Give the Gift of Higher Education to youth in Providence this holiday season! 

We're asking for your help to raise $115,000 so that Providence Promise can continue to grow. There has never been a better time to give - the first $50,000 that we raise will be matched one-to-one - DOUBLING the impact of your gift. This year, contribute $500 or more to receive a handwritten thank you note from a student or parent!

Last Giving Tuesday, you helped us raise $106,000 to support the educational futures of hundreds of local students. There are now more than 1,100 students from over 550 families enrolled in Providence Promise, an increase of nearly 300 students from last year. Enrolled families collectively hold $1,450,000 in college savings accounts (CSAs) for their children's future education plans, up from $750,000 last year! Within the next twelve months, we intend to enroll another 300 - 400 students and to grow collective savings to $2,000,000. 

Read more about Providence Promise.

Providence Promise is a parent-driven partnership that provides a foundation for Providence Public School and Charter School students to continue their education after high-school. We work to increase our students' current and future success and ensure a brighter future for our students, their families, and our community by focusing on three pillars - family engagement and empowerment, education, and financial literacy and asset building. We are the only program in Rhode Island focused on this work, beginning as early as birth.

Here is how it works... 

1. Providence Promise enrolls families in its program and helps them open a 529 College Savings Account (CSA) in each child's name. For families with multiple children, an account is opened for each child. Providence Promise provides $100 of seed funding to each account and families commit to fund their CSAs with about 1% of their annual income each month.

2. Providence Promise invests in its youth. Students and/or their families can earn incentives (Early Scholarships) from Providence Promise for their CSAs by participating in activities and behaviors that will support their K-12 experience and prepare them for college and careers. For example, students can complete a book report, show proof of good grades, or attend a workshop with one of our many community partners; parents/guardians can earn incentives when they participate in financial literacy or advocacy and empowerment activities, like attending a PTO meeting or a workshop on budgeting. Each student can earn up to $250 a month in Early Scholarships. This year, our goal is to provide $265,000 in Early Scholarships directly to students’ CSAs. 

3. Youth Engagement and Family Engagement programs offer opportunities for deeper collaboration. Providence Promise hosts robust, ongoing programming for its enrollees and their families. Programs, often hosted in collaboration with one of our many community partners, promote access to opportunity and offer relevant information and resources in areas such as academic enrichment, college and career readiness, financial literacy, and social-emotional development. 

4. Providence Promise works with each family to understand their goals for themselves and their children and to support each student’s personal goals. The Youth Mentorship program features one-on-one coaching and mentorship to increase middle and high school students' familiarity with college preparedness and access, and to empower them to make informed decisions about their future. 

5. Providence Promise centers community voice. Providence Promise seeks continuous feedback from both within and beyond our program to ensure our programs are interesting, fulfilling and aligned with its constituents. Our Youth Council and a Parent Council inform organizational programming and strategy and two enrolled students and two parents are full members of its Board of Directors. 

Thank you for your generosity and consideration.