College Possible National announced that it has received $946,000 in AmeriCorps funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency responsible for AmeriCorps and other national service programs.
This grant will support 95 AmeriCorps members who will allow College Possible to expand its efforts to coach students from low-income backgrounds to and through college. College Possible relies on AmeriCorps members to serve as dedicated, near-peer coaches offering advice, mentorship and support to students as they navigate the often complex world of college preparation and persistence.
With the arrival of COVID-19, College Possible AmeriCorps members have adapted their service to help meet the critical needs of students remotely. We will continue to offer virtual coaching to support our students in real time with updates and resources.
For 20 years, College Possible has been at the forefront of college access and success, helping students from low-income backgrounds break the cycle of poverty and close the degree divide. Multiple evaluations, including a Harvard randomized control trial, have demonstrated that College Possible students are three times more likely to go to college and earn a degree compared to their peers from low-income backgrounds. In 2019-20, College Possible will serve more than 23,000 students, making it among the largest college access and success organizations in the country.
“These AmeriCorps members will develop leadership skills that will last a lifetime as they help meet critical challenges facing our communities,” said College Possible President Craig Robinson. “This grant affirms the continued impact and success the College Possible program has on students.”
CNCS will provide an additional $516,000 in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for the AmeriCorps members funded by these grants. After completing a full term of service, AmeriCorps members receive an award of approximately $6,000 that they can use to pay for college or to pay off student loans.
About AmeriCorps
Every year, 75,000 AmeriCorps members serve through 21,000+ schools, nonprofits, and community and faith-based organizations across the country. These citizens have played a critical role in the recovery of communities affected by disasters and helped thousands of first-generation college students access higher education. They also tutor and mentor young people, connect veterans to jobs, care for seniors, reduce crime and revive cities, fight the opioid epidemic, and meet other critical needs.
AmeriCorps is funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency for volunteering and service, and recently marked its 25th anniversary. Since the program’s inception in 1994, more than 1.1 million AmeriCorps members have served the nation, providing more than 1.6 billion hours of service and earning nearly $4 billion in education awards to pay for college or pay back student loans. Those interested in joining AmeriCorps can learn more at AmeriCorps.gov/Join.
