Fund Initiatives
Students at a Paying for College Bus Tour stop, Reading, PA
The Sallie Mae Fund is committed to addressing the barriers to college access and supporting the needs of the community.
Raising awareness about planning and paying for college
Studies show that those who need information about financial aid the most—low-income and minority families—often have the least access to it. The Sallie Mae Fund offers a variety of free, educational resources, in English and Spanish, on preparing and paying for college to educators and college-access organizations.
From 2004 to 2008, The Sallie Mae Fund's Paying for College Bus Tour visited underserved communities nationwide delivering free financial aid information in English and Spanish to more than 130,000 students and parents. Beyond the Tour, The Fund offered additional workshops in collaboration with schools and community groups.
Bridging the financial gap through scholarships
To help families meet the cost of higher education, The Sallie Mae Fund has provided more than $13.2 million in college scholarships to roughly 5,100 minority and low-income students.
Preparing students for academic excellence and college success
Many college-access experts agree that middle school is a critical time to shape a student's perceptions about college. The Sallie Mae Fund's Kids2College®program partners with community groups, schools/districts, and colleges and universities to reach sixth graders in at-risk communities with information about college.
Responding to the needs of the local community
In honor of the philanthropic commitment of Sallie Mae employees nationwide, The Sallie Mae Fund offers generous charitable contribution programs to energize communities where Sallie Mae employees live and work. Combined with employee volunteer efforts, The Fund supports programs that foster improved academic performance and college awareness, such as Reading Is Fundamental and Junior Achievement.
