Our Work

The David & Dovetta Wilson Scholarship Fund (DDWSF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization dedicated to assisting America’s young people with their quest for higher education. DDWSF strives to recognize and encourage academic achievement and community service. Annually, we identify nine deserving seniors graduating public high schools in the United States who plan to attend accredited colleges and universities.

From our humble origins in Harlem as a small family-run organization founded by 9 siblings who sought to honor their parents and uphold their values, the Wilson Fund program has grown by leaps and bounds. We are grateful for the transformative leadership of our scholars themselves and the support of donors, volunteers and partners nationwide who see the value in investing in education. Today, the David & Dovetta Wilson Scholarship Fund can now provide continued financial support through to graduation, emergency grants, care packages, fellowship, service leadership opportunities, and community educational events.

At DDWSF, we employ a rigorous approach to scholar selection. Through a multi round review of applications received from all 50 states & DC, the Selection Committee considers academic standing and progress, community service, character testimonials and applicant vision. As a result of this intensive and holistic consideration, finalists run the spectrum when it comes to financial need, GPA, background and academic aspirations. We have a diverse group of scholars, with the majority of our recipients hailing from under-represented populations.

While diverse, all Wilson Fund Scholars are unequivocally bound by a unifying thread. Each young person is committed to pursuing higher education both for its own merit, and for the indispensable way that it will empower them to give back to communities on micro and macro levels.

Wilson Fund Scholars are enrolled at institutions of higher learning across the nation. Our cohorts represent a diverse list of colleges and universities, ranging from Ivy League institutions like Harvard and Princeton to prestigious HBCUs including Spelman, North Carolina A&T and Howard. They matriculate at top public universities such as California State Polytechnic Institute, liberal arts colleges such as Lehman College, specialized institutions like Santa Monica Community College, and renowned technical schools like MIT and Caltech. We are proud to involve these remarkable scholars and alumni in decision-making at all levels of our work - from Outreach Programming to the Board of Directors.