The Ford Family Foundation Named 2026 Scholarship Provider of the Year

The national recognition honors the Foundation's decades of investment in students, its commitment to rural communities, and its approach to helping scholarship recipients succeed beyond the classroom.

ROSEBURG, Ore. - The Ford Family Foundation, headquartered in Roseburg, has received national recognition for its longstanding commitment to helping students pursue higher education, earning the 2026 Scholarship Provider of the Year Award from the National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA).

The Foundation was presented with the award Wednesday, October 21, during the NSPA Awards of Excellence Dinner at the association's annual conference. The honor recognizes scholarship organizations that go beyond providing financial assistance to help students succeed in college, overcome barriers, and build opportunities for their futures.

For The Ford Family Foundation, the award marks another milestone in more than three decades of supporting students across Oregon and Siskiyou County, California, with a particular emphasis on individuals from rural communities.

It is also the second time the Roseburg-based organization has received the national distinction, having previously been named Scholarship Provider of the Year in 2007.

A Lasting Investment in Students

The Ford Family Foundation has built its scholarship programs around the belief that a student's potential cannot be measured by grades alone.

Its selection process considers qualities such as determination, resilience, work ethic, motivation, and community involvement, recognizing that many capable students face financial and personal challenges that can make earning a college degree difficult.

“Our founders were committed to investing in high-potential students,” said 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.”

That philosophy has helped shape a scholarship program that provides not only money for college but also academic guidance, leadership development, personal and professional support, and connections with fellow scholars and graduates.

Today, the Foundation supports approximately 1,000 students at any given time. Its alumni network includes more than 5,000 individuals, extending the program's reach well beyond graduation.

According to the Foundation, its scholarship programs have awarded more than $276 million to students since 1994, helping more than 6,000 individuals access higher education.

Scholarship Programs Designed for Different Educational Paths

The Foundation's scholarship opportunities are designed to reach students at different stages of life, including graduating high school seniors, community college transfer students, parents, and adults returning to school.

Its three primary scholarship programs include:

• Ford Scholars Program: Supports graduating high school seniors pursuing bachelor's degrees, particularly those who demonstrate financial need, determination, and potential.
• Ford Transfer Scholars Program: Helps community college students continue their education after transferring to a four-year institution to complete a bachelor's degree.
• Ford Opportunity Scholars Program: Provides opportunities for parents and adult learners who are pursuing associate or bachelor's degrees while balancing responsibilities outside the classroom.

The Foundation's Ford Opportunity program traces its roots to Hallie E. Ford's desire to help students facing the additional responsibilities of single parenthood. In 2021, it merged with the Ford ReStart Scholars Program, expanding eligibility to parents of any age and adult learners age 25 and older.

The three primary programs offer renewable financial awards of up to $40,000 per year, depending on eligibility and financial need.

The Foundation also administers a separate scholarship program for eligible children of Roseburg Forest Products employees, providing awards of up to $5,000 annually for education-related expenses.

Hundreds of New Scholars Selected in 2026

The scale of the Foundation's work is reflected in its most recent scholarship awards.

In June, the Foundation announced 259 scholarship recipients for the 2026-27 academic year, representing students from communities throughout Oregon and Siskiyou County.

Those awards included 120 new Ford Scholars, 90 Ford Opportunity Scholars, 25 Ford Transfer Scholars, and 24 recipients of the Ford Sons and Daughters Scholarship.

In addition to helping cover the cost of education, the Foundation works to connect recipients with resources and relationships intended to support their academic and personal development.

For students from rural communities, those services can be especially valuable. Moving away from home, navigating college systems, balancing family responsibilities, and managing the financial demands of higher education can all present significant challenges.

The Foundation's approach is intended to help students navigate those challenges rather than leaving them to do so alone.

National Organization Recognizes Exceptional Student Retention

One of the most significant accomplishments highlighted by the National Scholarship Providers Association was the Foundation's reported 92% lifetime Scholar retention rate.

The figure reflects the Foundation's sustained work to support scholarship recipients throughout their educational journeys.

Jackie Bright, president and CEO of the National Scholarship Providers Association, said the Foundation's approach demonstrates how scholarship programs can have a lasting impact when they prioritize continued student support.

“What distinguishes The Ford Family Foundation is its understanding that meaningful scholarship support extends well beyond the award itself,” Bright said.

She pointed to the Foundation's retention rate as evidence of the value of intentional, sustained investment in students.

“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,” Bright said.

The Scholarship Provider of the Year Award recognizes organizations that use their resources to expand access to college, improve educational outcomes, strengthen communities, encourage innovation, and advance the scholarship industry.

The recognition places the Roseburg organization alongside other prominent scholarship providers nationwide.

Recent recipients of the award include the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation in 2025, Evans Scholars Foundation in 2024, A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation in 2023, Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation in 2022, and Loran Scholarship Foundation in 2021.

Continuing the Vision of the Ford Family

The Foundation's scholarship work is rooted in the legacy of Kenneth W. Ford and Hallie E. Ford and their commitment to creating educational opportunities for individuals who might otherwise struggle to attend college.

Kenneth Ford established the Ford Scholars Program to assist hardworking students with significant financial need and barriers to higher education. Hallie Ford later established the Ford Opportunity Scholars Program to help students pursuing degrees while raising children.

Those efforts have developed into an extensive network of scholarships, student support services, and alumni connections that continues to reach new generations.

Denise Callahan, the Foundation's director of Scholarships and Student Success, said receiving the national award is an opportunity to recognize the founders' vision and the work that continues today.

“We are very honored to receive this recognition,” Callahan said. “It's a privilege to carry out the vision of our founders and to support Scholars on their educational journey and beyond.”

Beyond scholarships, The Ford Family Foundation invests in rural communities through grants and community-building initiatives focused on supporting children, families, educational opportunities, and community well-being.

Although its programs extend across Oregon and into Northern California, the Foundation has maintained its headquarters in Roseburg, where its work has helped establish a statewide and national presence in education and philanthropy.

Opportunities for Future Scholarship Applicants

With the 2026 award recognizing the Foundation's past and ongoing work, prospective students will soon have another opportunity to apply for its scholarship programs.

According to the Foundation's scholarship information, the next application period is scheduled to open December 1, 2026, with a deadline of March 1, 2027.

Students interested in applying should review the eligibility requirements for the individual programs. Applicants generally must reside in Oregon or Siskiyou County, California, and meet the educational and enrollment requirements for their selected scholarship.

The Foundation does not require a minimum grade point average to apply, reflecting its emphasis on recognizing potential, determination, and the barriers students have overcome.

Information about available programs, application requirements, and upcoming informational sessions can be found at www.tfff.org/scholarships.

For an organization rooted in Roseburg, the 2026 Scholarship Provider of the Year Award recognizes a commitment to education that has reached thousands of students over more than 30 years.

It also underscores the impact that a foundation based in a rural Oregon community can have on educational opportunities throughout the region and across the country.

The Ford Family Foundation's work continues to reflect the belief that access to higher education should not be determined solely by a student's financial circumstances or the community where they grew up.