What it Really Takes to Get an Education After High School
While high school graduation rates have increased in Tacoma over the past nine years, postsecondary enrollment and completion rates have remained stagnant (49% and 55% respectively). Understanding the role a postsecondary education has in attaining living-wage employment, the Graduate Tacoma movement has doubled-down on its efforts to connect students seeking an education after high school […]
A Year in Review: A Letter from the Foundation’s Executive Director
Dear Partners and Friends, As I reflect on 2019, I’m reminded just how fast time flies and how much work there is still to do to improve the outcomes of every child cradle to career. The Foundation for Tacoma Students has spent the last nine years mobilizing a community that now includes more than […]
Announcing Community Learning Fund Subgrantees
The Foundation for Tacoma Students is thrilled to announce 38 subgrantees to the Graduate Tacoma Community Learning Fund! This is the first investment of its kind by the Foundation, with approximately $1M in total to be subgranted over the course of 2020. The following organizations will receive funding to build their work and collective action […]
Winter Workshops: Recharging Youth Development
Winter Workshops – Recharging Youth Development is an all-day training experience where Youth Development Professionals have the opportunity to engage in best practices focusing on: Racial Equity Social Emotional Learning (SEL) A deeper dive on Youth Program Quality Methods The trainings are designed to equip professionals with strategies and activities that they can implement in […]
Nearly $20k Raised for Teachers
Teachers are most often a young person’s closest source of opportunity and essential to the success of every child. The Teacher Impact Award grant was created by the Foundation for Tacoma Students in 2015 to support the creative ways teachers boost student achievement every day. Thanks to your support during the 2019 Cradle to Career […]
Now Accepting Proposals! Community Learning Fund
In June 2019, the Foundation for Tacoma Students announced a one-time investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to deepen the capacity and capability of the Graduate Tacoma community-wide movement. This investment presents an opportunity to elevate our collective action through sub-grant funding in three investment areas and, most importantly, strengthen our ability to […]
Request for Proposals: Postsecondary Access Intermediary
The Foundation for Tacoma Students seeks a community based organization or institution to serve as a community intermediary to help lead and coordinate efforts to improve postsecondary pathways for Tacoma students, with a focus on system-related interventions and programs that directly impact postsecondary access and enrollment. Background/Introduction The Foundation for Tacoma Students (FFTS) is the […]
Meet the Staff: Ben Mitchell
Ben Mitchell is Project Manager for the recent investment in Tacoma by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aimed at strengthening our ability to improve outcomes for our youngest residents — from cradle to career. In this role, Ben will be supporting and working in partnership with the Foundation for Tacoma Students, Graduate Tacoma […]
From President & CEO Eric Wilson: In Gratitude
Dear Partners & Friends, As Holly shared in her gracious letter earlier this week, the baton has been passed and I will officially resign as Founding President of the Foundation at the end of this month. I’m writing today to express gratitude to you and so many across this community who have helped build […]
Transitions for President & CEO Eric Wilson
Dear Graduate Tacoma partners & friends, As a school year full of promise begins for our community’s students, teachers and families, I am inspired by and grateful for the actions of so many people working together to ensure every child in Tacoma succeeds in school, career and life. On behalf of the Board of Directors […]