Community Foundation, Ivy Tech Host FAFSA Completion Event

In partnership with Ivy Tech Community College, the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County will host a free FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) assistance event for area students as part of its 21st Century Scholar Success Initiative, an effort to dramatically increase the number of local low-income students who achieve well-paying jobs in our region by completing post-secondary degrees through Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars program.

According to data from the National College Attainment Network a Washington, D.C.,-based nonprofit, the percentage of Indiana high school seniors completing the FAFSA—a critical tool which determines students’ eligibility for federal financial aid for college—is down 10% compared to last year.

The one-on-one, in-person event will take place on Monday, March 29, from 5-7 p.m. at Ivy Tech South Bend, 220 Dean Johnson Blvd., South Bend, IN. It will be staffed by InvestEd and Ivy Tech representatives. Incentives include free food and Ivy Tech giveaways, and everyone who attends will be entered in a raffle to win a $50 Visa gift card.

Walk-ins are welcome, but attendees are encouraged to register in advance at the Community Foundation’s website: www.cfsjc.org/events or by phone at (574) 232-0041. The deadline to file the FAFSA is April 15, 2021.

Students and their parents will need to provide the following information in order to complete the FAFSA at the event:

• FSA ID
  In advance of this event, every student AND parent should apply for a FSA ID at studentaid.gov.
  This will serve as your electronic signature on the FAFSA.
• PERSONAL DOCUMENTS – STUDENTS & PARENTS
  Social Security Number
  Driver’s License Number
  Alien registration number or permanent residence card if you are not a U.S. citizen
• PROOF OF INCOME – STUDENTS & PARENTS
  2019 W-2 forms or other records of money earned or received
  Untaxed income, including workers compensation: child support: housing, food and other living allowances: veterans benefits, etc.
• TAX DOCUMENTS – STUDENTS & PARENTS
  2019 Federal Income Tax Return (IRS tax form 1040). If you have not yet completed your tax return, you can still submit your FAFSA using best estimates (using your 2018 tax return numbers, for example). After you submit your tax return, it’s easy to correct any income or tax information that is different from what you initially submitted on your FAFSA.
• ASSETS – STUDENTS & PARENTS
  Bank statements
  Business and investment information: business and farm records: stocks, bonds and other investment records, if applicable