If you’ve worked with the same scholarship management vendor for years, the thought of changing can feel complex. With years of historical data, recurring awards and strict reporting timelines, it’s understandable to want stability. But when stability starts to feel like limitation, it’s time for a partner who can move your program forward.
At ISTS, we’ve built a proven process that makes that change simple. If you’ve outgrown your current provider and need a higher standard of service, ISTS can transition your entire scholarship program in as little as two weeks.
What’s Really Holding You Back from a Better Scholarship Program Partner?
When a scholarship program has been running for years, change can feel complicated. Teams want to protect data, maintain award cycles and ensure a smooth experience for applicants. As a result, many organizations stay with legacy providers longer than they should, assuming a transition would be too complex to manage internally.
In reality, sticking with a partner who no longer meets your needs introduces its own challenges: inefficiency, compliance gaps and missed opportunities to enhance the participant experience.
ISTS Manages All the Moving Pieces so Your Scholarship Program Doesn’t Miss a Beat
ISTS has transitioned countless programs of all sizes from other scholarship management companies. Our transitions follow a clear, repeatable framework:
Step 1: Guided Discovery & Vendor Review
Every transition begins with alignment. Our team learns your program’s structure, eligibility rules, award cycles, reporting requirements and institutional relationships. We start by identifying what’s needed from your current provider because knowing what to request upfront makes everything easier. From data exports and financial reports to communications and award histories, we manage the entire process to ensure nothing is missed.
Step 2: Data Migration Plan
Data is at the heart of your program and we treat it with care. We create a clear migration plan that ensures all applicant, recipient and financial records move securely and accurately.
Step 3: Recipient Communication Plan
Your recipients deserve clarity and continuity. We craft transparent, student-friendly messages that explain the transition, outline what (if anything) changes and reassure recipients that their awards are safe and their experience is improving.
Step 4: Financial Transition Strategy
Moving funds between systems can be complex but we’ve done it hundreds of times. We work with your team to align payment timing, reporting structures and reconciliation so there is no disruption to disbursements or tracking.
Step 5: Smooth Launch and Long-Term Support
Once the transition is complete, our Client Success team continues to monitor performance and provide hands-on support. You’ll always know who to contact and you’ll have a dedicated team from day one.
No Disruption, No Gaps, No Guesswork
Our proven transition framework is designed so that your program never stops running. Awards continue on schedule, finance receives aligned payment and reconciliation data and applicants stay informed throughout. Even if you’ve been with your current vendor for years, ISTS can make the switch smooth, efficient and fully supported.
Ready for a Better Experience?
We understand how vital every component of your scholarship program is, from data integrity and payment accuracy to applicant communication, reporting and compliance.
If your current vendor’s service, technology or responsiveness no longer meets your standards, ISTS can help you make a confident change in as little as two weeks.
When you switch to ISTS, you gain a partner fully invested in your program’s success.
