Dilday: SPSF is More Than Just Simply Writing Checks

Jody Dilday believes everything happens for a reason.

It was meant-to-be that she ended up as executive director of the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas, even though she initially was uninterested. And it was a blessing in disguise when, in December 2012, the finance company with which the organization was sharing a basement-level office space on Dickson Street in Fayetteville was forced by its parent company to kick SPSF out.

The circumstance impelled the organization to move to a new office, at 16 W. Colt Square, which turned out to be better-suited to its needs.

While the biggest personal change since she was featured in the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 class in 2010 is her oldest daughter’s impending high school graduation, the biggest professional change for Dilday was the move.

The extra space allows the organization to give aid to more single-parent families through various programs. “We do a lot more than just write checks,” she said.

The new office is still close to the University of Arkansas but is now more accessible to Northwest Arkansas Community College students — which constitute about half of the scholarship recipients — because of its proximity to Interstate 49.

And, because the space is their own, the SPSF team was able to create a more professional, yet warm and welcoming environment, which is a priority for Dilday.

For this reason, she wears jeans to work so as to not intimidate the students.

This was not by accident, Dilday said. In fact, “everything Single Parent Scholarship Fund does is on purpose.”

The scholarship fund, which serves Washington, Carroll and Madison counties, operates under an empowerment model, she added. Students are not blamed for their financial situations, but they are expected to be accountable, to meet deadlines and arrive promptly for interviews.

As one former student put it, it’s like the nonprofit provides a bouncing ball, and if the student follows it, it will lead to opportunity.

Dilday has worked for the agency for seven years now, and at least once every semester she is still moved to tears by a student or a family, she said.

Recently, Dilday met a woman who had been laid off from work and seemed to completely lack confidence. She came to SPSF and took several resume-writing classes, which helped her land a job at Tyson Foods Inc.

After that, she was “so filled with joy, hope and confidence,” she inspired coworkers to also go back to college, Dilday said.

Another special moment followed a student being asked to give an impromptu speech at the annual Sparks of Hope event.

The woman gave an emotional account of how the organization had helped her earn her master’s degree in art education. And, afterward, the assistant superintendent of Springdale Public Schools approached her, and she ended up getting a job as an art teacher in the same school her daughter attends, which was a dream of hers.

To Dilday, these moments are inspiring. She has always looked for ways to help people, even as a child, and was motivated to become a social worker when her parents adopted her younger brother.

And, as a Lutheran — she and her family attend Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fayetteville — her religion places a lot of emphasis on finding a vocation of service. 

At first, she did not see a connection between herself and the scholarship fund, as it dealt with single parents, whereas she typically helped children through her work with the Department of Human Services.

After she realized the true meaning of the cause — helping families move out of poverty — she knew it was a great fit.

Dilday said “the best thing you can do for children is help their mom.”

The nonprofit is in the planning stages of a major fundraising initiative that will help make up for funding lost in a changing climate, where foundations and corporations are switching their giving focus to hone in on a few key areas.

And SPSF is always looking to gain exposure in the community so it can help more people, Dilday said.

“I think we are the best-kept secret in NWA.”