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 Smith paints new outdoor mural in Alfred, NY

Floral Blooms and Bluebirds Brighten Downtown Alfred in New Mural

By Alyssa Bump • July 21, 2026
A $2,500 grant from ACAF's Allegany Fund helped bring the Alfred 21st Century Group's vision for public art to life.
Person stocking food pantry shelf.

ACAF Grant Awards Help Keep Local Food Pantries Stocked

By Alyssa Bump • July 2, 2026
Five Allegany County food pantries will use the funding to provide healthy food for hundreds of local families.
Paul Ronan

Scholarship Alumnus Paul Ronan on Rural Values & Global Impact

By Alyssa Bump • June 29, 2026
The lessons Paul learned growing up in Rushford have helped him serve communities across Central Africa.
Downtown Wellsville, NY.

ACAF Awards Summer Grant Funding to Local Non-Profits

By Alyssa Bump • June 25, 2026
June grant awards will support youth programs, public safety, and educational resources across Allegany County.