Dollars for Scholars was founded in 1958 with the mission of helping to provide a college education for anyone who wanted one. Today, Dollars for Scholars is a network of community-based, volunteer-operated scholarship foundations in cities, towns, and neighborhoods throughout the United States.

Each individual Dollars for Scholars chapter raises scholarship money and provides financial and academic support benefiting local students. In many communities the chapters coordinate and distribute all the local scholarships via a single application process.

And, through "Collegiate Partner" connections, Dollars for Scholars scholarship awards are given preferential treatment in the financial aid process.