About Scholarship America®

The Scholarship America logoScholarship America carries out its mission of expanding access to educational opportunities and encouraging academic achievement through its Dollars for Scholars, Scholarship Management Services, and ScholarShop programs. Headquartered in Minneapolis and St. Peter, MN, Scholarship America has distributed more than $1 billion to nearly one million students through its scholarship and educational support programs since its founding in 1958.

William Nelson, former president of Scholarship America, the parent organization of Illinois Dollars for Scholars, met with Nicor Gas representatives in Sycamore, IL during a fundraising walk across the region. Pictured: Corky Wetzel, Nicor Regional Community Relations Director; Brad Burzynski, State Senator; David Wirsing, State Representative; John Swedberg, Mayor of Sycamore

In 2007, for the sixth straight year, Scholarship America received a Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator, America's premier evaluator of nonprofit fiscal efficiency—a feat achieved by only 2% of nonprofit organizations across the country. For more information on Scholarship America, visit www.scholarshipamerica.org.

More About Scholarship America's Programs and Initiatives

Scholarship Management ServicesSM

Scholarship Management Services is the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarship and tuition reimbursement programs for corporations, foundations, associations and individuals. In FY2003, Scholarship Management Services distributed more than $117.9 million to more than 72,500 students through 964 sponsored programs.

ScholarShop®

A growing number of Dollars for Scholars chapters have adopted the ScholarShop program to complement their over-arching approach to fostering a culture of education with an eye on the future. ScholarShop is a curriculum and resource center designed to motivate and prepare 7-12 grade students for a future that includes postsecondary education. ScholarShop includes ScholarShop Jr.®, for 4-6 grade students, and ParentShop®, a series of interactive workshops to help parents understand career and college exploration. Over 17,000 students participate in ScholarShop at more than 200 locations in 28 states and the District of Columbia.

Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund®

Through the generosity of more than 20,000 individuals and corporations, more than $125 million has been raised to fund this 30-year scholarship program. Along with the Lumina Foundation for Education, Scholarship America created the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund to provide education assistance for postsecondary study to dependents of those killed or permanently disabled as a result of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

 

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.