About NYC Public School Alumni Community Scholarships
NYC Public School Alumni Community Scholarships are a way for NYC Public School graduates to invest in the college and career dreams of current students at their elementary schools through the NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program.
Since 2023, 260 NYC Public School Alumni from all corners of the city have either raised or contributed Community Scholarship dollars for students at their elementary schools – channeling significant assets into students’ NYC Scholarship Accounts for future college and career training expenses. It’s the *new* New York City tradition!
Alumni are inspiring NYC Public School students and their families by sharing their college and career journeys — increasing awareness about diverse education and career pathways. They are showing students that their community believes in them and is invested in their future success.
Get involved! Fill out the interest form and a member of the NYC Kids RISE team will contact you:
How Alumni Community Scholarships Work
Nearly 380,000 students (and growing every year) already have NYC Scholarship Accounts through the NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program – each with an initial investment for their future college and career training.
As an alumnus, you can:
- Add funds to third grade students’ NYC Scholarship Accounts (we’ll match your contribution and give boosts to students in high economic need schools!)
- Share your story through video messages about your education and career journey
- Visit your school to inspire students in person
- Connect with fellow alumni making an impact across the five boroughs
School Year 2025-2026 Highlights
✨ The 125 Alumni contributing Community Scholarship dollars is more than three times the number of Alumni who participated in the first year of this annual tradition!
✨ 6,300+ third grade students across New York City received a 2025 NYC Public School Alumni Community Scholarship ranging from $10 to $473! The total raised and distributed to students’ accounts, including philanthropic matching, was nearly $300,000.
✨ In addition to the money raised by alumni, more than 2,200 students attending schools in areas of high-economic need received an “equity-boost” of an additional $25 per student in their NYC Scholarship Account, which was then matched.
✨ The Friedman Family Foundation, the Morris and Alma Schapiro Fund and others have matched the dollars raised by Alumni and the “equity-boost” contributed by NYC Kids RISE, further amplifying the impact of these Community Scholarships.
See Alumni Community Scholarships In Action
Other Ways to Support
Not a NYC Public School alum? You can still make a difference by contributing to NYC Kids RISE – 100% of your donation will go directly to students’ NYC Scholarship Accounts through an NYC Public School Alumni Community Scholarship.
For additional questions, please contact [email protected].
