ANSWER Scholarship, Inc.
ANSWER Scholarship is a Charlotte-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2006, providing college scholarships ($2,750-$5,500/year) plus mandatory mentoring and professional development workshops to mothers age 25+ in 12 counties across North and South Carolina.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersCharlotte, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. does
ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2006 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina (EIN: 81-0834789). It provides college scholarships, structured mentoring, and professional development to mothers age 25 and older who are primary caregivers of at least one school-age child, serving Mecklenburg County and 11 surrounding counties across North Carolina and South Carolina. Scholarship awards are $2,750 per year for two-year associate degree programs and $5,500 per year for four-year bachelor's degree programs, renewable up to four consecutive years, with funds disbursed directly to the recipient's school for tuition, fees, books, and supplies. Since inception the organization has served 163 mothers and disbursed $1,054,627 in cumulative scholarships.
The core product is the integrated ANSWER Scholarship Program, anchored by the Mentors For Mom sub-program, which matches every recipient with a volunteer mentor (required biweekly contact) and mandates monthly Saturday professional and personal development workshops from September through March covering financial planning, health, career development, and parenting. The application process runs through the Foundation For The Carolinas' CommunityForce platform, handling submission, review, and applicant notification. Revenue is sourced exclusively from donations and charitable contributions — including one-time gifts, monthly recurring donations via the Monthly Giving Network, stock/mutual fund transfers, and employer matching — supplemented by institutional grants such as the $15,000 Leon Levine Foundation grant (2021) and a $100,000 grant announced in January 2025.
The go-to-market is community-led: outreach to non-traditional student mothers is driven by regional media coverage, university referral partnerships (UNC Charlotte, Winthrop, Queens, Belmont Abbey, Gaston College, CPCC, Catawba College, Johnson C. Smith), the organization's own website and podcast, and recurring community events including an annual Celebration Luncheon. The organization holds a Candid Gold Seal (2026) and SEED20 Alumni Certification (2025), and is led by founder Susan Andersen and Mentors For Mom Program Director Martha Honeycutt (formerly of Ford Motor Company).
ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ANSWER Scholarship, Inc.
- Legal name
- ANSWER Scholarship, Inc.
- Website
- https://answerscholarship.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ANSWER Scholarship is a Charlotte-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2006, providing college scholarships ($2,750-$5,500/year) plus mandatory mentoring and professional development workshops to mothers age 25+ in 12 counties across North and South Carolina.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Education Scholarships
- NAICS
- Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Educational Services (61)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Foundation/NGO & Philanthropic Scholarships (EDAIAOAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Degree-Level Scholarships (Undergrad/Masters/PhD/Postdoc) (EDAIAOAE), Higher Education Capacity Building & Scholarships (BPADAKAG)
Keywords
Where ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Charlotte
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: ANSWER Scholarship operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization accepts one-time donations, monthly recurring gifts through the Monthly Giving Network, stock/mutual fund donations, and matching gifts from employers.
- Grant Funding: The organization receives grant funding from foundations such as The Leon Levine Foundation ($15,000 grant in 2021) and other institutional donors. EIN: 81-0834789.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Two-year associate degree scholarships: $2,750 per year |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ANSWER Scholarship provides multi-year college scholarships to non-traditional student mothers age 25 and older in Mecklenburg and 11 surrounding counties in North and South Carolina. Awards range from $2,750 per year for two-year associate degrees to $5,500 per year for four-year bachelor's degrees, renewable for up to four consecutive years, with funds paid directly to the recipient's school for tuition, fees, books, and supplies. Each recipient is also paired with a volunteer mentor through the Mentors For Mom program and is required to attend monthly professional and personal development workshops.
Product overview
ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. offers a single unified scholarship program for mothers pursuing higher education in the Carolinas, combining financial assistance with the Mentors For Mom Program. The scholarship awards range from $2,750 annually for two-year associate degrees to $5,500 annually for four-year bachelor's degrees. The Mentors For Mom Program provides one-on-one mentoring and monthly professional development workshops as integral support services for recipients. Applications are processed through a dedicated portal managed by Foundation For The Carolinas.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Mentors For Mom Program: A mentorship program connecting scholarship recipients with volunteer mentors who serve as success partners, offering support and guidance on balancing family, work, and school.
Products and services
- ANSWER Scholarship Program A college scholarship program offering $2,750 per year for two-year associate degrees and $5,500 per year for four-year bachelor's degrees to non-traditional student mothers age 25+ in Mecklenburg and surrounding counties in NC/SC; renewable for up to four consecutive years with funds paid directly to the recipient's school.
- Mentors For Mom Program A mentoring program that matches every ANSWER Scholarship recipient with a volunteer mentor who provides guidance on balancing family, work, and school; recipients must have contact with their mentor every two weeks and attend monthly professional and personal development workshops held one Saturday a month from September through March.
Quantifiable outcome
- Graduates report receiving salary increases after completing their degrees
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use ANSWER Scholarship, Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Foundation For The CarolinascoreFoundation For The Carolinas hosts the ANSWER Scholarship application through its CommunityForce online platform, processes applications, and provides administrative support including notification to applicants about scholarship status.
- UNC CharlottecoreUNC Charlotte is a primary institution where ANSWER scholars pursue bachelor's and graduate degrees, particularly in nursing and health sciences. The organizations collaborate on student support.
- Winthrop UniversitycoreWinthrop University is a key partner institution where multiple ANSWER scholars have earned bachelor's and graduate degrees in fields including business, education, and STEM.
- Queens University of CharlottecoreQueens University hosts events and accepts ANSWER scholarship recipients pursuing various degree programs including nursing and business administration.
- Belmont Abbey CollegecoreBelmont Abbey College is a partner institution where ANSWER scholars pursue degrees including business administration and nursing.
- Gaston CollegecoreGaston College is a key community college partner offering associate degrees in nursing and other programs to ANSWER scholarship recipients.
- Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC)coreCPCC is a partner offering associate degrees in nursing, medical laboratory technology, medical office administration, and other programs for ANSWER scholars.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Braven: Nonprofit providing career-acceleration programming, mentorship, and post-college support to students from underrepresented backgrounds. Comparable wraparound (mentorship + workshops) model, but works with undergraduates post-enrollment rather than funding scholarships.
Direct peers
- Generation Hope: Provides college scholarships, mentoring, and wraparound support to teen parents pursuing higher education. Closely mirrors ANSWER's scholarship-plus-mentorship-plus-workshop model for parent-students, but serves a younger demographic nationally.
- PEO Sisterhood: Philanthropic organization providing need-based scholarships to women pursuing higher education across the U.S. and Canada, including the PEO Educational Loan Fund. Comparable women-focused scholarship mission with broader geographic and program scale.
- Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund: National nonprofit providing scholarships and support to low-income women age 35+ pursuing postsecondary education. Closest direct peer to ANSWER: same scholarship-plus-support model for non-traditional women students, but operates nationally and serves an older age cohort.
- Women's Independence Scholarship Program (WISP): Scholarship and support program for women survivors of domestic violence pursuing postsecondary education. Comparable wraparound model combining financial aid with mentoring and student services, though targeting a different entry condition.
Others
- The Mom Project: Workforce platform helping mothers re-enter and remain in the labor market through job matching, upskilling, and employer partnerships. Thematically adjacent (mothers' economic advancement) but uses a digital marketplace model rather than scholarships.
- Dress for Success Worldwide: Global nonprofit supporting women's economic independence through professional attire, career development tools, and job-readiness programs. Thematically aligned (women's economic mobility) but uses a non-scholarship, workforce-entry model.
Broad incumbents
- Pell Grant (Federal Student Aid): U.S. federal need-based grant program providing tuition support to low-income undergraduate students. A massive public incumbent that complements — rather than competes with — regional scholarship funds for non-traditional mothers.
- American Association of University Women (AAUW): Large national organization advancing gender equity in higher education through scholarships, fellowships, grants, and advocacy. A broader incumbent in the women's education space with a much wider portfolio and donor base.
- Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans: National nonprofit awarding scholarships and grants to underserved students overcoming adversity to pursue higher education. Overlaps in mission on scholarship access for at-risk populations but with a broader student profile and significantly larger endowment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceANSWER Scholarship, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ANSWER Scholarship, Inc.
What does ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. do?
ANSWER Scholarship provides multi-year college scholarships to non-traditional student mothers age 25 and older in Mecklenburg and 11 surrounding counties in North and South Carolina. Awards range from $2,750 per year for two-year associate degrees to $5,500 per year for four-year bachelor's degrees, renewable for up to four consecutive years, with funds paid directly to the recipient's school for tuition, fees, books, and supplies. Each recipient is also paired with a volunteer mentor through the Mentors For Mom program and is required to attend monthly professional and personal development workshops.
Is ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. a public or private company?
ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. founded?
ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. based?
ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. is headquartered in Charlotte, United States, in the North America region.
How does ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are grant Funding.
Who are ANSWER Scholarship, Inc.'s main competitors?
Braven is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Generation Hope, PEO Sisterhood, Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund and Women's Independence Scholarship Program (WISP). Others are The Mom Project and Dress for Success Worldwide. Broad incumbents are Pell Grant (Federal Student Aid), American Association of University Women (AAUW) and Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans.
Does ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for ANSWER Scholarship, Inc..
What industry is ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. in?
ANSWER Scholarship, Inc.'s product category is Nonprofit Education Scholarships. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAIAOAH, Foundation/NGO & Philanthropic Scholarships, with a secondary code of EDADAHAC, Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts. Its NAICS code is 813219 and its SIC code is 8200.