California
CSU Foster Youth Programs support services are available for current or former foster at more than 22 universities.
Doing Good Works (Irvine, CA) offers internships and jobs for foster youth.
First Place for Youth (Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Solano) support young people in finding a safe place to live, get their first job, and keep going in school.
Hack the Hood (Bay Area & N. California) youth get training in web design and development, professionalism, and career exploration while developing their portfolio by building websites for actual small businesses in their communities.
Just in Time for Foster Youth (San Diego) emergency, financial and educational support for former foster youth.
New Door Ventures (San Francisco): Internships, Job Readiness & Educational Support.
Pivotal: (Bay Area) Academic and employment support to current and former foster youth in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties starting in the 9th grade.
Possibility Project (Los Angeles) youth leadership training through theatrical and community action projects.
Ready to Succeed (Santa Monica) empowers youth impacted by foster care to graduate college, launch successful careers, and reach their full potential.
Renaissance Scholars (Cal Poly Pomona) provides a support system that helps and encourages foster youth throughout their journey at Cal Poly Pomona.
Renaissance Scholars (Fresno State) provides a support system that helps and encourages foster youth throughout their journey at Fresno State.
Renaissance Scholars (USC) provides a support system that helps and encourages foster youth throughout their journey at USC.
South Bay Community Services (San Diego) provides various support networks to help these young adults overcome challenges including support with housing, counseling, life skills, and job readiness training.
Success in Degrees (Los Angeles) empowers LA County youth in foster care to succeed in high school, college, graduate school, and beyond through long-term mentorship and educational support!
Pivitol (San Jose, CA): Provides youth with work readiness training, skills development and job placement services. Our program is open to all youth ages 14 – 20. For current and former foster youth, we extend our age range to 24.
The Teen Project (LA/Orange Co) provides young women (18-24 years old) homeless after foster care and at risk homeless youth with room and board, college support, paid job internships, savings program, automobile obtainment program and independent living education.
The Wish List Project (Sacramento) provides access to educational resources, extracurricular activities and youth development opportunities for under-served youth
Youth Moving On (Pasadena) provides former foster youth affordable quality housing and numerous support services to help them transition successfully to adulthood.
The Hub (San Jose, CA) drop-in community center focused on helping current and former foster youth, ages 15-24. At The Hub, you can receive health counseling, attend educational workshops, and there's free access to food, laundry, computers and shower services.
Umlaut Foundation (Pleasanton, CA): Umlaut Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to supporting middle-school and high-school foster and kinship youth through volunteer-supported tutoring. Specifically, Umlaut provides one-on-one mentoring in topics that can range from visual arts to SAT prep to basic homework help.
College Scholarships & Resources for Foster Youth
General list of private & state organizations that provide scholarships for foster kids: click here
Foster Youth Tuition Waviers listed by state
First Star and Guardian Scholars (California) programs
United Friends of the Children list of foster youth scholarships
College Readiness (Los Angeles) offers up to six years of individualized support by trained college counselors to students in grades 7-12 with a goal of helping foster youth graduate from high school and attend college.
College Sponsorship (Los Angeles) inancial assistance for foster youth to attend four year colleges/universities
Foster Care to Success Scholarships & Grants for education and job training
Get Schooled-- Website that lists different scholarship opportunities
Tuition.io List of Programs by State College Scholarship Programs for Foster Youth
Emy's Promise (Florida): Educational grants for women who have been in foster care in Florida.
Ump's Care All-Star Scholarship for children adopted at the age of 10 years or older
FinAid scholarship search database
Horatio Alger Association need-based college scholarships
List of State Tuition Waiver Programs and Education Training Vouchers for Youth in Foster Care
Grass Law Firm Scholarship (scroll to bottom of page): Any student with a financial need can apply for this $500 scholarship. This year's deadline is April 31, 2017
Sean Carter Foundation Scholarship Fund - Scholarships for those who have a compelling desire to pursue higher education, in spite of many personal, socio-economic setbacks, including teen pregnancy, former incarceration, interrupted schooling, poverty, and homelessness
Washington State Governors' Scholarship for Foster Youth - $2,000 to $4,000 depending on the college of attendance. Available for up to five years.
Passport to College Promise Scholarship program - In Washington state, provides support to students from high school through higher education completion.
West Virginia College for Foster Youth - in 2018, West Virginia will open the first free college officially for former foster youth. Initially it will be just for residents of West Virginia.
Family Fellows Foundation (Together We Rise): Application is now open for students who are residents or attending schools in Colorado, Maryland, Virginia, & Washington DC. Provides financial, educational, and wrap around support.
Pivotal (for youth in Santa Clara/San Mateo Counties in CA): For foster youth in these counties who is enrolled in or plans to enroll in vocational college, community college or a 4-year degree program.
California Financial Aid Guide for Foster Youth -- the student-friendly JBAY Financial Aid Guide for California Foster Youth takes the mystery out of applying for and keeping financial aid.
California College Pathways -- is a statewide partnership that provides resources and leadership to campuses and community organizations to help foster youth succeed at community colleges and four-year universities.
Opportunity Youth Academy (San Jose, CA) -- offers students a blended learning program of teacher-directed instruction and online credit accrual and recovery options. The focus is ensuring that students leave the program with a high school diploma, and a path to post-graduation college or career. The classes students complete satisfy admission requirements for California public universities and military service.
We Belong in College scholarship -- Share your stories of struggle and triumph on social media using the hashtag #WeBelongInCollege. We will be giving out five $1,000 scholarships every month from March-June, September, and October to the most inspiring stories shared. After sharing your story on social media, submit your video to us in the form below for your chance to win.
Additional College Programs
UC Davis Guardian Professions Program -- offers assistance to former foster youth wanting to pursue a graduate degree.
A Program Designed to Help Students Graduate from College