Title: College Possible Set to Grow with $1 Million Salesforce Grant
College Possible, a nationwide nonprofit that strives to enhance college attendance and success among low-income students, will utilize a $1 million grant from CRM software giant Salesforce to expand its student assistance initiatives.
Established in 2000, College Possible uses a distinct approach, connecting students with "near-peer" mentors who guide them through a curriculum designed to help conquer the challenges often preventing lower-income individuals from attending and completing college. The organization trains and employs AmeriCorps service members as its near-peer mentors.
The program primarily serves juniors and seniors in high school, with the majority of participants falling within the "academic middle," boasting grade point averages between 2.0 and 3.5. To be eligible, they must also meet financial requirements for Pell Grant eligibility.
During after-school sessions led by the coaches twice a week, students interact in groups of other college-bound peers. Utilizing an interactive curriculum, coaches work on topics such as discovering a suitable college fit, boosting academic preparation, financial planning, application submission, and navigation through enrollment.
Coaches typically work with 20 to 60 students at a given school, while guiding them through the program. Students are encouraged to identify five "best fit" colleges they are interested in attending. Those who do enroll in college continue to receive support from their coaches after graduating from high school all the way through postsecondary degree completion.
Now boasting eight regional offices across the United States—in Minnesota, Chicago, Omaha, Nebraska, Texas, Philadelphia, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin—College Possible has grown from its origins in St. Paul, Minnesota. The program has assisted over 93,000 students since its inception, working annually with approximately 25,000 from underserved backgrounds. All funding for the organization comes from AmeriCorps, private foundations, and individual donors.
In the following three years, College Possible will allocate the Salesforce investment to three primary areas:
- Enhancing High School Partnerships: College Possible aims to boost its partnerships with high schools, recruiting more students into its College Access Program. This program delivers tailored guidance and support to help students find their ideal colleges, craft financial plans, submit applications, and navigate enrollment successfully.
- Overcoming Workforce Barriers: College Possible will introduce new career development initiatives, including resume building, cover letter writing, landing internships, and interview preparation techniques. The curriculum will transition to a video format to better prepare students for early-career experiences as they move from high school to college and enter the workforce.
- Integrating AI for Better Student Support: The grant money will allow College Possible to incorporate AI technologies into its student-coach interactions, streamlining communication, and increasing personalization. Integrating AI, developed in-house using the organization's data, will lessen administrative burdens, enabling coaches to concentrate on one-on-one engagement with students.
According to College Possible's CEO Dr. Siva Kumari (since 2023), the sales surge in higher education costs, enrollment decline, and financial aid process confusion poses significant hurdles for low-income and underserved students. The work now is to break down these barriers and ensure students gain college admission, thrive throughout their educational journey, and develop the skills necessary for post-degree success.
The program expansion will occur within College Possible's existing 8-location network. Kumari explained that their two main goals are to strengthen ties with existing partner high schools and integrate similar schools within each existing location.
As colleges and universities prepare for an enrollment cliff, the shrinking number of graduating high school seniors, College Possible's mission to bridge college access and completion gaps becomes even more critical. The $1 million grant from Salesforce is seen as an endorsement of College Possible's approach, recognized for its 25-year commitment to helping low-income students gain college admission.
A randomized study of College Possible's program involving 238 students revealed significant benefits, including a 15-percentage point increase in applications to four-year colleges among participants, compared to non-participants.
Salesforce's executive vice president and chief impact officer Suzanne DiBianca praised the program's success in her statement, highlighting the organization's potential to expand opportunity using AI and other emerging technologies. She underscored the importance of embracing innovation towards the goal of ensuring all students--regardless of their background--have genuine prospects for success.
- With the $1 million grant from Salesforce, College Possible plans to expand its College Access Program, utilizing AmeriCorps near-peer coaches to help more low-income students find suitable colleges, draft financial plans, and navigate the application and enrollment process, particularly in partnerships with local high schools.
- College Possible will also utilize the grant to introduce new career development initiatives, training its near-peer coaches to use video formats to teach resume building, cover letter writing, and interview preparation techniques, helping students transition smoothly from high school to college and enter the workforce.
- To enhance student support, College Possible will integrate AI technologies into its student-coach interactions, using Salesforce funding to develop in-house AI tools that streamline communication, increase personalization, and reduce administrative burdens, allowing coaches to focus on one-on-one engagement with students.
