Scholarship America

File:Scholarship America CEO Mike Nylund.jpg

Scholarship American was founded in 1958 by Irving A. Fradkin, an optometrist in Fall River, Massachusetts. It was initially named Dollars for Scholars before being officially chartered and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization under the name of Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of America (CSFA) in May 1961. During its early years, CSFA's headquarters moved from Fall River to Boston, and then to Concord, New Hampshire. It opened its first regional office in St. Peter, Minnesota, in 1976, thanks to a grant from the Bush Foundation.{{Cite book |last=Fradkin |first=Irving A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rvt9z_IgVDAC&q=bush+foundation&pg=PA88 |title=Dollars for Scholars: The Autobiography of Dr. Irving A. Fradkin, Founder of Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of America, Inc |date=2002 |publisher=Branden Books |isbn=978-0-8283-2080-1 |pages=83–91 |language=en}}

The organization supports a number of education programs designed to improve student success, career advancement and educational outcomes.{{Cite web |title=Remembering Dr. Irving Fradkin's scholarship legacy on what would have been his 100th birthday |url=https://www.heraldnews.com/story/news/history/2021/03/28/fall-river-irving-fradkin-scholarship-america-optometrist-with-a-vision-dollars-for-scholars/7036072002/ |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Fall River Herald News |language=en-US}} The organization's first program was Dollars for Scholars, a nationwide coalition of local scholarship organizations. Also in 1976, CSFA expanded from its work with community-based organizations with the establishment of Scholarship Management Services (SMS), a branch of the organization designed to manage corporate scholarships. The Toro company of Minnesota became SMS's first client.{{cite book|last=Fradkin|first=Irving A.|title=The Autobiography of Dr. Irving A. Fradkin, Founder; Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of America, Inc. with Michael J. Vieira|date=2002|publisher=Branden Books|isbn=0-8283-2080-2|page=89|edition=2nd|author2=Michael J. Vieira |chapter=The Foundation is Set}}

In 1984, the organization's board voted to move CSFA's headquarters to St. Peter, Minnesota, where they remain today.{{Cite book |last=Fradkin |first=Irving A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rvt9z_IgVDAC&q=minnesota&pg=PA96 |title=Dollars for Scholars: The Autobiography of Dr. Irving A. Fradkin, Founder of Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of America, Inc |date=2002 |publisher=Branden Books |isbn=978-0-8283-2080-1 |pages=96 |language=en}} That year, CSFA reached the $5 million mark in terms of scholarship funds distributed. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, the organization grew rapidly and launched its Collegiate Partner initiative, in which colleges agreed to maximize CSFA-related aid to students on their campuses, and ScholarShop program, a junior high and high school college-readiness curriculum.{{cite web|last=Vance|first=Daniel|title=Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of America|date=July 2000 |url=http://connectbiz.com/2000/07/dr-bill-nelsen/|publisher=Connect Business Magazine|access-date=22 May 2014}} In September 2001, CSFA created the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund after the September 11 attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. to benefit the dependents of those killed or permanently disabled in the attacks, rescue and cleanup efforts. The fund raised more than $100 million with President Bill Clinton and Senator Bob Dole as co-chairs of the fundraising campaign.{{cite web |title=Dole and Clinton on Scholarship Fund |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=126665 |access-date=22 May 2014 |publisher=ABCNEWS}}{{cite web |author=Ishayi, Edna |title=Foundation Sends Kin of 9/11 Victims to College |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/10/nyregion/donations-of-100-million-help-children-of-9-11-victims-go-to-college.html |access-date=5 December 2014 |work=The New York Times |date=10 September 2014 }}

On January 1, 2003, CSFA changed its name to Scholarship America.{{Cite web |title=Families for Freedom Scholarship Fund {{!}} Scholarship Database {{!}} University of Washington |url=https://new.expo.uw.edu/expo/scholarships/ffsf |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241004124459/https://new.expo.uw.edu/expo/scholarships/ffsf |archive-date=2024-10-04 |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=new.expo.uw.edu |language=en}} Scholarship America also administers several special scholarship initiatives, including the Dreamkeepers Emergency Financial Aid program for community college students.{{cite web |author=Ishayi, Edna |title=Foundation Sends Kin of 9/11 Victims to College |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/10/nyregion/donations-of-100-million-help-children-of-9-11-victims-go-to-college.html |access-date=5 December 2014 |work=The New York Times |date=10 September 2014 }} The organization awards the Scholarship America Dream Award, a multi-year, performance-based scholarship fund targeted toward postsecondary completion.{{Cite book |last=Ragins |first=Marianne |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uc4eAAAAQBAJ&q=scholarship+america+dream+award |title=Winning Scholarships for College, Fourth Edition: An Insider's Guide |date=2013-11-19 |publisher=Henry Holt and Company |isbn=978-0-8050-9994-2 |pages=251 |language=en}} The Dream Award program received its initial funding from proceeds from Katie Couric's book, The Best Advice I Ever Got: Lessons from Extraordinary Lives.{{Cite web |date=2015-05-26 |title=Katie Couric Honored By Scholarship America |url=https://www.looktothestars.org/news/13740-katie-couric-honored-by-scholarship-america |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Look to the Stars |language=en}}

In 2024, the organization presented the inaugural Irving Innovation Awards.{{Cite web |last=Matt |date=2024-11-24 |title=Scholarship America Presents Inaugural Irving Innovation Awards and Legacy Awards |url=https://scholarshipamerica.org/blog/scholarship-america-presents-inaugural-irving-innovation-awards-and-legacy-awards/ |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Scholarship America |language=en-US}}

As of 2025, the organization has awarded over $5.7 billion to 3.2 million students.{{Cite web |title=Scholarship Platform Facts: Bold.org vs. Scholarship America 2025 |url=https://bold.org/blog/bold-vs-scholarship-america/ |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=bold.org |language=en}}

Scholarship America's President and CEO is Mike Nylund.{{Cite web |last=mindgrub |date=2022-03-08 |title=Introducing Mike Nylund, Scholarship America's New President & CEO |url=https://scholarshipamerica.org/blog/introducing-mike-nylund-scholarship-americas-new-president-ceo/ |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=Scholarship America |language=en-US}}

The organization partners with corporations and organizations to sponsor over 1,350 scholarship and education assistance programs for students. Its sponsorship partners include PepsiCo,{{Cite web |title=PepsiCo Foundation Family Scholars (formerly the ExCEL Scholarship) |url=https://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/pepsico/ |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=learnmore.scholarsapply.org}} Amazon,{{Cite web |last=mindgrub |date=2023-11-07 |title=Featured Partner Scholarships: November 2023 |url=https://scholarshipamerica.org/blog/featured-partner-scholarships-november-2023/ |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Scholarship America |language=en-US}} Wells Fargo,{{Cite web |last=Candid |title=Article |url=https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/other-sources/article/?id=15569304) |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Philanthropy News Digest (PND) |language=en}} Chick-fil-A,{{Cite web |last=mindgrub |date=2023-09-06 |title=Featured Partner Scholarships: September 2023 |url=https://scholarshipamerica.org/blog/featured-partner-scholarships-september-2023/ |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Scholarship America |language=en-US}} American Water,{{Cite web |title=American Water Continues Partnership with Scholarship America® – Company Announcement - FT.com |url=https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/detail?dockey=600-202502181447BIZWIRE_USPRX____20250218_BW993942-1 |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=markets.ft.com}} and Dunkin',{{Cite web |title=Dunkin |url=https://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/dunkinphilly/ |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=learnmore.scholarsapply.org}} and grantmaking foundations including Gitlab Foundation,{{Cite web |title=GitLab Foundation Announces New AI for Economic Opportunity Fund Grantee Cohort |url=https://www.gitlabfoundation.org/our-journey/gitlab-foundation-announces-new-ai-for-economic-opportunity-fund-grantee-cohort |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=GitLab Foundation |language=en-US}} Ascendium, ECMC Foundation, CLA Foundation,{{Cite web |title=CLA Foundation Drives US Workforce with $2 Million in Grants |url=https://www.claconnect.com/en/media/25/cla-foundation-drives-us-workforce-with-2-million-in-grants |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=www.claconnect.com |language=en}} and Crimsonbridge.{{Cite web |title=Community Partners {{!}} Crimsonbridge Foundation |url=https://www.crimsonbridge.org/community-partners |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Crimsonbridge |language=en}}

It is also supported by donor-advised funds.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-14 |title=Next for DAFs? Accounts as Tools for Regular Folks, Not Just the Wealthy |url=https://www.philanthropy.com/article/next-for-dafs-accounts-as-tools-for-regular-folks-not-just-the-wealthy |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=The Chronicle of Philanthropy |language=en}}

Mike Nylund has served as President and CEO since July 2013, and serves ex officio on the board. Nylund joined Scholarship America after overseeing financial aid at Capella University and later expanding partnership scholarship programs. {{cite web |title=Board & Leaders – Scholarship America |url=https://www.scholarshipamerica.org/about/board-and-leaders/ |publisher=Scholarship America}}

In December 2023, Abigail Seldin was appointed Chief Growth Officer, responsible for leading marketing, development, and partner solutions.

As of 2025, Scholarship America has administered more than $5.7 billion in scholarships to over 3.2 million students since its founding in 1958.{{cite web |title=Scholarship America – GuideStar Profile |url=https://www.guidestar.org/profile/04-2296967 |publisher=GuideStar}}

Scholarship America has been highly rated{{cite web|url=http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3512|title=Charity Navigator Rating - Scholarship America|publisher=Charitynavigator.org|access-date=11 January 2014}} by Charity Navigator for more than a decade.{{cite web|url=http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=topten.detail&listid=100|title=10 Charities with the Most Consecutive 4-Star Ratings|publisher=CharityNavigator.org|access-date=11 January 2014}} In 2024, Forbes ranked Scholarship America as the 78th largest U.S. charity (out of 100).{{cite news |title=Scholarship America |url=https://www.forbes.com/companies/scholarship-america/ |access-date=2024-04-13 |newspaper=Forbes}}

The Chronicle of Philanthropy recognizes Scholarship America as one of America's largest nonprofits as part of its Philanthropy 400. In 2014, Scholarship America ranked #158 on the list.{{cite web|title=The Philanthropy 400|url=http://philanthropy.com/section/Philanthropy-400/237/|publisher=The Chronicle of Philanthropy|access-date=5 December 2014}} As of 2013, the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal recognizes Scholarship America as Minnesota's second-largest charity.{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/subscriber-only/2013/12/06/civic-nonprofits.html|title=The List: Civic Nonprofits - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal|publisher=Bizjournals.com|access-date=11 January 2014}}

Katie Couric, a supporter of Scholarship America,{{cite web|title=Scholarship America To Receive Portion of Proceeds from Katie Couric's Book|url=http://scholarshipamerica.org/news_items/couric.php|website=Scholarship America|publisher=ScholarshipAmerica.org|access-date=30 June 2014}} invited the organization to appear on her talk show, Katie, on two occasions: to celebrate its founder, Fradkin,{{cite web|title=Special Thanks to the Man Behind "Scholarship America"|url=http://katiecouric.com/videos/special-thanks-to-the-man-behind-scholarship-america/|publisher=katiecouric.com|access-date=30 June 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330183820/http://katiecouric.com/videos/special-thanks-to-the-man-behind-scholarship-america/|archive-date=30 March 2014|df=dmy-all}} and to announce the first class of Dream Award recipients.{{cite web|title=Meet The Man Behind Scholarship America|url=http://katiecouric.com/videos/meet-the-man-behind-scholarship-america/|publisher=katiecouric.com|access-date=30 June 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709214731/http://katiecouric.com/videos/meet-the-man-behind-scholarship-america/|archive-date=9 July 2014|df=dmy-all}}

• Jefferson Dollars for Scholars, chapter of Scholarship America

{{Reflist}}

• [http://scholarshipamerica.org Scholarship America website]
• [https://scholarshipamerica.org/sponsors/dollars-for-scholars/ Dollars for Scholars website]
• [http://familiesoffreedom.org Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund website]
• Category:Philanthropic organizations based in the United States

Category:Organizations established in 1958

Category:1958 establishments in Massachusetts

• [https://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/dreamaward/ Dream Award website]