The Challenge for Arizona
As the working world becomes increasingly more competitive, the adults of tomorrow will have to invest in higher education. But as the cost of tuition rises, more and more low-income students who want to pursue a successful career need access to the ever-shrinking pool of scholarship dollars. To fill this gap, the private sector is stepping up to the challenge to create funding for Arizona students in need.
- Today Arizona ranks among the five lowest in terms of state-funded financial assistance.
- University tuition in Arizona has increased 39 percent—and that is just in the past two years.
- A family in the lower 40% income range would need to spend 37 to 46% of their annual income to pay the net cost of attending a community college or university, respectively.
- Arizona's participation rate in postsecondary education for low-income students is 15.6%.
- Arizona has the fifth lowest percentage in the country of citizens with baccalaureate degrees.
The ACSF Response
We can do better, for our state and for our high potential students.
The Arizona College Scholarship Foundation (ACSF) is a non-profit organization made up of concerned Arizona business and community leaders, elected officials and policymakers, philanthropists and foundations, education leaders and community service leaders...all of whom are committed to making college a reality for Arizona students through scholarships and mentoring programs to low income/high potential students. It's the state's most significant public/private collaborative effort to increase the number of baccalaureate degree holders in the state.
ACSF is a unique public/private collaboration that includes:
- Working with established and successful organizations that serve high-risk children and provide early mentoring such as Arizona Quest for Kids, Gear Up, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, JAG, and the Boys and Girls Clubs.
- Coordinating with other organizations that provide college preparatory training and application information for students as well as college mentoring
- Awarding scholarships to students based on their potential and their need.
ACSF Background
ACSF is modeled after the highly successful College Success Foundation (CSF), established by Bob Craves, a founder of Costco. Bob brought this idea to Governor Janet Napolitano to explore the possibility of replicating the foundation model in Arizona. Many community leaders joined in support of this effort, which is being directed by Don Budinger, Arizona business leader and founder of the Rodel Foundations and Frank Brady, community leader and former audit partner with Ernst & Young.
CSF was established in 2000 and over the past five years has provided $25 million in scholarships to 2,500 students and a total of $130 million in scholarships & mentoring programs.
CSF is in the process of creating a groundbreaking college scholarship initiative with one of its goals being to develop college scholarship foundations in each of the 50 states. Arizona, due to its strong commitment from leaders in both government and in the private sector, was selected as the first state to model this unique public/private partnership.