Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas

Nonprofit finalist
Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas
Bentonville

President/CEO: Tyler Clark
Year founded: 1984
Line of work: Help single-parent families become financially stable and independent
Website: spsfnwa.com

The Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas (SPSFNWA) is on a mission to transform lives through higher education. It supports single parents in Benton, Carroll, Madison and Washington counties. The organization has grown exponentially since starting with a modest sum of $3,450 in scholarships.

The scholarship fund’s origin goes back to 1984. Co-founders Marjorie Marugg-Wolfe and Ralph Nesson worked with various volunteers and donors to start scholarship funds in Benton County and Washington County. Their inspiration was to help reduce unexpected expenses that could deter single parents from pursuing the education they needed to escape poverty. It awarded seven $150 scholarships in Benton County in its inaugural semester and eight $300 scholarships in Washington County in its first semester.

Their work paved the way for the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund, launched in 1990, and the program spread to nearly every Arkansas county.

In 2009, the scholarship funds of Carroll, Madison and Washington counties merged to become SPSFNWA. In 2021, SPSFNWA underwent a significant transformation by merging with another nonprofit that awarded money for college each year to single parents — the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Benton County.

To date, SPSFNWA has awarded $17.8 million in scholarships to over 21,000 single parents in the area. However, SPSFNWA’s success extends beyond financial assistance. Single parents receive personalized assistance, including career services, educational advisement and mental health counseling. The organization’s annual Empower Summit, a collaboration with multiple organizations, offers professional development opportunities to recipients.

SPSFNWA also partners with the Benton County Bar Association, AR Legal Aid and the University of Arkansas School of Law to host an annual legal event providing estate planning documents like simple wills and power of attorney. Standard legal fees are waived.

SPSFNWA’s impact is evident not only in the educational achievements of its recipients but also in their post-graduation success. Beneficiaries experience a significant increase in post-graduation incomes and boast an impressive average GPA, surpassing the national average by a remarkable margin.

SPSFNWA envisions further expansion and outreach efforts in the future, with plans to establish a centralized location in Springdale to assist more single parents in achieving their educational goals. Through strategic partnerships and outreach programs, the organization continues to provide essential services, including dental, vision and chiropractic care, birthday supplies for children and career development support.

President and CEO Tyler Clark said that with the community’s support, SPSFNWA is poised to make an even more significant impact in the years to come, ensuring that every single parent has the resources and opportunities to build a brighter future for themselves and their children.