Boosting Opportunities for Social and Economic Mobility for Families (BOOST) Initiative is sponsored by Ascendium Education Group (in partnership with Jobs for the Future). The BOOST initiative aims to strengthen partnerships between community colleges and human services nonprofits that connect people with low incomes in cities to critical human service supports and educational pathways that will help them climb the social and economic ladder.

Boosting Opportunities for Social and Economic Mobility for Families (BOOST) - Kresge Foundation Our Story at 100 Promoting human progress since 1924, expanding equity and opportunity today Our Staff Our work is made possible by a staff of mission-driven professionals Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Central to how we operate and fund, we center DEI in all we do Careers Check for new openings and learn about working at The Kresge Foundation Board of Trustees Leaders who provide governance, expertise and support to our work Press Room Resources and information for commnunications professional American Cities Effective, inclusive community development in U.S. cities Arts & Culture Positioning culture and creativity as drivers of more just communities Detroit Expanding long-term, equitable opportunity in our hometown Education Addressing postsecondary attainment and closing equity gaps Environment Helping cities with equitable climate resilience strategies Health Building equity-focused systems of health to achieve well-being Human Services Increasing social-economic mobility for people with low incomes Social Investment Practice Unlocking capital for community development Strategic Learning, Research & Evaluation Building a culture of learning across the organization and support community learning priorities Initiatives Our time-bound funding programs can bring multiple Kresge teams together to co-create strategies Grants & Social Investments Grants Awarded A database of grants dating back to 2009 Social Investments Made A database of PRIs, guarantees and other investments How to Apply Details on eligibility, FAQs, Fluxx guidance and more For Current Grantees FAQs for partners, communicating about your work and more Boosting Opportunities for Social and Economic Mobility for Families (BOOST) Connecting people with low incomes to critical human services supports and educational and career pathways to advance social and economic mobility.

What We Support/Key Strategies Strong Community College and Human Service Partnerships Programs, Policies and System Reforms Alignment of Critical Supports Lifetime and Springboard Jobs In America’s cities, many people with low incomes dream of and strive for a more secure and prosperous future for their families.

The good news is that a high-quality college education can connect them with the careers that can move them and their families up the social and economic ladder. But at colleges all around the country, students are often juggling work, family and school. Nearly 1 in 5 college students are parents, and that rate is even higher at community colleges.

We believe that if more students receive the critical supports that human services nonprofits provide, more students will stay in college and graduate. Meanwhile, some people supported by human services nonprofits never connect to the high-quality educational pathways on community college campuses that lead to family-sustaining careers.

Others do find their way to campus, but the colleges and human services nonprofits often don’t know they are serving the same families. We believe there is an opportunity to provide coordinated supports that are holistic, equitable and address the needs of both children and parents. Ultimately, these two-generation approaches will support families striving to live out the American dream.

Our Boosting Opportunities for Social and Economic Mobility (BOOST) initiative aims to strengthen partnerships between community colleges and human services nonprofits that connect people with low incomes in cities to critical human service supports and educational pathways that will help them climb the social and economic ladder.

BOOST cities participate in a cohort-based learning community and seek to have impact at the program, organization and system level. Jobs for the Future acts as the learning and management partner, supported by Equal Measure as the evaluation partner. In 2019, we awarded grant funding to six city partnerships between community colleges and human services nonprofits nationwide.

Boosting Opportunities for Social and Economic Mobility for Families (BOOST) News & Views BOOST cities shape strong partnerships to support family economic mobility Taking the long view: Designing pathways for economic mobility National leaders discuss dismantling structural racism in higher education, human services and workforce development systems Insights into selecting BOOST city partnerships at the forefront of change All Boosting Opportunities for Social and Economic Mobility for Families (BOOST) News & Views Boosting Opportunities for Social and Economic Mobility for Families (BOOST) Resources Community Colleges & Human Services Nonprofits BOOSTing Family Economic Success Through Organizational Policy and Practice Forging connections between community colleges and human services providers makes it possible to build stronger pathways that include both learning opportunities and social supports.

In a new brief, Jobs for the… Education, Human Services Kresge Education newsletter: Every Degree Matters Addressing Basic Needs Security in Higher Education This research brief outlines three studies led by Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab at Temple University designed to help identify effective approaches to secure and address postsecondary students’ basic needs, so more students… Education, Human Services All Boosting Opportunities for Social and Economic Mobility for Families (BOOST) Resources JFF is a national nonprofit that drives change in U.S. workforce and education systems to achieve economic advancement for all.

Equal Measure partners with foundations, nonprofits and government to apply new ways of thinking and learning to advance social change. Senior Communications Officer