University of the Aftermarket Foundation

What University of the Aftermarket Foundation does

The University of the Aftermarket Foundation (UAF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1986 (originally as the AWDA University Foundation) and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It administers scholarships, grants, and educational programs that build the talent pipeline for the North American automotive aftermarket industry, including the U.S. and Canada. UAF serves students enrolled in four-year and two-year colleges as well as ASE/NATEF-certified automotive, collision, and heavy-duty/diesel post-secondary programs pursuing careers in service, repair, engineering, supply chain, finance, IT/cybersecurity, tire industry operations, and marketing/communications. Over its 40-year history, UAF has awarded more than $5 million in scholarships to over 5,000 students across 368+ individual awards, with a record $900,000+ disbursement planned for the 2026-27 academic year.

UAF's core operational products are two web-based scholarship portals — AutomotiveScholarships.com and HeavyDutyScholarships.com — which allow students to submit a single application to be considered for scholarships from more than 40 affiliated industry organizations. Supporting programs include the UAF Scholarship Program (more than 400 scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 annually), the Coffee Club (recurring monthly donor program with tiers up to $150/month), the UAF Legacy Club (planned giving), the AWDA Aftermarket Challenge, and a formal grant-request process for aftermarket training programs. There is no proprietary technology stack of substance beyond standard web and donation-processing infrastructure (givebutter.com).

UAF's business model is donation-funded: contributions from individuals, automotive aftermarket companies, and industry associations are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law. Revenue is generated through one-time gifts, recurring donations, planned giving, and event-driven fundraising (notably the 40th Ruby Anniversary Celebration at The Venetian Las Vegas). The foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees, lifetime trustees, and dedicated committees for scholarships, grants, marketing, and contributions. Its go-to-market combines community-led donor stewardship (AWDA, TIA, CAWA, ACC, Women in Auto Care) with event-driven cultivation, media partnerships, social media, and digital application portals.

Name

University of the Aftermarket Foundation

Legal name

University of the Aftermarket Foundation

Website

https://uofa-foundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The University of the Aftermarket Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1986, that funds scholarships, grants, and educational programs for students pursuing careers in the North American automotive aftermarket industry through its AutomotiveScholarships.com and HeavyDutyScholarships.com portals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education and Workforce Development Grants

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)

Keywords

• Automotive aftermarket scholarships
• Workforce development grants
• Industry education funding
• Scholarship management services
• Aftermarket career development

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, the foundation generates revenue through donations from individuals, companies, and industry organizations. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The University of the Aftermarket Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that funds and administers scholarships, grants, and educational programs for students pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket industry. It operates two centralized online scholarship application portals (AutomotiveScholarships.com and HeavyDutyScholarships.com) that consolidate scholarship opportunities from over 40 affiliated industry organizations into a single application, awarding hundreds of scholarships totaling more than $900,000 annually in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 each.

Product overview

The University of the Aftermarket Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that serves as a centralized platform for automotive aftermarket education funding. The core offering consists of two integrated scholarship portals—AutomotiveScholarships.com and HeavyDutyScholarships.com—that consolidate applications from over 40 affiliated industry organizations into single-entry systems. The foundation's main scholarship program awards over $900,000 annually across hundreds of scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 each. Supporting programs include the UAF Legacy Club for planned giving and the Coffee Club for monthly recurring donations, both designed to generate sustainable funding for educational initiatives. The AWDA Aftermarket Challenge and Grant Requests round out the portfolio, providing additional pathways for industry support of workforce development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AutomotiveScholarships.com A centralized scholarship application portal for automotive aftermarket students, allowing a single application to be considered for multiple scholarships from over 40 industry organizations.
• HeavyDutyScholarships.com A scholarship portal for heavy-duty/diesel programs, serving students pursuing careers in the commercial vehicle aftermarket.
• UAF Scholarship Program A comprehensive scholarship funding program providing financial assistance to students enrolled in automotive, collision, and heavy-duty post-secondary programs. Over 400 scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 are awarded annually, totaling more than $900,000 for the 2026-27 academic year.
• Tire Industry Scholarship A scholarship program launched in partnership with the Tire Industry Association, awarding $2,500 scholarships to students pursuing careers within the tire and automotive service industry.
• UAF Coffee Club A recurring monthly donor program with tiered donation levels (Americano $5/mo, Cappuccino $20/mo, Latte $40/mo, Espresso $80/mo, Frappuccino $150/mo) to support scholarships and educational programs.
• UAF Legacy Club A planned giving program offering philanthropy opportunities for current donors to support the foundation's educational mission through planned contributions.
• AWDA Aftermarket Challenge A scholarship challenge program in partnership with the Aftermarket Warehouse Distributors Association to encourage industry participation in funding student education.
• UAF Educational Grants Educational grants available for aftermarket training and development programs through a formal application process.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5,000 students awarded scholarships totaling over $5 million since program began
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• California Automotive Aftermarket (CAWA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026CAWA, representing the automotive parts industry in California, works with UAF to encourage applications for automotive scholarship awards and announces CAWA scholarship winners.
• FedPro (Tub O' Towels/Free All/Gasoila)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2026FedPro, manufacturer of Tub O' Towels, Free All and Gasoila, became a new Lifetime Trustee. Dave Anderson, VP of sales, represents FedPro on the UAF board of trustees.
• Kumho Tire U.S.A.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 April 2026Kumho Tire U.S.A. pledged $25,000 to the Tire Industry Association Scholarship Fund administered by UAF.
• Automotive Communications Council (ACC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2026ACC, a community of the Auto Care Association, partnered with UAF to launch the ACC Scholarship, committing $5,000 per year for two years to help expand scholarship opportunities for students pursuing automotive aftermarket careers, with priority for marketing/communications students.
• Nitto TirecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2026Nitto committed $5,000 in support of the TIA Scholarship program administered through UAF, joining Bridgestone and Yokohama as founding contributors.
• Fisher Auto Parts / Federated Auto PartscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2026Fisher Auto Parts funds the Federated Car Care Scholarship in memory of Art Fisher, founder of Federated Auto Parts and the Federated Car Care program. Scholarships are awarded to employees and children of active Federated Car Care Center members.
• Tire Industry Association (TIA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2025TIA launched the Tire Industry Scholarship in partnership with UAF, contributing $5,000 initially. Bridgestone matched TIA's $5,000 contribution and pledged an additional $5,000 per year for five years. Yokohama also pledged $10,000 to expand the scholarship fund.
• Bridgestone AmericasflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2025Bridgestone stepped forward to match TIA's $5,000 contribution and pledged an additional $5,000 per year for five years to grow and sustain the Tire Industry Scholarship program.
• Yokohama Tire CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 December 2024Yokohama Tire Corporation became a Lifetime Trustee of UAF. YTC President and CEO Jeff Glushik announced the commitment.
• MEMA MiX (Modern Industry eXpertise)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 September 2024MEMA MiX hosted a Coffee and Culture webinar in support of UAF's Coffee Club campaign, focusing on talent retention in the aftermarket industry.
• Aftermarket Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1986AWDA, a community of the Auto Care Association, is a founding partner of UAF (originally called AWDA University Foundation). They are a Diamond Lifetime Trustee and served as Ultimate Ruby Celebration Host for the 40th Anniversary with a $50,040 donation.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mike Rowe WORKS Foundation: Mike Rowe WORKS Foundation funds scholarships for skilled trades education, including automotive and diesel technicians. It is comparable to UAF as a donor-funded nonprofit providing trade-focused scholarships, though broader in scope beyond automotive.
• SkillsUSA: SkillsUSA is a nonprofit partnership of students, teachers, and industry leaders supporting workforce education in skilled trades including automotive, diesel, and collision. It overlaps with UAF in developing the aftermarket talent pipeline through scholarships, contests, and industry-aligned programs.
• TechForce Foundation: TechForce Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that awards scholarships and grants to students pursuing careers as automotive, diesel, collision, and aviation technicians. Like UAF, it serves the technician workforce through industry-funded scholarships and is the closest direct comparable in the automotive scholarship space.
• ASE Education Foundation (NATEF): ASE Education Foundation accredits automotive training programs and supports students entering the technician workforce. UAF explicitly directs scholarships to ASE/NATEF certified program students, making the two organizations tightly linked in the same ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Auto Care Association: Auto Care Association is the umbrella industry association for the automotive aftermarket, of which AWDA, ACC, and CAWA are communities. While UAF is an independent 501(c)(3), its partner ecosystem is rooted in Auto Care Association's member network, making the association the broader incumbent governing many of UAF's donors.
• Tire Industry Association (TIA): TIA is the trade association for the tire industry and runs the Tire Industry Scholarship program administered by UAF. It is a flagship funding and program partner, comparable to UAF as a tire-focused industry-support organization though operating as a membership association rather than a scholarship foundation.
• Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans: Horatio Alger Association is a large nonprofit scholarship foundation serving students facing economic barriers. While not industry-specific, it is comparable to UAF in operating a corporate-funded scholarship program for U.S. undergraduate students pursuing specific career paths.
• AWDA (Aftermarket Warehouse Distributors Association): AWDA is UAF's founding partner (originally AWDA University Foundation) and Diamond Lifetime Trustee. As a community of the Auto Care Association focused on warehouse distributors, AWDA is an industry incumbent that co-funds and co-develops scholarship programs with UAF.
• UNCF (United Negro College Fund): UNCF is one of the largest minority education assistance organizations in the U.S., administering hundreds of scholarship programs through a centralized application portal. Its model of consolidating scholarships from many donors into a single student-facing platform mirrors UAF's AutomotiveScholarships.com approach.

Emerging players

• Federated Car Care / Fisher Auto Parts: Federated Car Care funds the Federated Car Care Scholarship administered through UAF for employees and children of Federated Car Care Center members. It is comparable as an industry-aligned corporate scholarship program channeled through UAF's infrastructure rather than a standalone foundation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UofAFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/UofAFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uofa-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about University of the Aftermarket Foundation