We Help Our Community's Students Succeed Through Scholarships


Our organization is made up of all volunteers and was established for Paynesville Area Schools and its graduates in 1984. We have given well over 900 scholarships to students who graduated from Paynesville since we were established.  In 2023, over 90 scholarships were awarded to 39 students thanks to the generosity of the wonderful citizens, businesses, and organizations in our area. 

Our Paynesville Dollars for Scholars chapter, located in Paynesville, Minnesota, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) foundation that supports academic success in our community. As part of Scholarship America's national network of nearly 1,000 locally based, volunteer-driven Dollars for Scholars chapters, our mission is to mobilize our community on behalf of postsecondary education success for our students. 

Dollars for Scholars chapters like ours help hometown students achieve their educational goals by raising scholarship funds, establishing endowments, providing assistance with college readiness and the financial aid process, and distributing scholarships each year.

This website provides resources from our chapter to our volunteers, community, and students. You can learn more about our history, goals, and volunteers through the "About Us" link, and find out what's new by clicking on "News and Events." Volunteers -- and those who are interested in becoming volunteers -- should contact a board member found on the "About Us" tab.  

Finally, if you are a student looking for our Dollars for Scholars chapter scholarships, you're in the right place! Just click "Students and Parents" to begin filling out your student profile -- not only will you find and apply for our scholarships that way, you'll also discover scholarships from across the Scholarship America network that you may be eligible for. You'll also find valuable financial aid, college success, internship and career resources, so get started today!