RaiseMe

Mission:
RaiseMe is a social enterprise dedicated to expanding access to higher education, with a particular focus on supporting low-income and first-generation students. The organization aims to ensure that every student has an opportunity to achieve their college ambitions and pursue the American Dream.

Overview

RaiseMe partners with a diverse set of colleges and universities across the United States to offer 'micro-scholarships' to students. These micro-scholarships can be earned throughout high school, starting as early as 9th grade, for a wide range of achievements both inside and outside the classroom. This approach allows students to accumulate scholarship funds incrementally, rather than waiting until the end of high school to apply for traditional scholarships.

Services and Programs

• Micro-Scholarships: Students can earn scholarships for academic achievements (such as good grades), extracurricular participation, community service, and even family responsibilities.
• College Search: RaiseMe provides a platform for students to discover colleges that are a good fit for their interests and goals.
• Portfolio Building: Students can create and update a portfolio of their achievements, which is used to unlock scholarship opportunities from partner colleges.
• Support for Educators: The organization offers resources and lesson plans for high school and community college educators to help guide students through the scholarship and college search process.

Who They Serve

RaiseMe serves high school and community college students across the United States, including those in Louisa County, VA and surrounding regions. The platform is especially beneficial for students from low-income backgrounds and those who are the first in their families to attend college.

Eligibility

• Open to all high school and community college students in the United States.
• No specific income or residency requirements are mentioned, making the service broadly accessible.

Impact

• Over a million students, representing two-thirds of American high schools, have used RaiseMe to earn micro-scholarships.
• Partner colleges include a wide range of institutions, such as Northeastern, Colby, Penn State, Michigan State, Tulane, and Rollins College.

Key Features

• Free to use for students.
• Hundreds of earning options for academic, extracurricular, and community achievements.
• Recognition of non-traditional contributions, such as family assistance, to help level the playing field for students with additional responsibilities.

For more information or to get started, students and educators are encouraged to visit the RaiseMe website.