Founded in 1984 by Marjorie Marugg-Wolfe and Ralph Nesson, the Single Parent Scholarship Fund offers scholarships and varied services through its community-based affiliates.  Awarding seven $150 scholarships in Benton County in its inaugural semester and eight $300 scholarships in Washington County in its first semester, the Single Parent Scholarship Fund paved the way for hope and opportunity for thousands of single parents in the state of Arkansas.

The Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Washington County (SPSFWC) was managed entirely by committed volunteers until 2000, when its first staff member was hired.  With dedicated professional staff, SPSFWC began to grown in terms of funds raised and scholarships awarded.

In 2009 we began to take a regional approach to awarding scholarships when the Single Parent Scholarship Funds of Carroll, Madison and Washington counties merged to become the Single Parent  Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas.

Today, we award more than $300,000 in scholarships annually to deserving single parents who are creating better, brighter futures for their families.

SPSF NWA has awarded 4,500 scholarships worth more than $3.1 Million since 1984.

Organizational Structure

Organizational Chart of Single Parent Scholarship Fund Affiliates

SPSF NWA is one of eight independent, 501 (c) 3 incorporated affiliates of the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund. Four counties have full-time permanent staff, while two have part-time staff paid through an ASPSF pilot project.

Each affiliate is governed by a local board of directors and provides statistical data to the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF) state foundation office on an annual basis.

Affiliates raise local financial support, which is matched up to $7,000 per county by ASPSF. (27 counties in the Delta Region program receive $8,000 per county)

The remaining 63 counties are served by unincorporated affiliates that operate through a fiscal agent. ASPSF field staff works with the volunteer boards of directors of these affiliates on strategic planning, fundraising, and marketing.

Tags: featured