About the College Fund
The College Fund of Pinellas County, Inc. began helping Pinellas County residents attend college 60 years ago in 1965. (See our history.) From the beginning, our objectives have been to:
Raise and distribute funds for the assistance of scholastically-qualified Pinellas County residents who are pursuing a college-level education and who demonstrate a need for substantial financial aid; and
Maintain contact with student recipients to support them in their educational pursuits.
The College Fund of Pinellas County, Inc. became a Florida corporation in 1966. Since 1967 the Internal Revenue Service has continuously recognized it as a 501(c)(3) organization exempt from Federal income tax. An independent financial review of our operations is conducted annually.
In 2026, as the College Fund celebrates 60 years plus, nearly 1,000 scholars have been awarded over $1.7 million grant dollars toward their collegiate education. Statistics from the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics continues to show that college graduates show both a significantly lower unemployment rate but also a significantly
increased earnings rate as the educational degree rises. These findings support the enduring value of a college degree. As indicated previously, college graduates are therefore, more likely to improve not only the quality of their lives, but also their families’ and communities.
The benefit of the program can best be perceived by its success in turning underprivileged high school graduates into successful, educated college graduates holding prominent jobs.
2026 Additional Resources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved March 2, 2026 from https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/wages/educational
Compilation of Student Funding by Year Report, March 2026.
Board of Directors
The College Fund of Pinellas County, Inc. has no paid staff. All the business of the corporation is conducted by an all-volunteer Board of Directors who generally meet on the fourth Saturday of the month at the Seminole Community Library (however, the Board has met virtually since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic). The Board transacts all business and manages all property of the corporation. It also determines the policies, allocates the funds, and in general assumes responsibility for the guidance of the affairs of the corporation. The membership of the Board of Directors is comprised of the elected officers and the members-at-large. The elected officers of the Board of Directors consist of the President, the Vice President, the Recording Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Assistant Treasurer.
2024-2025 Elected Officers
President: David Rogers, Vice President: Sandra Campbell, Treasurer: Kenneth Fullerton, Assistant Treasurer: Suzanne Gibson, Recording Secretary: Kay Thompson
Advisory Directors
The Board of Directors is supported by an all-volunteer Advisory Board. The Advisory Board members are available to consult with and make recommendations to the Board of Directors in the area of their expertise. The Advisory Board members may attend any meeting of the Board of Directors, but are particularly encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting held the fourth Saturday in February.