College Success Foundation

College Success Foundation
Formation2000
FounderBob Craves
Ann Ramsay-Jenkins
TypeNonprofit
HeadquartersBellevue, Washington
Key people
Mike Cheever (president and CEO)

College Success Foundation is an educational nonprofit headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, serving school districts in Washington state and the District of Columbia. The organization serves underrepresented students, first-generation college students, students of color, low-income students and foster youth.[1]

History

The foundation was formed in 2000[2] as the Washington Education Foundation by two former members of the state's Higher Education Coordinating Board,[3] Bob Craves [4] and Ann Ramsay-Jenkins, under the terms of the Washington State 2020 Commission on the Future of Post-Secondary Education created by Gov. Gary Locke.[5] Initial funding for the foundation came from the Gates Foundation.[2]

In 2006, College Success Foundation-District of Columbia (CSF-DC) was founded as a subsidiary focusing on the District of Columbia, particularly in Wards 7 and 8.[6] In 2007, the organization changed its name and began to include college prep and support services for students beginning in middle school.[7]

Public School Districts

CSF advisors work directly in schools with high percentages of low-income students. CSF collaborates with school districts to improve high school graduation rates and increase the number of graduates going directly to college.

Public school districts that the foundation works with include:

  • Washington state public school districts: Highline,[8] Spokane,[9] Tacoma,[10] Yakima [11]
  • District of Columbia public and charter school district: Ward 7,[12] Ward 8[13]

References

  1. ↑ "WA guts program that helped thousands of students get to college". The Seattle Times. 2025-05-19. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  2. 1 2 "Bellevue nonprofit serving low-income students to lay off 100 employees". Puget Sound Business Journal. 2025-05-13. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  3. ↑ "High road to college". Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  4. ↑ "Local scholarship program spreads to D.C." Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "Learning for Life: Report of the 2020 Commission on the Future of Post-Secondary Education". Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  6. ↑ "District of Columbia". College Success Foundation. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  7. ↑ "New Scholarships to Make College Success a Reality for D.C. High School Students". Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  8. ↑ "For overwhelmed single mom: Here's a road map to get your kids to college". 11 September 2017.
  9. ↑ "Youth Spotlight: Ferris student set to pursue medical career | the Spokesman-Review".
  10. ↑ Haley, Peter (6 February 2016). "Support making difference for Tacoma-grown students". Tacoma News Tribune. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  11. ↑ "Program helps Yakima students go to college".
  12. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-03-01. Retrieved 2018-02-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original on 2018-03-01. Retrieved 2018-02-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)