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In response to the negative impact of scholarship displacement on families and donors in Adams County, Pennsylvania, Ralph Serpe, President and CEO of the Adams County Community Foundation, decided to take action. Understanding the power of collective effort, he formed a statewide coalition of scholarship providers.
GETTYSBURG, Pa., Jan. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Pennsylvania Community Foundation’s CEO Built Coalition to Impact Legislative Change Eliminating Scholarship Displacement Barriers to a College Education Patricia Green Rodgers, MSW, MSPR
In 2002, my son received a four-year academic scholarship from the University of Pittsburgh, including room and board. As a single mother of two, I was relieved not to have to consider loans. Fortunately, my son’s scholarship covered most of his expenses, and graduating magna cum laude in just three years helped with incidental costs. However, another challenge was that my daughter, who was also academically talented, was graduating from high school in 2004.  I would have to find scholarship opportunities for her as well. She chose a college in Maryland and received a scholarship. While my story had a happy ending, I recognize that rising college tuition is a significant issue for many parents. Further, states with scholarship displacement present an added financial burden when a university reduces a student’s financial aid because of an outside scholarship. 
"Scholarship displacement nullifies the benefit of the scholarship and defeats the donor’s reason for giving to our community foundation in support of academically talented college-bound students," Ralph explains."
In response to the negative impact of scholarship displacement on families and donors in Adams County, Pennsylvania, Ralph Serpe, President and CEO of the Adams County Community Foundation, decided to take action. Understanding the power of collective effort, he formed a statewide coalition of scholarship providers.  In addition to the Adams County Community Foundation, others included The Pennsylvania Community Foundation Association members, the Miss Pennsylvania Scholarship Foundation, the Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable, and Pittsburgh’s Poise Foundation. Ralph recognized the significant impact a coalition could have on charitable giving. “As a community foundation, we promote charitable giving to build a permanent endowment in Adams County. Scholarship displacement nullifies the benefit of the scholarship and defeats the donor’s reason for giving to our community foundation in support of academically talented college-bound students,” Ralph explains. After persistent advocacy aimed at legislators, on July 8, 2022, former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed HB1642, a bill banning scholarship displacement at Pennsylvania public colleges and universities.  Pennsylvania was the fourth state in the nation to eliminate scholarship displacement, and Ralph’s coalition-building was crucial to this legislative change. 
Undoubtedly, Ralph’s rich history in philanthropy is a primary factor in his success.  He served as Vice President of Philanthropy at the Baltimore Community Foundation, overseeing a successful $100 million campaign. He was also Executive Vice President at the Princeton Area Community Foundation and directed professional advisor outreach for the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Ralph is well-respected for his contributions to the National Standards Board for Community Foundations and was a member of various municipal boards and commissions. His work in 2014 with the Maryland Community Foundation Association led to the passage of Endow Maryland, a tax credit program for community foundation donors. 
Many people admire Ralph’s determination; the community foundation’s annual one-day Giving Spree generates millions for Adams County nonprofits. Jill Sellers, President and CEO of Main Street Gettysburg, is on the community foundation’s scholarship committee and mentors a student who benefited from the elimination of scholarship displacement. “Under the previous displacement practice, my mentee’s financial aid package would have been reduced, limiting her options for higher education. This honor roll student’s success highlights the importance of fair scholarship policies. The Adams County Community Foundation continues to advocate for students and their families, championing practices that make college a reality for all,” Jill concludes.
To learn more about the Adams County Community Foundation or the effects of scholarship displacement, contact Ralph Serpe at [email protected] or 717-337-0060. Visit the website at adamscountycf.org
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