Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) is one of New York City’s leading college access and success organizations, providing intensive academic preparation and long-term advising to help first-generation and low-income students earn college degrees. Through its SEO Scholars program, students receive eight years of support, beginning in ninth grade and continuing through college graduation, with a focus on building the academic, personal, and professional skills needed to succeed in college and beyond.
SEO Scholars participate in more than 600 hours of supplemental instruction in reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar, and math through after-school classes, Saturday sessions, summer academies, and individualized college advising. Once enrolled in college, each Scholar is paired with a dedicated College Persistence Advisor who provides one-on-one academic, personal, and career support through graduation. Today, SEO serves approximately 1,000 New York City high school students and more than 1,200 college students. On average, 80% of Scholars attend competitive colleges, and 87% graduate from college.
The Foundation has supported SEO’s efforts to strengthen the pathway from college to career, including a grant that fostered collaboration between SEO and Opportunity Network. We continue to explore opportunities to build on SEO’s proven model and identify catalytic ways to expand its impact for New York City’s students.
Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) | Other Notable Grants | Focus Areas