Postsecondary Completion

Celebrating 10 Years of Impact in Postsecondary Completion

Over the past decade, Helios Education Foundation has invested over $40 million in Postsecondary Completion initiatives. Strategic partnerships with colleges, universities and other philanthropic organizations have not only led to scholarships, but the implementation of innovative and necessary support systems that target traditionally underserved and under-resourced students, including first-generation and minority students and students from rural areas. A portion of the Foundation’s investment in this area has provided scholarships and supports for over 8,000 students in Arizona and Florida.

$135,000

Arizona Earn to Learn
Live the Solution

Helios’ support of Live the Solution facilitates the development of a strategic plan and ensures capacity building for the long-term sustainability of the Arizona Earn to Learn program. Arizona Earn to Learn provides matched-savings incentives though special savings accounts for students from low-income families. Participants who successfully complete the savings program requirements receive an eight-to-one match on their savings applicable toward tuition costs at any Arizona public university.

$150,000

Latino Student Scholarships and Support/Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Arizona Community Foundation

This investment is providing scholarships and supports in alignment with the Foundation’s Latino College Success Initiative. In addition, this partnership is helping engage the business community in the success of Latino students through internships and mentoring.

$2,000,000

Excel Initiative
Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation

With a focus on increasing postsecondary attainment rates of Latino students in Arizona, this investment includes comprehensive student supports, financial assistance and mentoring for students, as well as opportunities for parent and family engagement in their students’ academic success. Students are engaged throughout their community-college experience with academic and financial supports that propel them toward achieving an Associate’s degree and/or certificate completion, as well as transition into baccalaureate degree-granting institutions. This investment also includes $500,000 in a reverse transfer initiative.

$3,175,000

Capacity-Building Partnership
College Success Arizona

This capacity-building investment will broaden College Success Arizona’s (formerly Arizona College Scholarship Foundation’s) community impact with an increased focus on advocating for and building supports and programs to increase postsecondary education success for low-income, under-served students in Arizona.

$500,000

Community College Individual Development Account Scholarship
A New Leaf

A New Leaf’s Community College Individual Development Account (IDA) Scholarship program aims to remove financial barriers to education and support degree completion for low-income and underserved individuals. Support from Helios will expand and strategically align the IDA program to increase the number of postsecondary degrees awarded.

$100,000

Talent Development Network
Florida International University

The Foundation’s support of capacity building for the Talent Development Network will enable Florida International University in partnership with other institutions of higher education to develop a regional internship program for students aligned with South Florida’s economic needs. The network is an innovative model for building and retaining talent, establishing and growing a regional internship culture and aligning academic curriculum with regional industry needs.