Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation Grants $4M to Schools & Orgs

In response to declining college enrollment in Indiana, the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation is committing more than $4 million to Marion County schools and community-based organizations as part of the foundation’s new College Matters initiative.

College Matters seeks to increase college enrollment rates among Marion County high school seniors, especially students from low-income households who are less likely than their higher-income peers to enroll. Of all 2020 Marion County high school graduates, only 49.2% enrolled in college, a 25% decrease in just 10 years. Additionally, only 40.6% of low-income 2020 high school graduates in Marion County enrolled in college, compared to 58.0% of their higher-income peers. Only 53.4% of Indiana’s 2020 high school graduates enrolled in college statewide. Indiana ranks 43rd nationally regarding post-secondary attainment, with less than 29% of adults over 25 holding bachelor’s degrees.

“The decline in college enrollment across our city and state is deeply concerning, as a majority of jobs with a livable wage and healthcare benefits are held by people with a college degree,” Claire Fiddian-Green, president & CEO of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, said. “The need for a workforce with credentials after high school is increasing, yet Marion County is producing fewer college graduates, worsening the mismatch between available jobs and job applicants.”

To encourage greater college enrollment, the Indiana General Assembly recently made completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) a high school graduation requirement. An increase in the FAFSA completion rate in Marion County—which was only 39.3% in 2023—means more students will be connected to the financial aid they need to make college more affordable and accessible. To help Marion County schools implement the FAFSA mandate, the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation invited eligible Marion County public high schools to participate in a request-for-proposals process for non-competitive grants for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years. As a result of that process, College Matters awarded $2.6 million in grants to allow 26 Marion County public schools in 14 school corporations to assist students and their families in meeting this new requirement.  

“We are eager to partner with the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation in the College Matters initiative knowing that employers continue to report challenges around finding talent with the needed skills,” Dr. Shawn A. Smith, superintendent of Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township and a College Matters grantee, said. “Post-secondary education is directly correlated with long-term financial stability, and this program reinforces the mission of the MSD of Lawrence Township to support all students on their education pathways to graduation, college, and career.”

The following Marion County schools are recipients of College Matters grants through the 2024-25 school year:

• Beech Grove City Schools, $160,000
• Christel House Indianapolis, $160,000
• Herron Classical Schools, $200,000
• Indianapolis Public Schools, $240,000
• Irvington Community Schools, $145,500
• KIPP Indy Public Schools, $150,000
• MSD of Lawrence Township, $240,000
• MSD of Pike Township, $200,000
• MSD of Warren Township, $240,000
• MSD of Washington Township, $177,750
• MSD of Wayne Township, $240,000
• Phalen Leadership Academies, $150,000
• Purdue Polytechnic High School, $160,000
• Victory College Prep, $150,000

"At Victory College Prep, we want our students to understand that earning their high school diploma is not the finish line but just the starting line for the rest of their lives," Ryan Gall, executive director of the VCP K-12 School Network and a College Matters grantee, said. "With the support of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation and its College Matters initiative, we have a goal of 100% FAFSA completion for our high school seniors, the majority of whom come from historically marginalized communities, because we know FAFSA completion dramatically increases post-secondary accessibility and affordability.”

Community-based organizations also play a significant role in sharing college-related information and resources. To help reach more students and families, the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation awarded grants to four such Marion County organizations that will allow them to expand their programmatic capacity to support students in exploring, enrolling in, and financing college. The following community-based organizations are recipients of College Matters grants totaling $1.35 million over three years:

• Center for Leadership Development, $300,000
• Indiana Black Expo, $300,000
• Indiana Latino Institute, $450,000
• Indianapolis Urban League, $300,000

The grants to schools and community-based organizations are intentionally short-term to provide temporary enhanced capacity as they adjust to the new FAFSA mandate. This additional capacity will be especially helpful this school year, as the FAFSA is being updated and will not be released until December 2023, two months later than is typically available.

Finally, the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation awarded a three-year $363,000 College Matters grant to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education to support convenings and communications activities to ensure schools and community organizations are well connected with free state resources. 

“The Indiana Commission for Higher Education is honored to participate in the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation’s College Matters initiative because it will allow the agency to activate existing partnerships with schools and community-based organizations to increase FAFSA completions throughout Marion County,” Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Chris Lowery said. “College Matters will connect Marion County students and families with the over $400 million available in state financial aid and billions of dollars in federal aid available to make pursuing education beyond high school affordable and attainable.”

College Matters is a multi-year initiative of the foundation to increase Marion County’s college enrollment rate. With more college graduates, Indianapolis will be more likely to support the talent needs of both existing and new businesses, improving the quality of life for Hoosiers. For more information on College Matters, contact foundation staff at college@RMFF.org. 

About the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation

Since 1986, the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation has strived to advance the vitality of Indianapolis and the well-being of its people by addressing some of the city’s most significant challenges and opportunities. Through strategic grantmaking, research and evaluation, and cross-sector collaborations, the foundation aims to improve outcomes across its three focus areas: Education, Health, and the Vitality of Indianapolis. Learn more at RMFF.org.