About Us
Who We Are
College Spark funds programs that help low-income students become college-ready and earn their degrees.
We make grants to organizations and institutions throughout Washington state that are helping low-income students improve their academic achievement, prepare for college life, and graduate from college.
Press Releases
May 2009 [PDF] - College Spark Press Release for 2009 Community Grants
August 4, 2008 [PDF] - OSPI:Students eyeing college get $9.5 million boost from area foundation. College Spark Washington awards major grant to help low-income students prepare for college.
June 2008 [PDF] - College Spark Press Release for 2008 Community Grants
College Spark Washington has supported access to higher education since 1978. Formerly known as Education Assistance Foundation (EAF), our mission was previously fulfilled through the management of student loan programs. In December 2004, College Spark sold its student loan operations, which created our endowment.
Since beginning grant-making in 2005, College Spark has awarded more than $10 million to college readiness and retention programs throughout Washington state. We conduct an annual, competitive Community Grants Program which awards approximately $1.4 million each year, with a median grant size of $50,000. Each fall, we accept requests-for-proposals for Community Grants and then conduct a rigorous process of site visits and application reviews to select grantees. Information about our Community Grants guidelines, application deadlines, and past recipients is available on our website under the "Grants" tab.
We also support two major college readiness and degree completion initiatives. We have committed more than $4 million to support Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count, a national, multiyear initiative to increase the success of underserved students at community colleges. College Spark’s grants fund the participation of six Washington colleges in this student success initiative. More information is available at www.achievingthedream.org.
To help more low-income students graduate from high school college-ready, College Spark is investing in a nine-year College Readiness Initiative supporting two promising programs:
- Navigation 101: A life skills and planning curriculum for students in grades 6 through 12, Navigation 101 was developed by the Franklin Pierce School District (Tacoma) and has since been adopted by districts statewide.
- AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination): An international academic support program for students in grades 4 through 12, AVID helps students succeed in challenging college prep courses and prepare for college.
Information about Navigation 101 is available at www.k12.wa.us/navigation101, and information about AVID is available at www.avidonline.org.