Children's Scholarship Fund

What Children's Scholarship Fund does

Children's Scholarship Fund (CSF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit scholarship granting organization founded in 1998 by Ted Forstmann and John Walton, headquartered in New York City. The organization's core function is delivering partial tuition scholarships to economically disadvantaged K-8 students so they can attend private schools of choice, with families required to contribute a minimum amount toward tuition. Since inception, CSF and its network of 20 partner programs spanning 24 program areas have disbursed more than $1.23 billion in scholarships to 224,252 children, including over 38,700 children in the 2025-26 school year. Beyond direct scholarship distribution, CSF administers state-level programs, most notably New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account (EFA) program, which disbursed $11.5 million across 131 private schools in 2024-25.

CSF operates on a donations-only revenue model, accepting contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations, with a stated pass-through structure in which 100% of donated dollars fund scholarships and operating expenses are covered by a small group of dedicated contributors. Supplementary revenue streams include corporate matching gift programs, event sponsorships, and customized corporate partnerships, and the organization is positioning as an approved Scholarship Granting Organization for the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit effective January 1, 2027. Distribution occurs via direct scholarship allocation, a partner program network (including standouts such as The BASIC Fund in San Francisco, CSF-Charlotte, and CSF Los Angeles), and EFA program administration in New Hampshire.

CSF's technology footprint is limited: the organization maintains a website (scholarshipfund.org) for donations, applications, and information, with online donations processed through Blackbaud. There is no proprietary platform technology, mobile application, or public API. Customer-facing segments comprise low-income K-8 families (primary recipients), partner scholarship organizations (intermediate beneficiaries of CSF's operational model and capacity-building support), and corporate donors (contributors through CSR and matching gift programs).

Name

Children's Scholarship Fund

Legal name

Children's Scholarship Fund

Website

https://scholarshipfund.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Children's Scholarship Fund is a national 501(c)(3) founded in 1998 that provides partial K-8 private school tuition scholarships to low-income families, serving 224,000+ children through direct programs, 20 partner organizations, and state-level administration such as New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Scholarship Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Foundation/NGO & Philanthropic Scholarships (EDAIAOAH), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

Keywords

• Private school scholarships
• Tuition assistance programs
• Scholarship granting organization
• K-8 education access
• School choice advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Donations: CSF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that generates revenue through charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. The organization provides 100% of donated dollars directly to funding scholarships, with operating expenses covered by a few generous contributors.
2. Corporate Partnerships: CSF receives corporate donations through matching gift programs, event sponsorships, in-kind gifts, and customized partnership agreements with companies seeking philanthropic involvement in education.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Children's Scholarship Fund provides partial tuition scholarships to economically disadvantaged K-8 students so they can attend private schools of their families' choosing. The organization administers state scholarship programs such as New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account (EFA), supports a network of 20 partner scholarship organizations in 24 program areas, and will participate in the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit beginning January 1, 2027. All donated funds flow directly to scholarships, with operating expenses covered separately by a few large contributors.

Product overview

Children's Scholarship Fund (CSF) is a national scholarship granting organization founded in 1998 that operates as a unified platform providing educational opportunity access to children in need. The core offering consists of K-8 privately funded scholarships (over $1.23 billion provided since inception), complemented by state program administration (including New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account program). CSF operates through regional programs in New York and New Hampshire, supports partner scholarship organizations nationwide, and provides resources including a Guide to Starting a Scholarship Granting Organization and research publications. The organization also administers the upcoming Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit program effective 2027. All programs are connected through shared capacity-building, fundraising support, and operational guidance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K-8 Privately Funded Scholarships Partial tuition assistance provided to economically disadvantaged families to enable their K-8 children to attend private schools of choice. Since inception CSF has awarded scholarships worth more than $1.23 billion, with all CSF families contributing a minimum toward tuition.
• State Program Administration (Education Freedom Accounts) CSF administers state scholarship programs such as New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account (EFA), providing tuition funding that flows directly to private schools (including religious institutions). In the 2024-25 school year CSF's EFA program spent $11.5 million on tuition at 131 private schools.
• Partner Program Network Support Capacity-building, financial, and operational support provided to a national network of 20 scholarship-granting partner organizations in 24 program areas. Partner programs award and administer scholarships to local families using the CSF model and conduct their own local fundraising.
• CSF New York Regional Program Regional scholarship program serving New York families, including the President's Council, Young Leaders Board, and CSF Alumni Board. More than 8,000 children attending 276 schools in New York City receive CSF support.
• CSF New Hampshire Regional Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 95.5% high school graduation rate for CSF New York alumni vs 74.3% for NYC public schools (2017)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National School Choice Awareness FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2026CSF partners with the National School Choice Awareness Foundation to organize school choice showcases and events during National School Choice Week (January 25-31 annually). The partnership helps raise awareness about K-12 educational options available to families and features student performances, speakers, and educational programming.
• CSF Partner ProgramscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSF supports 20 partner programs in 24 program areas nationwide. These organizations award and administer scholarships to local families using the CSF model. While CSF provides management and financial support, local organizations are experts in their communities and conduct local fundraising.
• The BASIC FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSF's San Francisco partner program, The BASIC (Basic Skills) Fund, provides scholarships to economically disadvantaged children in the Bay Area. Arthur Rock was co-founder and is president emeritus.
• CSF-CharlottecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSF-Charlotte, launched by Julian Robertson, has invested over $10 million in approximately 7,500 scholarships for economically disadvantaged children in Mecklenburg County.
• Step Up for StudentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStep Up for Students grew out of Children's Scholarship Fund of Tampa Bay, a CSF partner program founded by John Kirtley in 1998. It now administers tax credit scholarships in Florida.
• Vertex Partnership AcademiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIan Rowe, co-founder of Vertex Partnership Academies (Bronx charter high school), spoke at CSF's Palm Beach reception. The federal tax credit would benefit students at his public charter school for tutoring and SAT prep.
• 50CANminorStrategic or Co-development Partner50CAN supports local leaders working to improve state education policy. Executive Vice President Derrell Bradford emceed CSF events and serves on various education boards.
• Black Minds MatterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by CSF alumna Denisha Allen, Black Minds Matter advocates for educational equity. Denisha shared her success story at CSF's Palm Beach reception.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Federation for Children: School choice advocacy organization that includes a Future Leaders Fellowship placing alumni (including CSF alumni) into the school choice movement. Operates as both an advocacy group and a connector for CSF alumni engagement.
• 50CAN: Advocacy network supporting state-level education reform leaders working on school choice policy. Strongly overlaps with CSF's policy mission and operational geography; CSF events feature 50CAN executive leadership.
• EdChoice: National 501(c)(3) advocacy and research organization focused on school choice, vouchers, education savings accounts, and tax-credit scholarships. While broader than CSF (which is a direct service provider), EdChoice shapes the same policy and donor ecosystem in which CSF operates.

Regional players

• Parental Choice Foundation (Florida): School choice advocacy and family support organization in Florida. Comparable to CSF in mission and target beneficiaries (low-income families seeking private school access), but operates in a different geography with a different state tax-credit ecosystem.

Direct peers

• ACE Scholarships: Privately funded K-12 scholarship organization operating across multiple states, providing partial tuition assistance to low-income families for private school attendance. Closely mirrors CSF's core operating model and target population.
• CSF-Charlotte: CSF partner program serving Mecklenburg County, NC, launched by Julian Robertson. Has invested over $10 million in approximately 7,500 K-8 scholarships, providing a directly comparable operating model in a different region.
• Step Up For Students: Florida scholarship-granting organization that grew directly out of Children's Scholarship Fund of Tampa Bay, a CSF partner program founded in 1998. Administers the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program, making it the largest operating sibling of CSF's model.
• The BASIC Fund: CSF's San Francisco partner program providing K-8 private school scholarships to economically disadvantaged children in the Bay Area. Closely follows the CSF model and operates as an affiliate in CSF's network.

Emerging players

• National School Choice Awareness Foundation: Foundation organizing National School Choice Week, CSF's primary annual awareness event partner. A natural peer because CSF co-produces local educational showcases and family outreach programs with this organization.
• Black Minds Matter: Educational equity organization founded by CSF alumna Denisha Allen. Mission adjacent and operationally intertwined with CSF through alumni engagement, donor cultivation, and shared school choice advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ScholarshipFund
• Xx.com/CSFNational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/csfnewyork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Children's Scholarship Fund