Overview
We believe in the importance of a college education as a vehicle for economic and social mobility. College graduates, on average, earn twice as much as those workers with only a high school diploma (US Census Bureau, Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, US Bureau of Labor Statistics). Similarly, the unemployment rate for college graduates is half that of high school graduates (US Bureau of Labor Statistics). Yet, only a quarter (27.8%) of 18 to 24 year old black men are enrolled in college (American Council on Education). And black male suspension, expulsion, dropout, and incarceration rates continue to egregiously exceed national averages.
When a black man earns a college degree, the economic and civic benefits can extend beyond himself to his family and community.
Through the College Bound Brotherhood, the Kapor Foundation seeks to expand the number of young black men in the Bay Area who enroll in and complete a college education.
Our hope is to facilitate a sense of connection between people and organizations, not limited to grant recipients, who are dedicated to creating high academic expectations and a college bound culture for young black men in the Bay Area. This is an investment in talent that too often goes untapped, overlooked, and dismissed.
College Bound Brotherhood Online Directory
As a service to the community, we're happy to sponsor the public database, Collegeboundbros.org. This is a search directory available to youth, parents, and educators interested in locating college readiness programs for their young men in the Bay Area. Click HERE to add your organization to the database!
Brotherhood Grants
How would you use $25,000 to help prepare young black men for college?
Through our College Bound Brotherhood, the Mitchell Kapor Foundation is offering $25,000 grants to up to 15 nonprofit organizations that work on college readiness with young black men in Bay Area public high schools, particularly in Oakland and San Francisco. The 2010 grant request deadline has passed, but click HERE for more information about the College Bound Brotherhood grants.
Because we want to have as many organizations as possible profiled in Collegeboundbros.org, existing organizations must have a profile entered in the directory before applying for a grant.
Sharing Brotherhood : Future Events
Even if your organization isn't a Kapor Foundation grant recipient, there are other ways to participate in the Brotherhood. Sign up for our listserv in order to receive updates on College Bound Brotherhood news, programs, and events: collegebound AT lists DOT mkf DOT org. Future plans include two fundraising workshops, a conference for students and adults, and an annual College Bound Celebration.
The Mitchell Kapor Foundation is a partner (supporting organization) of the National College Access Network and a member of Grantmakers for Education.
