Impact Statement
Welcome to the Croatian Scholarship Fund
The Croatian Scholarship Fund (CSF) is a non-political, charitable, non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization established in 1989 in Northern California. The primary purpose of this unique organization is to develop leaders for Croatia’s future by providing financial assistance to highly qualified students of Croatian origin, living in Croatia or Bosnia and Herzegovina, so that they may attend a university in Croatia or Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Hrvatski fond za stipendije (CSF) je nepolitička, dobrotvorna, neprofitna 501 (c) (3) organizacija koja je osnovana 1989. godine u sjevernoj Kaliforniji. Primarna svrha ove jedinstvene organizacije je razviti lidere za budućnost Hrvatske pružanjem financijske pomoći visokokvalificiranim studentima hrvatskog podrijetla, koji žive u Hrvatskoj ili Bosni i Hercegovini, kako bi mogli pohađati sveučilište u Hrvatskoj ili Bosni i Hercegovini.
To find out more about sponsorship, and possibly sponsor a student, please click the button below.
In addition to CSF’s scholarships fully funded by individuals and organizations, CSF administers two Endowment funds, the Dragica Krog Radoš Fund and the Miljenko “Mike” Grgich Fund. To learn more about these funds, please click the link below.
Meet our Students
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Tena Strčić
University: University ofZagreb
Major: Viticulture and Winemaking
Place of Birth:
Sponsor: Grgich Endowement
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Natalie Bartolić
University: University of Zagreb
Major: Economy
Place of Birth:
Sponsor: Tony Ujdur Memorial
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Katja Forgić
University: University of Osijek
Major: Law
Place of Birth:
Sponsor: Judge Edward Damich
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Sebastian Ivelja
University: University of Mostar
Major: Music
Place of Birth:
Sponsor: Tony Ujdur Memorial
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Nina Kacan
University: University of Zagreb
Major: Architecture
Place of Birth:
Sponsor: EatPrayMoveTravel
Announcements
Students
Scholarship recipients attending an event in Zagreb joined CSF in celebrating 25 years of providing financial assistance to Croatian students enrolled at universities in Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina
We are able to provide scholarships to Croatian students thanks to the generosity of individuals and organizations who have committed to sponsor one or more students. All scholarship recipients have expressed their sincere gratitude and appreciation for the financial assistance received from CSF. Many shared that without this support, attending university would not have been possible.
"I am writing to you today filled with immense gratitude for selecting me as a recipient of your generous financial aid. Thank you for investing in my education and my future. Your scholarship has a huge impact on my life. It has lifted a significant financial burden from my family, allowing me to dedicate myself fully to my studies. This support is not taken for granted; it is a gift that I will honor through my hard work and dedication."
“Looking back, I feel incredibly grateful for the support I received throughout my studies, and I want to express my deepest thanks to you. The scholarship I was awarded played a crucial role in making my education possible — without that financial support, I’m not sure I would have been able to pursue and complete my degree. Your generosity and encouragement truly made a difference in my life"
Currently, CSF provides scholarships to 160 students, distributing a total of $400,000 each year to students in Croatia and BiH. More than half of this amount comes from direct contributions by individual sponsors, while the remainder is drawn from our organization’s endowment and memorial funds. Over time, some sponsors are no longer able to continue, so we’re always looking for new friends who want to make a difference. If you’re able, please consider sponsoring a student — your support can truly change someone’s life for the better.
Once you decide to become a sponsor, a student from the new incoming group will be assigned to you. If you wish, you may request that the student come from a particular area, pursue a specific field of study, or be of a particular gender, and we will do our best to accommodate your request. You can also choose to stay in touch with your student during their studies — many of our sponsors find this connection to be one of the most rewarding parts of the experience. To find out more about sponsorship, please click the button below.
Recent Graduates
Comments from graduates
CSF was of exceptional help to me and my parents during my education, especially since it helped me to have the opportunity to study despite my poor financial situation.
CSF helped me finance everything I needed for my studies, from tuition to books, textbooks, office supplies, as well as living in a dormitory and paying for everything that comes with being a student.
Without CSF's help, I don't know how I would have paid for all the costs of college and housing combined. They gave me a huge relief because I knew I had their help always on time.
Endowement Funds
Miljenko Grgich Fund
Internship
Once again, in 2026, CSF will offer Internship program to students enrolled in the Master’s degree of Viticulture and Vinology at the University of Zagreb. The internship will be at wineries in the Napa Valley, California. Additional information regarding the application process for the Internship program will be posted soon!
Students studying Viticulture and Enology at an internship in California
Scholarship
The fund also provides two-year scholarships ($2,500.00 a year) to students enrolled in the master's degree program in viticulture and enology at the Agricultural College of the University of Zagreb. Since its inception, 25 students were awarded scholarships and have graduated. Every year in November, a new group of students are selected to receive the scholarships.
In December of 2025, three students enrolled in the first year of their master’s degree studies, majoring in Viticulture and Enology at the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Zagreb, were selected by CSF to receive a scholarship. The scholarship amounts to $2,500.00 per year and is awarded for two years, covering the duration of their master’s studies.
Dragica K. Radoš Fund
The fund was established by Damir Radoš in 2022 to honor his late mother, Dragica Krog Radoš. As of today, 14 students are receiving scholarships from the fund. Students receive scholarships for five years while they are enrolled full time at the Music Academy of the University of Zagreb. Currently, a new batch of students is submitting their applications, and a selection of new scholarship recipients for 2025-26 will be made in the next few weeks. Additionally, the fund also provides occasional “Scholastic Excellence Awards,” and the last recipient received an award of $12,900.00 to pursue advanced studies in piano.
January 3, 2026
Scholarships Awarded
We are pleased to announce that six students who started their university education at the Music Academy of the University of Zagreb in the fall of 2025 have been selected and will receive the CSF Dragica K. Radoš Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to students who have demonstrated academic excellence in high school and are in need of documented financial assistance. In addition to completing high school, most have also attended and completed parallel music school. These students will receive a 5-year scholarship of $2,500.00 per year as long as they maintain overall GPA above 3.5 and are progressing with their studies in a timely manner.
We wish Filip Aničić, Roko Drešar, Jelena Ćepulić Polgar, Karlo Kosor, Maja Matijević and Glorija Pinturić all the success with their studies.
Currently, twenty students at the Music Academy are receiving the Dragica K. Radoš Scholarship.
Recent News
February 25, 2026
Internship in the Napa Valley 2026
The Croatian Scholarship Fund (CSF) is once again offering an internship opportunity for students in the final semester of the Master’s degree program at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, majoring in Viticulture and Enology. This internship is funded through the Miljenko Grgich Endowment established at the Croatian Scholarship Fund, supporting the professional development of future experts in viticulture and enology.
Applications are now accepted until March 31!
For detailed information about the internship program, eligibility requirements, and the application process, click on the link below:
www.croatianscholarship.org/endowments/grgich-scholarship/
January 14, 2026
Golf tournament 2026
CSF will hold its Golf Tournament this spring in Morgan Hill. More detailed information will be posted soon!
December 5, 2025
Our annual newsletter was mailed last month. For those who are not on our mailing list, please click on the following link to read it online:
http://www.croatianscholarship.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025_DecNews-for-website.pdf
Please consider supporting CSF! As you can see from students' comments, they all express their gratitude for the scholarship, many state that without this support they would not be able to attend university.
July 1, 2025
Record number of new students receive CSF’s scholarship in 2025.
After a rigorous review of over 140 applications received from Croatian High School students graduating this year, 42 students have been selected to receive CSF’s scholarship. All selected students will start their college studies in the fall at the chosen universities in Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. They will receive an annual scholarship of $2,500.00, and the scholarship can last for up to five years, covering three years of undergraduate and two years of graduate studies. To stay in the program, students must maintain a high GPA and must progress through their studies in a timely manner.
We wish the selected students best of luck with their upcoming studies!
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