The West Contra Costa Public Education Fund (Ed Fund), Richmond Promise, and the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) have been awarded a $72,000 grant by the Education Credit Management Corporation Foundation (ECMC) to support a collaborative effort that aims to increase financial aid completion rates throughout West Contra Costa this summer.

The grant is being awarded as part of ECMC’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Student Support Strategy that utilizes federal fund resources in an effort to address lower FAFSA completion rates nationwide. The Ed Fund will oversee administration of the grant while Richmond Promise and WCCUSD will provide programmatic support and data sharing.

Changes to the student financial aid process during the 2024-25 application cycle created additional barriers for families to apply. These included a new application form and criteria, new requirements for parents, and a shorter application timeline. 

As a result, ECMC launched the FAFSA Student Support Strategy to provide funds to organizations with experience in providing financial aid completion services and support an increase in the number of students, particularly first-time students, who complete a 2024-25 FAFSA application. 

According to data compiled by the WCCUSD and the Ed Fund, 63 percent of 1,837 enrolled graduating seniors in the district have completed a financial aid application as of June 6, 2024. The goal of this collaborative effort will be to raise that number to 73 percent by the end of the summer.

To accomplish this goal, staff from each organization will combine to offer additional support for West Contra Costa students. Summer College Financial Aid Team Office Hours will be conducted weekly by WCCUSD College Counselors and Richmond Promise via Zoom and in person. The working group will also host a Financial Aid Completion event in partnership with Contra Costa College on Tuesday, August 6, from 5:30 – 730 p.m. where any community member can complete their financial aid documents in a group format. Laptops will be available for use and free food will be provided.

Office hours will be supported by Richmond Promise’s Near-Peer Ambassadors, student employees who serve as a key part of RP’s in-class curriculum during the school year, and program outreach will be supported by student interns. Information on these services will be shared with the community through direct outreach, social media, WCCUSD communication apps and pathways, and sharing with community partners.

“When our community works together we can create real possibilities for our kids,” said Robert Bunce, Ed Fund Executive Director. “We are thrilled to bring together the school district, Richmond Promise, and the Ed Fund to make college affordability a reality for more families this summer.”

“Richmond Promise has always believed that financial aid completion rates are a key indicator of a student’s intent to pursue postsecondary education, so a large part of our college access work in local schools focuses on helping students and families navigate this process,” said Richmond Promise Executive Director Christopher Whitmore. “We have seen firsthand the additional obstacles created by changes at the federal level this year, and we are excited to come together with two great partners of ours, Ed Fund and WCCUSD, as we continue our work on behalf of Richmond students.” 

“As a member of the College and Career Department at WCCUSD, we believe that  collaborating with community partners is a crucial part in providing support to our students,” said Karina Soriano-Ponce, District Lead Counselor for the WCCUSD. “This partnership will focus on providing comprehensive financial aid application support to students and their families that will empower them in navigating the financial aid process with confidence, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to pursue higher education without the burden of financial uncertainty.”

Families and students interested in taking advantage of these services can reach out to Maddie Orenstein at Maddie@edfundwest.org, Karina Soriano-Ponce at kponce@wccusd.net, or Miguel Molina at mmolina@richmondpromise.org.

When communities work together to eliminate inequities, our youth will thrive. The West Contra Costa Public Education Fund mobilizes resources for our students and aligns the efforts of our partners to ensure that all students succeed in college, career, and life.

Since its launch in 2016, Richmond Promise—a postsecondary access and success organization—has supported over 3,300 Richmond young people as they make their way to and through higher education. Richmond Promise currently serves more than 1,300 scholars who are pursuing associate and bachelor degrees, and career technical education certifications, at over 200 colleges and universities across the United States. The majority of Richmond Promise scholars identify as people of color, first-generation college students and students from low-income backgrounds.

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