The Robert Sydney Needham Foundation

Mission

To establish and support the “Robert Sydney Needham Memorial Scholarship” programs at New Jersey colleges and universities.

Annual application deadlines

March 1

Program areas

Education

Program limitations

To establish and support the “Robert Sydney Needham Memorial Scholarship” programs at New Jersey colleges and universities.

States served

New Jersey

Geographic limitations

Organizations must be located in New Jersey.

Trustees

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
John Newman
Nina Stack

Grants are awarded to establish and support the “Robert Sydney Needham Memorial Scholarship” at New Jersey colleges and universities. Each scholarship recipient will be chosen by a scholarship committee comprised of faculty, staff and the financial aid office. The Foundation asks that the scholarship committee formed by any New Jersey college or university choose one student to nominate for this award using the following eligibility criteria:

• full-time sophomore, junior or senior student
• graduate of a New Jersey high school
• GPA of 3.3 or above
• be actively involved in community service and campus leadership
• show significant financial need.

The Foundation’s intent is to support one student beginning in the sophomore year and continue that support for the student’s junior and senior years. The maximum award available annually from the Foundation is $10,000 per year for a 4 year college and a maximum of $10,000 per year for a 2 year community college.

Requirements

• To be eligible, organizations must qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
• Applications must be submitted through our online grant application form.

Average giving

Average grant size: $10,000
Average number of grants per year: 35

Annual application period and deadlines

Applications are accepted year-round. Applications must be submitted by March 1 to be reviewed at the annual grant meeting that occurs in April.

Communications

Applicants will receive an automated email confirming their submission.

Required agreements and reports

A progress report must be submitted within 6 months after receiving funds.

About the Foundation

The Robert Sydney Needham Foundation was established by Doris Edwards Needham, of Verona, New Jersey, at her death on October 14, 2008 in memory of her son, Robert Sydney Needham. The Foundation provides grants to New Jersey colleges and universities to establish and support the “Robert Sydney Needham Memorial Scholarship.”

Robert Sydney Needham graduated magna cum laude from Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Rutherford Campus in 1964 with a BS in Accounting. He was on the Dean’s list and a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. He became a Certified Public Accountant and was employed by Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. in Newark, New Jersey, before entering the banking field. Mr. Needham was serving as Vice President and general auditor of Berkeley Federal Savings in Millburn, New Jersey at the time of his death in 1988.