What Utica Dollars For Scholars does

Utica Dollars for Scholars Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity founded in November 1994 that operates as a volunteer-driven, locally controlled scholarship foundation serving graduating high school seniors in Oneida and Herkimer Counties, New York. The organization is governed by a board of directors and scholarship committee with no paid staff, operating from a P.O. Box mailing address only. Since founding, it has distributed approximately $3.4 million to more than 3,000 students across 13+ high schools, with annual distributions of approximately $350,000 across 120+ named scholarships in 2025.

The core operational product is a single online application portal powered by Scholarship America's ChapterNet platform, enabling students to apply for 40+ named scholarship programs through one comprehensive submission. The platform integrates student profiles, academic information, references, transcripts, essays, and financial data. The organization also offers an online donation portal through Givelively for donor contributions. Notable scholarship products include the Mele Family Fund (up to $12,000 over four years for STEM/Humanities), Wurz Family Scholarships (up to $5,000 renewable), and numerous memorial and community-sponsored awards ranging from $1,000 to $3,000+.

The revenue model is entirely donation-based, drawing from individual and family gifts, business contributions, memorial donations, United Way of the Mohawk Valley designations, endowment and bequest gifts, and partner-administered funds through The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties. All scholarships are provided free of charge to students. Distribution occurs through school guidance counselor networks, the online application portal, and an annual awards ceremony at Mohawk Valley Community College. The organization is an affiliate of Scholarship America and holds a Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid/GuideStar.

Name

Utica Dollars For Scholars

Legal name

Utica Dollars for Scholars Inc.

Website

https://utica.dollarsforscholars.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Utica Dollars for Scholars is a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1994 that administers a single online scholarship application platform serving graduating high school seniors across Oneida and Herkimer Counties, NY, distributing approximately $350,000 annually across 120+ named scholarships funded by donations and community partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Scholarship Administration

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB)

Keywords

• Scholarship administration
• Nonprofit foundation
• College financial aid
• Community scholarships
• Student financial support

Headquarters

HQ city

Utica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations from Individuals, Families, and Businesses: The organization receives outright annual gifts, memorial gifts, and contributions from individuals, families, businesses, and organizations. Donors can contribute online via Givelively or mail donations to the P.O. Box address.
2. United Way Designations: Contributors to United Way of the Mohawk Valley can designate all or part of their gift to Utica Dollars for Scholars.
3. Community Foundation Partnership: Partnership with The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties for scholarship management and fund administration.
4. Endowment and Major Gifts: The organization accepts endowment gifts, bequests, and major gifts. Organizations can also make presentations or contributions through employee charity funds.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Utica Dollars for Scholars is a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit that administers a single online scholarship application portal (Scholarship America's ChapterNet) through which graduating high school seniors in Oneida and Herkimer Counties, NY apply once to be considered for approximately 120+ named scholarship awards totaling about $350,000 annually. All scholarships are provided free of charge to recipients and are funded through donations from individuals, families, businesses, United Way designations, and endowment gifts.

Product overview

Utica Dollars for Scholars operates as a scholarship management organization offering a single unified application platform (ChapterNet) through which students can apply for over 40 named scholarship programs totaling approximately $350,000 annually. The core product is the online scholarship application system that aggregates student information and matches applicants with eligible awards. Key scholarship offerings include the Mele Family Fund (up to $12,000 over four years), Wurz Family Scholarships ($5,000 annual renewable), and numerous memorial and community-sponsored awards. The organization also provides an online donation portal for supporters to contribute to scholarship funds. All services are provided at no cost to students or families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Single Online Scholarship Application (ChapterNet) A unified web-based scholarship application portal powered by Scholarship America's ChapterNet. Graduating high school seniors in Oneida and Herkimer Counties create a single profile and apply once for 120+ named local scholarships; the portal collects student profile, academic information, transcript and reference requests, essay responses, employment/activities, and financial information. Applications are accepted October 15 to March 15 annually.
• Mele Family Fund STEM & Humanities Scholarships Renewable $3,000/year scholarships (up to $12,000 over four years) for graduating seniors at 17 participating high schools in Oneida and Herkimer Counties who are full-time, matriculated in a 4-year baccalaureate program and demonstrate excellence in Math, Science, or Humanities with financial need; minimum 3.0 GPA. Administered via The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties.
• Wurz Family Scholarships Up to five annual renewable awards valued at up to $5,000 each for graduating Oneida County high school seniors (including Oriskany, Whitesboro, Notre Dame, and Utica Academy of Science). Minimum 2.5 GPA and demonstrated financial need required; renewable for up to four years based on maintaining qualifications.
• New Hartford High School Scholarships Package Nine awards totaling $12,000 specifically for New Hartford HS graduating seniors, including William B. Recknall Memorial Fund ($2,300 each for three students), William L. & Gladys K. Boyle Memorial Scholarship ($1,200), and Peter D. Fraser Memorial Scholarship ($695 each for two students).
• Credit Bureau of Utica Award A $1,000 award for graduating seniors from any Oneida or Herkimer County high school who will attend a local higher education institution, pursuing Business or Health Care as a first career, with a minimum 3.0 GPA; relevant employment, volunteer, or community service preferred. Administered through The Community Foundation.
• Leonard J. Capuana Scholarship A $1,025 award for graduating seniors demonstrating leadership skills and volunteerism, with a minimum 2.5 GPA, planning to attend a 2-year or 4-year college or university.
• Jaedon Jarosz Memorial Scholarship Three one-time $1,000 awards for graduating seniors from Proctor, Notre Dame, and New York Mills High Schools pursuing degrees in art, music, or culinary arts.
• Utica Lady Knicks Scholarship Scholarship supporting current and former members of the Utica Lady Knicks women's basketball program; requires good academic credentials, school/community involvement, work ethic, and participation in the basketball program.
• Gabriel, Joseph & Lila Mandour Karam Scholarship Award in memory of Joe Karam, created by family and friends through a donor-advised fund at The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties.
• Wallace S. and Janis J. Sweet / Westminster Presbyterian Church Memorial Scholarship Award for graduating seniors attending a school district in Oneida or Herkimer Counties enrolled in an accredited not-for-profit college or university; applicants should include their experience as a refugee in the essay.
• Mohawk Valley Alumni Association Alpha Phi Delta Scholarship Scholarship evaluated on academic achievement, leadership, and community involvement, with preferred consideration for Alpha Phi Delta Fraternity legacy nominees (children and grandchildren of APD members).
• Award Programs Portfolio A portfolio of over 40 named scholarship awards and programs—including American Association of University Women Scholarship, Brodsky Family Award, various memorial scholarships, and community-sponsored awards—distributed across Oneida and Herkimer Counties through the single application process.
• Online Donation Platform (Givelively) Secure online donation processing through Givelively enabling donors to make outright gifts, memorial donations, and establish scholarship or memorial funds; supports dollar-for-dollar matching through campaigns such as Mohawk Valley Gives.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% of scholarship recipients expressed highest levels of satisfaction with their personal UDFS experience
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Scholarship AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUtica Dollars for Scholars is an affiliate of Scholarship America, accessing their ChapterNet online application platform, student center resources, national scholarship listings, and the Collegiate Partners Program. Many institutions in the program agree not to reduce grant aid when Dollars for Scholars scholarships arrive, with some providing matching amounts.
• The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida CountiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud partner in scholarship management. The Community Foundation is a Gold Award Sponsor and administers the Mele Family Fund scholarships (19 awards worth up to $12,000 over four years). They manage numerous scholarship funds and provide administrative support.
• Mohawk Valley Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts the annual UDFS awards ceremony in June, providing the venue for announcing scholarship awards to recipients.
• United Way of the Mohawk ValleyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDonors who contribute to United Way of the Mohawk Valley can designate all or part of their gift to Utica Dollars for Scholars, expanding the organization's donor base.
• NYS Assemblywoman Marianne ButtenschonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted the 8th Annual Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony recognizing UDFS board members Lee Kowalsky and Morgan Mielnicki for their contributions to education and community service.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Scholarship America: National umbrella organization and parent affiliate of Utica Dollars for Scholars. Operates the ChapterNet platform and Collegiate Partners Program that UDFS relies on, and runs the broader Dollars for Scholars network across hundreds of U.S. communities.
• UNCF (United Negro College Fund): Large national nonprofit administering scholarships and supporting higher education access for underserved students. Comparable nonprofit grantmaking/educational-access mission, though at much larger scale and with a national rather than two-county footprint.

Regional players

• Adirondack Foundation: Upstate New York community foundation serving a broader but adjacent region, administering scholarship and education funds. Comparable donor-advised scholarship administration model though it covers a different geographic footprint.
• Rochester Area Community Foundation: Upstate New York community foundation that manages a portfolio of scholarship funds for regional high school students. Comparable in structure (donor-advised scholarship administration, community-focused grantmaking) but serves a different geography.
• Central New York Community Foundation: Regional community foundation administering scholarship and education-focused funds in central/upstate New York. Similar grantmaking model and donor-advised scholarship fund structure as the Community Foundation partner that UDFS works through.

Direct peers

• The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties: Core operating partner of UDFS that administers donor-advised scholarship funds (including the Mele Family Fund) and manages scholarship disbursements in the same two counties. Functions as a community-based grantmaker with overlapping donor base and scholarship portfolio.

Emerging players

• Going Merry: Online platform that lets students fill out one application to be matched with scholarships from multiple providers. Comparable to UDFS's ChapterNet single-application value proposition, but with a national, technology-led delivery model rather than local volunteer operation.
• Fastweb: National scholarship search and matching platform integrated with Scholarship America's student resources. Competes with ChapterNet on student-side scholarship discovery, though UDFS funnels applicants into the broader Scholarship America ecosystem that includes Fastweb.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/UticaDollarsforScholars
• Instagraminstagram.com/uticadollarsforscholars

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Utica Dollars For Scholars