Promise of Potential Scholarship Match Campaign

The Promise of Potential Campaign seeks to gather support to invest in our scholars' potential through College Scholarships for the Class of 2018. We have a goal of raising $25,000 with all proceeds going directly to scholars. Plus, each dollar donated for scholarships receives a dollar for dollar match by the Walters Family Fund towards Summer Learning Experiences.  

College scholarships have a significant impact on the trajectory of our scholars' lives. These young people have boundless potential--they just need the right support.

Overview

 Our College Scholarships provide financial support to close the gap between what families can pay and what college ultimately costs. We believe that finances should not prevent a scholar from persisting in college. Further, we know that as first generation college scholars many of our alumni have to work harder than their peers to adjust to the new academic and social environment that college presents. We seek to do all that we can to keep our alumni from facing an additional burden of figuring out how to make a payment; by removing or diminishing a financial obstacle, we hope to free up their energy to focus on academics and life on campus. 

This support covers expenses including tuition, room, and board but also costs that others may take for granted such as books, and even basic needs like dorm furnishings and supplies.

Measures of Success

We measure our success through college persistence rates. Nationally, less than a quarter of scholars in the lowest income quartile who start college immediately after high school graduation obtain a bachelor's degree within 6 years. We seek to ensure that at least 65% of our scholars are persisting in college annually. Currently, 80% of our scholars who enrolled in a degree program are persisting towards a post-secondary degree. 

Funding and Sustainability

100% of funding will go to tuition, supplies and additional living costs for scholars. No money goes to administrative costs.

Social Media fundraising is done as a complementary tool to private fundraising to support this critical area of support for our scholars.  Despite the fact that the schools recognize the importance of these supports, however, the school budgets reflect the predominant focus on explicitly academic areas. The gap between the support our scholars deserve and our current financial resources is where you come in! Any support is appreciated.