Black and Native Family Futures Fund

Ascend at the Aspen Institute’s Black and Native Family Futures Fund is a new capacity-building fund that will provide financial support and expert technical assistance to selected Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) campuses that are committed to improving the success of their student parents.

One in five college students – close to 4 million – is pursuing higher education while parenting. More than half are students of color, with Black and Native students more likely to be balancing school and parenting than other groups of students.

With institutional cultures that are rooted in family, community, and holistic supports – key elements of a supportive campus for student parents – HBCUs and TCUs are uniquely positioned to identify and address the needs of Black and Native student parents. Read more in our announcement.

This video presentation introduces our team and provides further background into this Fund. Download the presentation HERE.

The application window is now open! Interested institutions must review the Request for Proposal (RFP) and submit their application by 11:59 pm ET on Friday, September 23, 2022.

submit a proposal

PROJECT RESOURCES

JOIN US FOR VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS

We highly recommend that institutions interested in applying to the Fund attend one of the virtual office hours. The Ascend team and staff from Fund technical assistance providers will be there to answer questions related to the RFP and application process. Attending office hours will increase the likelihood of drafting a successful proposal by not only receiving answers to your questions but hearing answers to other institutions’ questions too.

Institutions are welcome to attend either office hour session, regardless of sector and consultant presenting.

Office Hours 1

Thursday, August 18, 2022
1:00 – 2:00pm ET (10:00 – 11:00am PT)

watch

Office Hours 2

Wednesday, September 7, 2022
2:00 – 3:00pm ET (11:00am – 12:00pm PT)

watch

Frequently Asked Questions

Which institutions are eligible to apply?

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) and eligible to apply. This opportunity is not open to Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI) or Predominately Black Institutions (PBIs). If you work at a NASNTI or PBI and would like to be added to our listserv to receive messages about future opportunities, email us at ascendpsp@aspeninstitute.org.

What is the purpose of a capacity building fund?

As a capacity building fund, this project aims to improve Fund partners’ ability to support student parents by strengthening institutional commitment and staff development and capacity. This project primarily funds staff time to plan and begin implementing new or expanded student parent supports at Fund partner institutions. Full implementation and sustainability of student parent supports will occur after this project, although Fund partners will create sustainability plans during the project that can be leveraged to seek additional funding and resources.

Who is considered a student parent?

A ‘student parent’ is defined as a postsecondary student who is pregnant, a parent with at least part-time custody, or a guardian (officially or unofficially) of a child under age 18. This definition is meant to be inclusive and encompasses foster parents, adoptive parents, extended family, and other caregivers.

What forms of technical assistance will be provided to Fund partners?

Technical assistance (TA) will be provided at no cost to HBCUs from Teamer Strategy Group, LLC. (TSG) and TCUs from the Center for Native American Youth (CNAY). TA providers will guide fund partners through developing action plans; collecting and leveraging data; implementing action plans; sustainability planning; and overall strategy and capacity building. Fund partners will meet with staff from their TA provider monthly and ad-hoc as needed. Fund partners will also receive support from Ascend staff and peer learning through a grantee community of practice convened quarterly.

How can this project align with our institution’s ongoing work versus being just one more initiative?

Ascend and its technical assistance providers will collaborate with Fund partners to determine how to best align the project with ongoing institutional efforts. If Fund partners are participating in other projects with external stakeholders like Achieving the Dream (ATD), the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), or the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), we will also work with those stakeholders to best coordinate resources to meet our shared goals.

What are data reporting requirements for this project?

Within interim and final grant reports, Fund partners will provide data collected through FAFSA data, surveys, and focus groups during the project. No personally identifiable student data will be requested.

Are there any funding limitations?

Yes, there are limitations on grant funding. Grant funds should be allocated to staff time and other expenses needed for the cross-campus task forces to complete the project’s planning steps and begin action plan implementation. Depending on the changes and parent supports your institution intends to newly implement or expand, allocation of grant funds may vary. As a capacity building project, only limited funding can be allocated to direct programmatic support for services associated with launching a pilot program, such as providing case management support to a limited number of students to test the concept. The full cost of implementing programs like these, however, would need to be obtained through other sources.

Besides staff time, examples of allowable uses of grant funds include software to bolster student parent data collection; incentives for students to participate on the task force or in focus groups; childcare for students’ children during focus groups; and consultant services if needed due to lack of internal capacity.

Can the lead applicant and project director be the same person?

Yes, a senior institutional leader can serve as both the lead applicant and project director.

To be considered a Native American student, does the student need to be enrolled in a Federally recognized tribe and/or descendent of a member who is enrolled?

For this project, institutions can make their own determination regarding how they are identifying students as Native American – student self-identification or otherwise.

Are alumni or graduate students allowed to write the student parent representative letter of commitment?

Yes, an alumni or graduate student can write the student parent representative letter of commitment.

Where can I find examples of other institutions that have implemented student parent supports and best practice recommendations?

Ascend is seeking proposals that address the root causes preventing student parents from reaching their full potential and lead to systemic and sustainable institutional change. Here are some examples of what other institutions are doing to support their student parents:
– Check out programs at Ascend National Advisors’ institutions and community-based organizations: Family Scholar House, Jeremiah Program, Los Angeles Valley College Family Resource Center, and University of Minnesota’s Student Parent Help Center.
– Listen to Ascend’s 1 in 5 podcast episode featuring Ascend Parent Advisor, Jesus Benitez, and Ascend Postsecondary Leadership Circle member, Chancellor of the City University of New York (CUNY), Félix Matos Rodríguez, discuss the CUNY Fatherhood Academy.
– Read what Ascend Policy Acceleration Partners are planning for their grant projects.
– Read the school profiles in the Family Friendly Campus Toolkit.
– Read Ascend, Education Design Lab, Generation Hope, Institute for Women’s Policy Research, and Wellesley Centers for Women publications.
– View past National Student Parent Symposium presentations.

How firm is the deadline?

Firm. Responses are due via this link by 11:59pm ET on Friday, September 23, 2022. We cannot consider responses submitted after that time.

Is this a one-time opportunity?

As of now, yes, it is only a one-time opportunity. Although, Ascend and its technical assistance providers will work with Fund partners during the project to develop a sustainability plan, which will include seeking funds.

Who should I contact if I have technical difficulties with the submission or further questions?

Please send all questions to ascendpsp@aspeninstitute.org.

Building a ladder to intergenerational prosperity through education

LEARN ABOUT THE postsecondary success for parents initiative

Black and Native Family Futures Fund

PROJECT RESOURCES

Black and Native Family Future Fund Grants Request for Proposal (RFP)

Proposal Budget Template

Institutional Survey

JOIN US FOR VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS

Frequently Asked Questions

Building a ladder to intergenerational prosperity through education

Start typing and press enter to search

Black and Native Family Future Fund Grants
Request for Proposal (RFP)