NSPA honors the scholarship program’s long-term commitment to student success
ROSEBURG, Ore. — The Ford Family Foundation was named Scholarship Provider of the Year by the National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA) during the NSPA Awards of Excellence Dinner on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at the organization’s annual conference.
The Ford Family Foundation scholarship programs support students across Oregon and Siskiyou County, California, who demonstrate ambition, resilience and potential, with particular attention to students from rural communities. Through the Ford Scholars, Ford Transfer and Ford Opportunity programs, the Foundation supports high school seniors, transfer students, adult learners and parents pursuing college degrees. In addition to financial assistance, scholarship recipients also receive academic guidance, leadership development, personal and professional support and a lifelong connection to the alumni community.
“Our founders were committed to investing in high-potential students,” says Kara Inae Carlisle, CEO and president of the Foundation. “For this reason, the Foundation takes a holistic approach to selection, looking not only at academic performance but also at qualities such as resilience, work ethic, community engagement and motivation.”
At any given time, the Foundation supports approximately 1,000 students, while a network of more than 5,000 alumni extends the impact and relationships built through the program well beyond graduation. The Ford Family Foundation was last recognized as the NSPA Scholarship Provider of the Year in 2007.
“We are very honored to receive this recognition,” says Denise Callahan, director of Scholarships and Student Success. “It’s a privilege to carry out the vision of our founders and to support Scholars on their educational journey and beyond.”
The NSPA Scholarship Provider of the Year Award showcases scholarship providers that leverage their unique resources to strengthen college access and success, improve conditions in their communities, kick-start innovation and contribute to advancements in the scholarship industry.
“What distinguishes The Ford Family Foundation is its understanding that meaningful scholarship support extends well beyond the award itself,” said Jackie Bright, president and CEO of the National Scholarship Providers Association. “Their commitment to student success, reflected in an extraordinary 92% lifetime Scholar retention rate, demonstrates the power of intentional, sustained investment in Scholars. The Foundation is setting an example for our field of what is possible when scholarship programs are designed not simply to open doors, but to help students thrive once they walk through them. We are delighted to honor their leadership with our 2026 Scholarship Provider of the Year Award.”
The National Scholarship Providers Association aims to cultivate and empower the scholarship community with the knowledge, skills and resources to strengthen the impact of scholarships. The NSPA is dedicated to fostering success and empowerment within the scholarship community through the core values of community, collaboration, education, respect and inclusion, and student success. More information is available at scholarshipproviders.org.
Past recipients of the Scholarship Provider of the Year Award include the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation (2025), the Evans Scholars Foundation (2024), A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation (2023), Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (2022), and the Loran Scholarship Foundation (2021).
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About The Ford Family Foundation
The Ford Family Foundation believes in the power of rural communities. It is a private, nonprofit foundation proudly headquartered in Roseburg, Oregon, serving rural Oregon and Siskiyou County, California. Its investments through grants, scholarships and community building create the conditions so that children have the family, educational and community supports they need to succeed in life. www.tfff.org
General media inquiries
Jennifer Lindsey – Director of Communications
(541) 485-6223, jlindsey@tfff.org
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