Recent data compiled by Citizens’ Scholarship Foundation of America (CSFA), the nation’s largest private sector scholarship and educational support organization, indicate that funds given to students that can be used at colleges of their choice enhance opportunities for those students to attend private colleges and universities.
    While about 20 percent of America’s students attend private postsecondary institutions, CSFA President Bill Nelson said that “annually approximately 35 percent to 40 percent of the scholarship funding from CSFA supports students choosing to attend private colleges and universities.”
    Nelson said this aid is increasing for CIC member institutions. “CSFA records indicate that in the 1996-97 academic year CSFA sent $5,816,376 in scholarship awards to CIC members through its Scholarship Management Services and Dollars for Scholars programs. In 2001-02 the total had climbed to $12,776,080, an increase of almost $7 million,” he said.
    CSFA’s Dollars for Scholars program is now active in over 1,100 communities throughout America, where over 35,000 volunteers are actively raising funds to help their local students pursue postsecondary education. CSFA also administers over 950 corporate-sponsored scholarship programs through its Scholarship Management Services. Since its founding in 1958 CSFA has distributed $911.5 million to 849,445 students.