About Dollars for Scholars®

Dollars for Scholars is a national network of nearly 1,200 grassroots, community-based, volunteer-driven scholarship foundations in cities, towns and neighborhoods in 40 states and the District of Columbia. Dollars for Scholars scholarships are critical to many students’ ability to overcome the rising cost of tuition. Each community that starts a Dollars for Scholars chapter sends its youth a message of hope, encouraging students by letting them know that there is an entire community of volunteers who support their success and share their educational dreams.

Dollars for Scholars is a program of Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest nonprofit, private-sector scholarship and educational support organization. The national Dollars for Scholars program and Scholarship America provide the Illinois Dollars for Scholars region and its local chapter affiliates with more than 45 years of experience and proven resources.

The common element in Dollars for Scholars chapters is community-based fundraising for scholarships awarded to local students. Beyond these scholarships, a growing number of Dollars for Scholars chapters now offer a variety of academic support programs connecting students and parents with resources in the community—from mentoring and tutoring programs to finding financial aid to securing grants and loans.

Illinois Dollars for Scholars

Since 1997, Illinois Dollars for Scholars has awarded more than $2.5 million in scholarships to 2986 students in 153 Illinois Dollars for Scholars chapters. Nicor Gas is the founding sponsor of Illinois Dollars for Scholars.

Dick Dystrup, Executive Director of Illinois Dollars for Scholars, promotes the growth of Illinois Dollars for Scholars through chapter development and support. Dystrup, a former high school teacher and athletics coach, brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the mission of increasing access to higher education throughout Illinois.

Illinois Dollars for Scholars Board Members:

Chair:
Hazel Loucks, Ph.D.

Vice Chair:
Joe Cipfl, Ph.D.

Treasurer:
Charles Priester

Secretary:
Teryl Ann Rosch, Ph.D.

Members:
Frank William Bonan II
Julian Brown
Steve Cardamone
Georgia Costello
Perri Irmer
Michael Kimmey
Dean Koldenhoven
Charles R. Logan
H. Cyrus Oates, DDS
Melissa Pantier
Gilberto Romero, Jr.
John J. Swalec, Ph.D.
Sharon Vallas
Senator A.J. Wilhelmi

Benefits of Affiliation

Affiliation with Illinois Dollars for Scholars, and thus, Scholarship America provides access to a growing national network of community scholarship foundations. As an affiliate, your chapter will receive:

  • Use of Scholarship America tax rulings, which includes automatic (501)(c)(3) tax-exempt; 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) public supported; and 509(a) not private foundation status as defined in the Internal Revenue Service Code.
  • Incentive grant monies awarded to each new chapter
  • The right to use Scholarship America's registered trade name Dollars for Scholars in the promotion of your scholarship foundation.
  • Access to Dollars for Scholars’ Collegiate Partners program, with approximately 450 colleges, universities and postsecondary schools throughout the nation that agree not to reduce grant aid when Dollars for Scholars scholarships come to their campuses. Some Collegiate Partners are also Matching Partners, meaning they match Dollars for Scholars awards.
  • A copy of the Chapter Guidebook, a complete manual for successful chapter operation based on more than three decades of Scholarship America's experience.
  • Dollars for Scholars Treasurer's Journal including income and expense sheets with complete instructions for use by chapters.
  • Periodic mailings from Scholarship America on issues affecting community scholarships.
  • Access to Scholarship America's professional staff (regional and national) to assist with individual program needs. Immediate assistance and advice by calling the Illinois Dollars for Scholars regional office at 1-888-255-9140 or by calling Scholarship America's national Dollars for Scholars office at 1-800-248-8080.
  • The opportunity to participate in volunteer training workshops.
  • The opportunity to participate in regional workshops, gatherings and the Dollars for Scholars National Conference.
  • National competition for $500 scholarships through Scholarship America's Community Volunteer Service Awards open to students with volunteer experience who are selected by the chapter to apply.
  • Illinois Dollars for Scholars letterhead – with the name of their chapter added – with printing costs underwritten by founding sponsor Nicor Gas.

Illinois Dollars for Scholars thanks it founding sponsor, Nicor Gas

Since 1997, founding sponsor Nicor Gas has contributed more than a quarter of a million dollars to help establish more than 140 chapters and make Illinois Dollars for Scholars the fastest-growing region in America.