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- What is Dollars for Scholars?
- What do Dollars for Scholars Chapters and Volunteers Do?
- Can we choose who we give our scholarships to?
- Are we limited to how much money we can give out to our students and how they must use it?
- Do students have to go to a specific type of college to get our chapter’s scholarships?
- What type of help does Washington Dollars for Scholars provide?
- How do we sign up to form a chapter and what do we have to do to be in the program every year?
- What if our organization is already a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or already giving out scholarships? Can we still join Dollars for Scholars?
What is Dollars for Scholars?
Dollars for Scholars is a nationwide program that for 47 years has helped train and support community volunteers to run their own nonprofit scholarship organizations. There are nearly 1,200 Dollars for Scholars chapters nationwide and over
140 in Washington.
What do Dollars for Scholars Chapters and Volunteers Do?
Each Dollars for Scholars chapter is unique to its community and the students it serves. All chapters annually raise money to award college scholarships to students. They may also get involved with the students by helping them directly at school through mentoring, tutoring services or workshops to help students and their parents understand what is involved in going to college.
All Dollars for Scholars chapters elect their own board members to help carry out their mission. For example, they may elect a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. They may also have additional volunteers who choose only to help with special projects or one-time events. A successful chapter is always recruiting volunteers and has at least 5-12 people who can help make it all happen.
Can we choose who we give our scholarships to?
Yes, each Dollars for Scholars chapter creates its own criteria for selecting its scholarship recipients. You can give out scholarships to youth or adults or both.
Are we limited to how much money we can give out to our students and how they must use it?
No, each Dollars for Scholars chapter can give out as much money as they want provided they have raised money each year. Chapters typically give scholarships to cover college tuition, but they might also give scholarships to help pay for books or personal expenses related to a student enrolling in college.
Do students have to go to a specific type of college to get our chapter’s scholarships?
No, students can attend vocational schools, community colleges or four-year public or private colleges in Washington and out of state.
What type of help does Washington Dollars for Scholars provide?
Washington Dollars for Scholars can help groups obtain their 501(c)(3) nonprofit status to operate as a legitimate scholarship foundation registered with the IRS. This also allows all donations to your chapter to be tax deductible for your donors, making it more attractive to make a contribution. For the low cost of $250 and in just 4-6 weeks, your group can operate as a nonprofit under the umbrella of our parent organization, Scholarship America. Scholarship America is the nation’s largest scholarship and educational support organization. The Dollars for Scholars Program was created by Scholarship America in 1958.
When you affiliate your chapter will be provided with an orientation to help you start your scholarship foundation. This includes giving you a guidebook with ideas on how to run your chapter, a fundraising manual and a custom brochure to help you publicize your chapter to the community. We also provide ongoing support to help answer any of your questions for as long as you’re a Dollars for Scholars chapter.
Washington Dollars for Scholars also helps chapters with fundraising. A $2,000 matching grant is available to groups who can raise at least $2,000 each year. This program is through a partnership with the state’s Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Through our Collegiate Partner Program, chapters can assure their recipients that their Dollars for Scholars scholarship will not be used to reduce their already determined financial aid package. In addition, four colleges in Washington and over 120 across the country have vowed to match Dollars for Scholars scholarships.
How do we sign up to form a chapter and what do we have to do to be in the program every year?
Once you have recruited your volunteers, you just have to fill out a few simple affiliation forms and pay a $250 affiliation fee.
Each year, to retain your 501(c)(3) status and other Dollars for Scholars benefits, chapters are required to pay $200 dues and a $50 bond to insure their scholarship dollars against theft.
Chapters will also be required to submit three simple reports to help us keep track of your chapter members, your chapter’s scholarship recipients and how much money you raised and awarded each year.
What if our organization is already a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or already giving out scholarships? Can we still join Dollars for Scholars?
Absolutely. Existing scholarship groups join Dollars for Scholars to help add additional money and college resources to their programs and the students they assist. To sign up, you need to show proof of your nonprofit status and fill out a few simple affiliation forms. The cost to affiliate, annual dues and reporting obligations are the same as above.
If you’d like to join the Washington Dollars for Scholars program, please contact our office toll-free at 800-335-4512 or e-mail us mail@wadollarsforscholars.org.