Aid Information and Application
FAST Fund at MATC believes that every MATC student deserves the chance to succeed. Our aid application process is designed to be quick and straightforward, ensuring that students receive the financial support when they need it. By filling out a simple application, you can access emergency funds to help cover unexpected expenses. Let us help you stay focused on your education without the burden of financial worries.
Fast Fund is not supported by nor affiliated with Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC). Fast Fund is an independent 501(c)3 run by faculty at the college to support MATC students.
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Before You Apply
We are a small, faculty-run non-profit. We work closely with MATC to assist students, ensuring that our support reaches those who need it but we are not part of MATC. By submitting an application, we can determine emergency funds to cover unexpected expenses, allowing you to focus on your education without financial stress.
Fast Fund provides emergency financial assistance to current or returning MATC students facing urgent financial needs, meaning you must be actively enrolled as a student at Milwaukee Area Technical College. While there are no strict GPA requirements or minimum semester completions needed, preference is typically given to first-time applicants. The fund aims to address a wide range of emergency expenses, including but not limited to rent, groceries, textbooks, and transportation costs.
Directions, extra information, and examples of what we need can be found lower on this page.
Applying
You can find our application
for emergency grants here:
You can find our Laptop Interest form here:
After You Apply
Application Review
Once you've submitted your application, the next step is to wait for a reviewer to contact you. Please keep a close eye on both your email and/or cell phone, as a reviewer may reach out within 48 to 72 hours to discuss your application further. They may need additional information to determine your eligibility for assistance, so it's important to be responsive to any communication from the review team. Prompt responses help ensure that you receive the support you need as quickly as possible.
Approval Or Denial Of Funds
If you're Struggling with Downloading your Transcripts or Schedule:
Please follow the directions in this link for how to download the schedule and the transcripts. If you want a step by step you can find a list at this link to see a step by step presentation.
If your application is approved:
Congratulations! Your Fast Fund application has been approved. We understand the urgency of your situation and aim to provide assistance as quickly as possible. There are three possible ways you can receive your funds:
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Online portal payment: You can visit our office, and we can process the payment through an online portal using your smartphone or laptop.
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Cashier's check: This is a last resort if no other payment methods are available. We require a day's notice to secure this option.
Please note that it's your responsibility to collect the funds or complete the payment process. We'll provide you with specific instructions based on your chosen method.
If your application is denied:
Due to limited resources, we cannot approve every application and reserve the right to deny any applicants for any reason. While we strive to prioritize those in the most urgent need, a denial does not diminish the importance of your circumstances or challenges.
If you believe your application was wrongly denied, we encourage you to advocate for yourself. Please contact Fast Fund to discuss your situation further. We value open communication and remain dedicated to helping applicants explore alternative resources and solutions.
Even if direct financial assistance is not possible at this time, we can still provide guidance on other programs or organizations that may be able to help. Your education and well-being matter, and we are here to support you in navigating other potential avenues of assistance.
Your Application's Process
You can check on your application status at any time through the application portal. If your schedule, transcripts, or billing documents are not submitted in the correct format, we will reach out by phone or email to request the required information. This may cause delays in processing your application. If you need to submit any missing or updated information after your application has been submitted, please send it to applications@fastfundmke.org.
Application Stage: You’ve started your application, but it hasn’t been submitted yet. Please sign back into SurveyMonkey, confirm all sections show a green checkmark, and submit to move to the next step.
Additional Info: We need additional information to continue your review. It’s important that you check your email and application portal and submit the requested items as soon as possible.
Team Review: Your application has been assigned to a team member who is carefully reviewing your request to understand your needs and explore available support options and resources.
Final Review: Your application is approved! Payments are made Tuesdays and Thursdays. Check your email for your official acceptance letter and details.
Testimonial: We love hearing student stories! While optional, sharing your experience helps show the FAST Fund’s impact and can be considered in future assistance decisions. We may request a testimony or you can send one in yourself on the Testimonials tab - here.
Please note that our organization is primarily run by volunteers and a small dedicated staff. We ask that all communication remain respectful and reserve the right to deny current or future assistance if this expectation is not upheld.
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