Scholarship Recipients:

Recipients will receive their check in mid-summer, sent to your home address with the check co-payable to you and your college/university. It will arrive with a letter of instruction for you to give to the college. Please leave this section of the letter with the check for the Financial Aid Office's information!


Your college should divide your scholarship award evenly across your expected academic terms (semester, trimester, or quarter) for 2026-2027.

Financial Aid Offices:

This scholarship is for non-tuition expenses, and should be applied as follows:


  1. Books, student fees, course fees, supplies, technology, and equipment that are required but not included as part of tuition.
  2. Supplies, and other non-tuition expenses related to students’ education.


It is our expectation that colleges will not use the ACAF scholarship to displace or offset any other scholarships or grants that are forthcoming or already awarded to you.

The ACAF/DFS Scholarship Application is open each year from November 1 through mid-February.

The Allegany County Area Foundation Dollars for Scholars online application for the 2026-2027 academic year closed on February 13, 2026.


Completed applications are reviewed by our scholarship volunteers by early March, and scholarship selections made in late March.


Applicants will be notified of their award status by the middle of April. Recipients must formally accept their scholarship award(s) by June 1 by logging back into the Dollars for Scholars Application.


Scholarship checks are mailed to recipients in July. Checks are made co-payable to students and their college/university.

Potential applicants

Please do not to wait until the deadline approaches to begin your application. Starting early allows time for your guidance office to provide your transcript, and for ACAF staff to check your application and send reminders.

Repeat applicants

Please read over ACAF Repeat Applicant Info to avoid potential complications when applying again. In general, re-application mostly involves updating the prior application and takes less time than the initial application.

Thank you for the investment you made in my future. I wanted to make sure you knew how much this money did for me. As the spring approaches I am excited to continue school. Nursing was definitely the right choice for me. I have loved getting to help people in the community.


~ Gracie


Alyssa Bump and Dr. Stupp

If you have any questions, please call 585-296-5616 or email director@acafny.org

News and Events

Chloe Kottwitz in Uptown Neon shop, located in Richmond, Virginia.

ACAF Scholarship Alumna Chloe Kottwitz Keeps the Art of Neon Alive

By Alyssa Bump • October 7, 2026
Bolivar, NY native and Uptown Neon owner Chloe Kottwitz reflects on local scholarships, finding her craft, and bringing new opportunities home to Allegany County.
Fillmore Powerhouse Program Director Matthew Brooks holds fresh vegetables from the Youth Community

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By Alyssa Bump • September 23, 2026
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Josiah Howard.

Houghton University’s Josiah Howard Joins ACAF as Data Intern for Fall 2026

By Alyssa Bump • September 21, 2026
Senior data science and mathematics major will use local data to help ACAF better understand community needs.