Our Programs
The Commonweal Foundation supports low income children and youth through four programs:
THE PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS BOARDING AND DAY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (BDSP) offers scholarships to high school students whose families live at or below the federal poverty level. These scholarships are awarded through our Partner Schools, faith-based boarding and day schools, located across the country.
THE PARTNERS IN LEARNING PROGRAM (PINL)focuses on improving the literacy and math skills of low income children and youth in grades K-8 in the Washington DC Metropolitan Region, primarily in Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties in Maryland.
THE LEARNING SUPPORT PROGRAM (LSP) provides tutoring in reading, writing, math, and study skills to qualifying students in grades 1-12, with learning differences and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This program operates in the Washington DC metropolitan region at school and community sites during school hours and after school Monday through Friday.
GRANTS PROGRAMS include:
- SCHOOL ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (SEP)offers funding support for our Partner Schools to fully implement the Foundation’s Pathways to Success Program for low income students. PartnerSchools are required to have systems and faculty in place to meet the Foundation’s requirements of providing work opportunities, supplemental academic resources, vocational options, and counseling services to Pathways Scholars
- COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE GRANTS(CAG) are awarded to qualifying youth serving community organizations operating in Washington DC, Maryland and northern Virginia. Eligible organizations with an annual budget less than $1 million may apply for a grant of up to $25,000 by submitting an application for one of two application deadlines each year.
In addition to funding support, Commonweal’s grants programs provide direct services beyond the dollars to enhance the Pathways Partner Schools and the Community Assistance grantee partners. The Grants Department offers training and development opportunities for our Community Assistance Partners (CAP) through the CAP leaders meetings held up to four times a year. In partnership with the Pathways Program, the School Enhancement Program provides training and development opportunities for Partner Schools with the annual Leadership Initiative.