outline the steps involved, and give you some tips on how to proceed.

Step 1. Start right away! Time is the biggest factor in the success of your fundraising program. The deadline for mailing in your last contributions is June 28, 2002, but don't wait until then. A little effort invested early can pay off in a big way.

Step 2. Figure out the amount you need. Estimate how much you and your family can afford to pay on your own, the amount of your automatic tuition reduction, how much your travel will cost, etc.

Step 3. Choose a representative. There are some legal limitations on the kind of donations you and your parents are allowed to solicit on your own. You should therefore choose an official representative - someone who is familiar with you as an individual, and who values the opportunity you have received to attend Canada/USA Mathcamp. It can be a relative other than your parents, a friend of the family, or a teacher. (Math teachers make some of the best representatives! Discuss the fundraising program with your math teacher as soon as possible.) Try to choose someone who has a good reputation in your community, who can be courteous, articulate, and persuasive. Be certain that he or she understands what you are asking, and is willing to dedicate the necessary amount of time to the project. See the Representative Information for complete instructions and detailed description of the fundraising process.

Step 4. Identify potential donors. Raising the necessary funds may not be as difficult as you think. The largest donations generally come from local businesses, especially the employers of your parents. Often, school organizations, as well as the school itself, may contribute, especially in the case of extremely talented students. Think of how best to approach each of these potential sponsors, how much money to ask for, and how to motivate your request.

Donations from businesses and other organizations can be solicited by either you, your parents, or your representative. Donations from individuals can be solicited only by the representative. This does not mean you that shouldn't discuss the fundraising strategy with your representative. Don't rely on him or her do all the work! Important note: No part of the fee paid by the student or parents to Mathcamp can be considered a tax-deductible donation.

Step 5. Believe in yourself! It is difficult to ask people for money, but you should believe in yourself and the importance of your cause. Giving talented students like you access to a quality mathematics education is currently a top priority in both the US and Canada. Your representative should remind potential sponsors that a program like Mathcamp, because of its national scope, can provide opportunities that a local school cannot. Many of our students end up not only benefiting from these opportunities themselves, but also bringing something back to their home communities: they organize math clubs, lead their schools to victory in math competitions, and act as an inspiration to their classmates. One often hears people talk about the importance of investing in education. By asking them to sponsor you, you are giving them a chance to help make a difference, even if only on a small scale!

Step 6. Keep Mathcamp apprised of how you are doing. If you don't make much progress at first, don't give up! We have guided many students through the fundraising process and may be able to help you with specific pointers, advice, and support. Often, when a potential donor needs an extra little bit of convincing, a phone call from Mathcamp can be just the thing. Notice, however, that this is Step 6, not Step 1! The primary initiative has to come from you and your representative. We can help you, but we cannot do it for you.

Here is the advice of one student who was able to raise the entire Mathcamp fee:

A major factor in fundraising is to be able to sell yourself, and to show your potential contributors that to be able to attend Mathcamp is a prestigious and worthy event in your life. Make a list of companies or organizations that you would like to talk to. You should try to pick larger, more stable companies that make major community contributions. Organizations such as the Rotary Club, or other non-profits, are also a good place to start. If you have written a national math contest, take a look at the contest forms, and see who the recent corporate sponsors are. If those corporations are near you, they would most likely be able to assist you. Remember that the companies that will help you are most likely the ones that are involved with math or education.

Once you have established a list of potential contributors, get your representative to phone, fax or meet the person who would be in charge of these things. Prepare a little sheet with your background and your achievements so that when your representative is done talking, they can give this sheet to the potential contributor. If the company tells you right away that they are not interested in helping you, do not feel hopeless. What happened to me was that the first 8 companies I asked said they were not interested, but later 3 of those companies did help out. After your representative has met with all the companies or people on your list, then it is just a matter of waiting. Be patient and be sure to keep on trying if you get a chance. Afterwards, send a thank you card to the contributors to show them your maturity. You might want to ask them again next year!

For detailed instructions for your representative, see the Representative Information.

Good luck, and see you in Colorado Springs!