Zach Fischels is a Certified Financial Planner with Northwestern Mutual in Waterloo/Cedar Falls and he heard about the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa through his work with clients and colleagues. He had been thinking about establishing a scholarship fund, as he received a scholarship himself, and the Foundation was a resource to help him put together a long-term charitable giving plan in addition to being the avenue to set up the Zach and Janelle Fischels Scholarship Fund.

“Scholarships helped me significantly to get started in my professional life, and I want others to have the opportunity for the same,” said Zach. “I started this fund to have a bigger geographic impact and to also go the endowed route so I can fund my scholarship up front, and it can continue to pay out in perpetuity.”

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Scholarship Criteria

This scholarship is a one-year scholarship for students who are graduating from schools located in Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Grundy, and Tama Counties. Students must be planning to attend the University of Northern Iowa and pursuing a degrees in Business with a preference for those focusing on Finance. Priority will be given to students with the greatest financial need.  

Give to the Fund

Financial gifts to the Zach and Janelle Fischels Scholarship with the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa allows the Community Foundation to award financial assistance to students pursuing higher education. As the cost of tuition continues to rise, it is more important now than ever to diminish the barrier of affordability and allow students to focus on what is most important - their education.