Scholarship America Inc
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
(SEE SCHEDULE O)
- Income
- $42.8 million
- Spending
- $29.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 39.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 65%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 9,500
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 39.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 253317 of 3739 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $26.3 million spent. SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS AFFILIATES ARE A NATIONAL NETWORK OF COMMUNITY-BASED, VOLUNTEER-OPERATED SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATIONS IN CITIES, TOWNS, AND NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THE AFFILIATES PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE WAY FOR COMMUNITIES TO WORK TOGETHER ON A LOCAL LEVEL TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS, AS WELL AS ACADEMIC SUPPORT, AND THEREBY ASSIST LOCAL STUDENTS IN ACHIEVING THEIR EDUCATIONAL GOALS.IN 2024 THERE WERE 403 AFFILIATES OPERATING IN 30 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. APPROXIMATELY 9,500 VOLUNTEERS STAFF THEIR EFFORTS. THE VOLUNTEERS ARE GIVEN TRAINING TO RAISE SCHOLARSHIP MONEY, AS WELL AS PROVIDE ACADEMIC SUPPORT TO LOCAL STUDENTS. LAST YEAR, DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS RAISED OVER $46.6 MILLION FOR CURRENT AND ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS; THEY AWARDED OVER $25 MILLION WITH THE BALANCE GOING TO ENDOWMENTS AND FUTURE SCHOLARSHIPS. SCHOLARSHIPS WERE GIVEN TO MORE THAN 16,100 STUDENTS.SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1958, SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA'S DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS AFFILIATES HAVE DISTRIBUTED OVER $836.4 MILLION TO 959,201 STUDENTS. DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS AFFILIATES NOT ONLY PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT, THEY ALSO PROVIDE ACADEMIC SUPPORT TO STUDENTS IN ORDER TO PREPARE THEM FOR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION. ACADEMIC SUPPORT PROGRAMS INCLUDE DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS VOLUNTEERS WHO ASSIST IN SCHOOLS, WHO MENTOR STUDENTS, WHO PROVIDE CAREER PLANNING AND WHO ASSIST STUDENTS EVALUATE THEIR COLLEGE AND VOCATIONAL SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES. THESE SERVICES COMBINED WITH FUNDS MEAN ACCESS FOR MORE STUDENTS, WHO ARE BETTER ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO THEM, AND WHO ARE AWARE OF WHAT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES CAN BE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.
Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1962.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Caution.
California's Attorney General lists its registration as revoked as of December 31, 1990. Organizations on this list may not solicit donations in California.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.