Find A Chapter
Board of Trustees
About Scholarship America
About Collegiate Partners
About Nicor Gas
Founder's Vision
FAQs
 |
Frequently Asked Questions What is 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. The common element in Dollars for Scholars chapters is community-based fundraising for scholarships awarded to local students. 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. 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. The Dollars for Scholars program empowers communities and groups to help themselves by helping to educate their young people. In turn, it inspires students to achieve by showing that others care about them and their futures. Why Dollars for Scholars? Dollars for Scholars provides an effective, proven way for you and your community to provide academic support and financial aid to local students. Access to higher education is essential to our collective future, yet it is increasingly beyond the financial grasp of many students groping for the key to that future. It’s a fact: The cost of college keeps rising at a rapid pace, two or even three times the Consumer Price Index since 1980. Here are the statistics:
Why should I start a chapter if my community already awards scholarships? The mission of Dollars for Scholars is to promote all types of postsecondary education for local students by creating scholarships, and there are several advantages to your community's scholarships coming from a Dollars for Scholars chapter. It allows local donors the opportunity to donate and receive a tax deduction. Unlike high schools, Dollars for Scholars chapters are 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations, and any donations to Dollars for Scholars receive a deduction. We have a wide and long-standing network of chapters and affiliates, and a number of tools and techniques available for local programs to review and adapt for local use. An organized effort with a common Dollars for Scholars application will ensure that as many local students as possible will find support, and will hear the message behind the money: "Our community values education, we are behind you, and we wish you well in your future." In addition, more organizations can offer scholarships since Dollars for Scholars takes care of scoring and evaluation using a fair, easy-to-compute point system. In the end, a coordinated, community-based effort receives far more recognition and publicity than one group could on its own, and all parties involved receive maximum benefit from the scholarship program. Is Dollars for Scholars a reputable charity? Dollars for Scholars is the largest, grassroots, volunteer-driven scholarship organization in the United States. Each year, SmartMoney, The Wall Street Journal's magazine of personal finance, publicizes its list of the top charities in the United States. Scholarship America®, the parent organization of Dollars for Scholars, has consistently been at the top of the education charity list. This means that the money goes where it belongs—right to the students. It really is local philanthropy at its best. Dollars for Scholars is a proven way to support higher education for local youth. All the organizational materials you need are contained in our “How to Organize a Dollars for Scholars Chapter Kit.” To request a copy, contact Illinois Dollars for Scholars. Begin by gathering a strong core group of community leaders with a shared interest in the educational development of local students; this is your planning committee. Since this group will play an important leadership role in the formation of a local foundation—and since Dollars for Scholars works best when it has widespread support—it should represent a broad cross-section of the community. Next, apply to begin a chapter by completing three simple forms, electing chapter leaders, adopting chapter by-laws and determining your goals and objectives. The cost to affiliate with Illinois Dollars for Scholars is $150, with a $150 annual renewal fee. Your chapter can start fundraising and awarding scholarships immediately upon affiliation. Incentive grants are available for Chicago and downstate (Central and Southern Illinois) chapters only. Any new chapter formed in these regions of Illinois is eligible to receive matching incentive grants as shown below: How can I apply for scholarship aid? Each Illinois Dollars for Scholars chapter offers financial support to students from one or more schools in their area. You generally must live in the area covered by a chapter to apply for one of their scholarships. To search for a chapter near you, go to the Find a Chapter page of Scholarship America's Web site. A list of chapters will be presented. Local chapter officials will be able to give specifics on their application requirements. If you are a student or parent seeking general information about scholarships, we encourage you to visit the Student Resources section of Scholarship America’s website. Scholarship America is the parent organization of Dollars for Scholars and the nations’ largest nonprofit, private-sector scholarship and educational support organization. Note: Scholarship awards are distributed solely by Dollars for Scholars chapters; no scholarship awards are available directly from the regional office of Illinois Dollars for Scholars. What benefits are provided to local chapters by the Illinois Dollars for Scholars region? 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:
How does a Dollars for Scholars chapter operate? Each Dollars for Scholars chapter is a foundation – made up of concerned community and school members – that raises scholarship monies and provides financial and academic support for local students. Chapter affiliation provides a tax-deductible means for local citizens to invest in the educational futures of local students. Fundraising initiatives range from grassroots activities to providing opportunities for individuals or organizations interested in sponsoring scholarships or establishing endowed scholarships. Since Dollars for Scholars is run by local volunteers, each chapter determines how to best meet the needs of local students. The selection of scholarship recipients and distribution of funds is determined locally through the Dollars for scholars award committee established within the chapter. What are Collegiate Partners? Collegiate Partners are colleges, universities and other accredited post-secondary institutions that demonstrate their commitment to the development of private sector student aid by supporting the mission of Scholarship America and its volunteer-operated Dollars for Scholars community scholarship foundations. All Collegiate Partner institutions have made commitments that Scholarship America-related scholarships will be used first to fill any unmet need remaining after the institutions initial financial aid package has been calculated. Institutions further agree that the first $1,000 in Scholarship America-related scholarships will not be used to reduce institutional grant assistance. There are 20 Collegiate Partners in Illinois and approximately 450 nationwide for Illinois Dollars for Scholars scholarship recipients to choose from. What are Matching Partners? Matching Partners are institutions already enrolled in the Collegiate Partners program that make further commitments to students by agreeing to match scholarship awards coming to their campuses from Dollars for Scholars community scholarship foundations and other Scholarship America-managed corporate scholarship programs. These matching funds represent resources dedicated exclusively for this purpose and do not replace previously awarded institutional grants. The Collegiate Partners Directory is an excellent resource for exploring a variety of college opportunities. The directory provides information about colleges that have joined the Collegiate Partners program with data on matching awards for schools who are Matching Partners. Search Collegiate Partners to: * List schools in a selected state Why are a growing number communities joining the Dollars for Scholars movement? Dollars for Scholars provides a proven and effective model for a unified community effort to support higher education. There are many untapped scholarship resources in a community and Dollars for Scholars provides the vehicle for these funds while complementing existing scholarship programs. Dollars for Scholars can promote donations and permanent funds and deepen the partnership between a school and a community. How can I get publicity for my Dollars for Scholars chapter? Here are some media tips: Hone Your Message: Develop key messages about your chapter. Pick a handful of main points and sharpen them until they stick in people’s minds. Without this step, the others will lead nowhere. These messages will be integrated into all your press materials and should flow freely from your spokespersons and other advocates. Cite the positive benefits and impacts of your program on your community. Your last message should be a call to action. Make a Media List: Start by listing all the TV and radio stations in your area, as well as newspapers and relevant magazines. Don’t forget college and university-affiliated stations and publications. Call each one and get the name of the editor, producer or news director, and ask if there are specific reporters who cover education. Get their phone and fax numbers and their email address: ask them their preferred mode of receiving press materials. Find out when their deadline typically is for filing a story. Offer to be a resource for them. This is a huge opportunity to build a relationship. Save the Date: Send out a Save the Date note to your media contacts in advance of chapter events. You’re on their radar; now get on their calendar. Appeal to the Media: To lure the media, put yourself in their shoes. Television reporters will think visual, so tailor your event to be visually appealing: signs, banners, lights, camera, action! Pick spokespersons that are well-versed and promote their availability for interviews. Sign up reporters and identify them with badges, and introduce reporters to key people at your event. Be their host. Send a Media Advisory: This step is a cross between a Save the Date and a news release. It is basically an invitation to the media, plus the “who, what, where and when” of your event. If there is a news bureau in your area such as Associated Press (AP), send a copy to the Daybook Editor, who will post it on a calendar of newsworthy events for reporters to check. Generally, an advisory is sent a couple weeks prior to an event, followed by a more detailed news release a week to a few days before the event. Send a News Release: A news release is written like a news story, but has the advantage of being from your point of view. Don’t abuse this advantage by editorializing too much, but make your point and advocate for your cause. Your release should contain quotes whenever possible. Again, write right to the point, and keep it as brief as possible. List a contact person with phone number. Develop a Media Kit: Contents: news release; background/fact sheet; FAQ sheet (frequently asked questions); letters from kids, parents, teachers or volunteers. Follow-up: Make copies of press clippings and news spots to circulate to Board, funders, etc. Display them at future events. Keep in contact with the media. Maintain the relationship. Remember, they will always need stories.
Begin your preliminary scholarship search as soon as you can. Check in with the counseling office/career center at your high school, and let your counselor know you are interested in going to college and finding available scholarships. The next resource to check is a local community foundation, which may serve specific towns, groups of towns, or a countywide area. It often has scholarships that go unclaimed simply because eligible students are not aware of them. If you can not find a listing in the phonebook, try the chamber of commerce, United Way, or your local volunteer center. Other resources to try are local service clubs and organizations: churches, Elks, Junior League, Kiwanis, Lions, Rotary, Soroptomist, YWCA, Zonta, etc. Many of these organizations generally give small scholarships. All have different criteria, so the earlier you start checking with them the better. Check your local library resource section for directories of nationally available scholarships. These tend to be specific in nature. Or visit Scholarship America’s For Students pages. You also should check with the postsecondary institution you are planning to attend. The financial aid office might be able to suggest local sources for scholarships and might even have some institutional scholarships you can apply for. Last, but not least, you can do a scholarship search on the Internet. One word of caution—investigate the source, especially if it charges a fee for its scholarship search and referral services. Here are some possible sites to check out: * Wiredscholar.com: Wiredscholar is the Internet’s premier guide to college admissions and financial aid. It offers advice and tools to expedite, simplify and optimize the admissions and financial aid processes. What is the reporting process for chapters? Each Illinois Dollars for Scholars chapter files an annual report to Scholarship America with the following information: Financial report; scholarship recipient list; roster of chapter officials; list of high schools served; fidelity bonding; activity report including type of academic support; and recertification fee. How do Illinois Dollars for Scholars chapters establish criteria for scholarship distribution? Chapters determine criteria and process for scholarship distribution to best fit their community based on sample policies developed by Scholarship America. These sample policies help chapters to determine criteria for awarding scholarship awards based on either need, merit, or some combination of need and merit. Chapters are instructed to establish a specified amount or percentage of annually-raised funds to be distributed per academic year, as well as a specified amount or percentage to be set aside as endowment funds for future scholarships. What is the role of Nicor Gas as founding sponsor of Illinois Dollars for Scholars? Thanks to the generous support of founding sponsor Nicor Gas, Illinois Dollars for Scholars formally launched as a Region with an already impressive number of Dollars for Scholars chapters, making Illinois Dollars for Scholars the fastest-growing region in America. “Our investment in Illinois Dollars for Scholars represents a sound investment in today’s youth and tomorrow’s leaders,” said Russ Strobel, President and CEO of Nicor Gas, founding sponsor of Illinois Dollars for Scholars. “Our investment will pay off greatly in the future with an educated workforce.” Nicor Gas provides start-up funding to each new Illinois Dollars for Scholars chapter, as well as training and development support for volunteers. Scholarship America honored Nicor Gas with its 2002 National Trustees Award, awarded annually to an organization exemplifying outstanding support for education. Illinois Dollars for Scholars letterhead – with the name of their chapter added – with printing costs underwritten by founding sponsor Nicor Gas. Nicor also promotes Illinois Dollars for Scholars throughout its service territory, as well as through internal communications to its customers and employees.
Because College Doesn't Happen By Chance®.
|
|
|---|
