Many foundations in the US invest in social programs that help young people find their direction, plan for their future, and live up to their potential. Foundation funding for student leadership activities, career development events, and scholarships helps to make college more affordable for many students.
Too many colleges have become so narrowly focused on increasing graduation rates and the number of degrees awarded that they have forgotten about their obligation to help students make informed, responsible decisions about how to use their time in college. At a time when college costs are high, student loans continue to accumulate and for-profit colleges are marketing themselves aggressively to low-income and first-generation students, foundations need to come together and focus on programs that will help more students graduate with a plan for their future.