Real results, real impact.
Solving Scholarship Displacement
529 Pilot Programs’ Early Results
Discover how two forward-thinking scholarship organizations revolutionized their awarding by leveraging 529 education savings plans. Breaking from the traditional approach of direct payments to universities, these organizations established Foundation-owned 529 accounts for scholarship recipients—a strategic shift that eliminated displacement, enhanced student accessibility, maintained foundation controls, and optimized tax benefits.
Guidelines and Processes
A Blueprint for Effective Scholarship Management
Through a structured, strategic approach, Students First Consulting transformed a scholarship program for a Chicago-area philanthropic group, enhancing clarity, compliance, and stakeholder engagement. By providing comprehensive guidelines, streamlined processes, and targeted communications, we helped the client boost efficiency, strengthen community trust, and increase donor confidence in their program's impact.
Strategic Alignment
Integrating Scholarships into Economic Mobility Initiatives
This case study explores how a major Southern community foundation transformed its scholarship program into a powerful tool for economic mobility by aligning it with organizational strategy. Through collaborative workshops and targeted redesigns, the foundation increased visibility, unified stakeholder support, and strengthened its impact on educational access and economic empowerment.
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