Oakland Promise (OP) Provides Cradle to College and Career Support

Oakland Promise is available to young learners (from newborns to college students) and their families who reside in Oakland. OP offers every child the financial resources, educational programming, mentorship, and a supportive community to help them and their families, to seek out and thrive in higher education and the career of their choosing.

Our Vision

A thriving Oakland community without barriers to educational opportunity.

Our Mission

Engaging the Oakland community to advance equity and economic mobility through cradle to college and career achievement.

Our History and Our Status

In 2016, Oaklanders came together to make a promise to every child in our city, offering them the resources, support, coaching, and incentives they need from birth and throughout their school years to empower them to seek out and thrive in the higher education and career of their choosing. With equity as a focus, Oakland Promise works to give kids and their families the opportunity to make this promise a reality.

In 2019, Oakland Promise and East Bay College Fund (which has been supporting college students since 2003) merged into one unified organization named Oakland Promise. OP is a founding partner of the Northern California College Promise Coalition (NCCPC). A detailed independent report on OP’s work and effectiveness can be found here that was developed by the Center of Assets, Education and Inclusion (AEDI) at the University of Michigan.

Non-Profit Status

Oakland Promise is a 501c3 non-profit public benefit organization registered with the State of California’s Attorney General Department of Justice. Federal tax ID is #54-2103707 and is listed here with the IRS as a public charity and tax-exempt organization. OP’s 501c3 non-profit status is further verified and confirmed in this IRS letter. All contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. As a 501(c)(3) organization, OP does not directly or indirectly participate in, or intervene in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office.

To understand more about Oakland Promise’s history, merger and nonprofit work, please read this document (as of January 2022). Here is also our 2021 Community Briefing Report.

Oakland Promise is a platinum-level GuideStar participant, with a seal demonstrating our commitment to transparency; Oakland Promise also has a Charity Navigator “Overall Score of 100 out of 100 in the Finance & Accountability” category in 2021.

East Bay College Fund (EBCF) was Founded

EBCF’s mission was to help resilient public high school seniors, under-represented in higher education, go to college and expand their life opportunities.

Oakland Promise was Created

The vision was to have a community that would ensure every child in Oakland graduates high school with the expectations, resources and skills to complete college and be successful in the career of his or her choice.

OP and EBCF Merged

OP and EBCF had been partnering for a few years already and it was determined the overall leverage of a combined organization would create more effectiveness and efficiency in supporting young people in the continuum from birth to career.

Supporting Young People & Families

During this pandemic, we migrated many of our in-person programs and services to virtual venues while maintaining all our support for the Oakland community. We continue to innovate, partner and collaborate with organizations to support youth and families to become more resilient to achieve their dreams.

Our Work

Direct Service

We deliver direct service through our four programs where we support young learners (and their families) with financial, advisory and resource services to complete their post-secondary education.

Intermediary

We mobilize educators and partners to scale our impact throughout the Oakland community.

Policy Influence

We strive to influence policies and systems changes that advocate for young learners and their families. We accomplish this by providing thought leadership, recommendations and formation of key partnerships and coalitions.

Our Programs

Oakland Promise’s four programs reach and support young learners at each age.

Brilliant Baby

Approximately 2,200 babies are born into poverty in Oakland each year. We equip brilliant babies and their families with a great start through college savings accounts (CSAs), financial guidance and community.

Learn more

Kindergarten to College

Approximately 5,000 students start Kindergarten in Oakland public schools each year. Beginning in the Fall of 2016, we provide every Kindergartner enrolled in an Oakland district and charter school an Oakland Promise Scholarship (that can grow to $500) and school-based supports.

Learn more

College Access

Each year, 10,000 high school students in Oakland Public Schools have access to scholarships, college and career readiness programming and personalized support to set them on a path to college, career technical education and career success.

Learn more

College Completion

Each year, over 400 new high school graduates become OP college scholars. We equip our Scholars with scholarships, mentorship and persistence support to finish their college or career technical education (CTE) degrees.

Learn more

Where Our Money Goes

Budget Summary

Our Budget is Applied to Optimize Impact

53%

Programs* for Kids and Families

25%

Kids and Families (includes scholarships, CSAs)

15%

General & Administrative

7%

Operating Reserve

* Programs: This category includes any expenditure spent directly on students, families or programs. Programs include staff dedicated fully or partially towards the advancement of a program effort that has a direct impact on students and/or families. More specifically this includes all of OP’s programs, data, communications, and assigned portions of G&A labor FTE that work directly on programs.

Our Impact since Inception in 2016: Oakland Promise's Impact is Enhanced through our Initiatives and Partnerships with about 100 Organizations.

To make a difference for Oakland’s young people, it takes collaboration with so many organizations that intersect with the educational ecosystem.

Our Partnership Philosophy (from an African Proverb): "If You Want to Go Fast, Go Alone. If You Want to Go Far, Go Together".

The alignment of all stakeholders leads to a likelihood of success for all our students and creates funding opportunities to make systemic change.

Community Partnerships

Harlem Children’s Zone, Oakland NAACP, Oakland Children’s Hospital, Latino Men and Boys, African American Male Achievement (AAMA), African American Female Excellence (AAFE) Sage Financial Solutions and many more.

Educational Partnerships

Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), Destination College Advising Corp (DCAC), higher education institution partners (HBCUs, UCs, CSUs, Peralta Colleges, Mills) and many more.

City, Regional and National Partnerships

Mayor’s Office, City of Oakland, #OaklandUndivided, Oakland Thrives, Northern California College Promise Coalition (NCCPC), Promise Net, OnePercent for Education and many more.

Corporate Partnerships

PG&E, City of Oakland, OUSD, San Francisco Foundation, Michael Moritz and Harriet Heyman/Crankstart Foundation, Koshland Family Foundation, Arthur Rock and Toni Rembe Rock, Marc and Lynne Benioff, The Claremont Hotel on behalf of Richard C. Blum Family and Accor Hotels, Moyer Washington Fund, Hellman Foundation and more.

Funding Partnerships

City of Oakland, OUSD, San Francisco Foundation, Michael Moritz and Harriet Heyman/Crankstart Foundation, Koshland Family Foundation, Arthur Rock and Toni Rembe Rock, Marc and Lynne Benioff, The Claremont Hotel on behalf of Richard C. Blum Family and Accor Hotels, Moyer Washington Fund, Hellman Foundation and more.

Who We Are

We have a team that works with our board, advisory board, partners and volunteers across a network to create a movement that helps young people achieve their potential.

Rosaura M. Altamirano

Oakland Promise Parent Community Ambassador

Chuyi Fang

College Student, University of California at Davis

Andy Fremder **

East Bay College Fund Founder

Barbara Fremder

East Bay College Fund Founder

Mark Friedman

East Bay Community Foundation, Board Chair

Seth Hamalian *

Mission Bay Development Group, Managing Principal

James Harrison *

Olson Remcho, LLP, Partner

Colin Lacon

Kaiser Permanente East Bay, Director of Public Affairs

Joel Mackey **

Board Member

Dr. Michael McAfee *

PolicyLink, CEO, OP Board President

Leroy Morishita

California State University East Bay, President (Retired)

Tomiquia Moss *

All-Home, Founder/Chief Executive

Maria Pirner

Oakland Unified School District, Teacher, Elementary

Susie Poncelet

Former East Bay College Fund Board Secretary

Libby Schaaf **

Mayor of Oakland

David Silver **

Oakland Mayor’s Office, Director of Education

Robert Stark

SpencerStuart, Partner

Susan Stutzman *

Board Vice President*, Former EBCF Board President

Riaz Taplin

Riaz Inc., Founder

Kim Thompson

CEO Action for Racial Equity Fellow and Principal at PwC

Kyla Johnson Trammell **

Oakland Unified School District, Superintendent

Janis Burger

CEO, First 5 Alameda County (Retired)

Wilma Chan (deceased)

Supervisor, Alameda County

Jane Garcia

CEO, La Clinica De La Raza

James Harris

District 7 Director, OUSD School Board

James Head

President & CEO, East Bay Community Foundation

George Holland

President, NAACP Oakland

Chris Iglesias

CEO, The Unity Council

Jowel C. Laguerre

Chancellor, Peralta District

Barbara Leslie

President & CEO, Oakland Chamber Of Commerce

Bert Lubin (Deceased)

Fmr. President & CEO, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland; Associate Dean for Children's Health

Karen Monroe

Superintendent of Schools, Alameda County

Susan Muranishi

County Administrator, Alameda County

Jeff Semenchuk

Chief Innovation Officer, Blue Shield of California

Michael Sorrell

President, Paul Quinn College

Tony Thurmond

Assemblymember, California State Assembly

John Valva

Former Executive Director of Alumni And Constituent Affairs, UC Office Of The President

Annie Campbell Washington

Dean of Students, UC Berkeley Goldman School

Sandra Ernst

CEO, Oakland Promise

Aiyani Scott

Program Coordinator, Brilliant Baby

Alitta Boyd

Senior Manager, College Access

Arbour Decker

Chief Development Officer

Chris Hwang

Director, Data and Evaluation

Christie Chu

Program Associate, Kindergarten to College (K2C)

Daniel Russell Cheung

Coordinator, College Completion

Diego Pinto

Senior Manager, Brilliant Baby Financial Coaching

E'yonnie Scott

Manager, Communications

Ebony Boyd

HR Coordinator, Human Resources

Eden Ballard

Associate, Development

Giselle Hendrie

Director, College Access

Harmela Beyene

Associate Manager, College Completion

Jamie So

Coordinator, College Completion

Jazz Broughton

Program Manager, College Access

Jenny Cortez

Associate, College Completion

Jessica Vazquez

Partnerships and Outreach Coordinator

Jonathan Coelho

Program Associate, College Completion

Karla Rodriguez-Sandher

Coordinator, College Completion

Katya Kirian

Senior Manager, Finances and Reporting

Leah Davis

Senior Financial Coach, Brilliant Baby

Lia Mezzio

Development Coordinator, Development

Linda Nguyen

Educational Partnership Manager, College Completion

Lucina Parada

Coordinator, College Completion

Luis Galvan

Program Associate, Kindergarten to College (K2C)

Manucher Buicki

Partnerships & Outreach Coordinator, College Access

Marcelo Duran Avalos

Director, College Completion

Melissa Elizalde

Program Associate, College Completion

Monique Recoder

Senior Manager, College Completion

Monique Street

Financial Coach, Brilliant Baby

Nahom Beyene

Associate, Accounts Payable

Rachelle Cardona

Administrative Program Associate, College Access

Reequanza McBride

Program Coordinator, College Access

Rita Zhang

Financial Coach, Brilliant Baby

Sadie Williams

Financial Coach Brilliant Baby

Sam Tesoro

Accounting Associate

Sarayu Prakash

Chief Financial and Operations Officer

Saundra Davis

Financial Consultant, Brilliant Baby

Stephenique Allen

Manager, Kindergarten to College (K2C)

Teresa Garza

Financial Coach, Brilliant Baby

Tonya Chapman

Manager, Human Resources & Operations

Veena Pawloski

Director, Kindergarten to College (K2C)

Vinh Trinh

College and Career Center / OUSD Liaison

Vivian Padua

Financial Coach, Brilliant Baby

Wallace Louie

Director of Communications

Yabnely Lara

Program Associate, Brilliant Baby

Yadira Hernandez-Figueroa

Program Associate, College Access

Oakland Promise Partners

To achieve our bold vision, it is essential we partner with strong Oakland organizations.

College scholarships & completion/college partners

African American Male Achievement
Alameda County Office of Education
Allen University
Berkeley City College
Beyond 12
California State University East Bay
Cheyney University
CodeEd Academy
College of Alameda
College Track
David E Glover Center
East Bay College Fund
East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC)
EPICC
Florida Memorial University
Full Circle Fund
Future of Tech Partners
Gameheads
Hack the Hood
Harris-Stowe University
Holy Names University
Intel
Kentucky State University
Laney College
Level Playing Field Institute
Masons
Merritt College
Mills College
NAACP
Notre Dame de Namur University
Oakland Rotary
Oral Lee Brown
Paul Quinn College
Peralta College Office of the Chancellor
Qeyno Labs
San Francisco State University
Student Program for Academic and Athletic Transitioning (SPAAT)
TechHire
Texas College
The Hidden Genius Project
University of California Berkeley
University of California Davis
University of California Office of the President
University of San Francisco
University of Santa Clara
Virginia University of Lynchburg
YesWeCode
Youth Radio

Organizational Champions

Organizational Champions endorse the Oakland Promise and align to shared community outcomes.

Acts Full Gospel Church
African American Male Achievement Initiative
Aim High
Alameda County Community Asset Network
Alameda County Public Health Department
Alameda County Office of Education
Alameda Health System
Alternatives in Action
Art Media Entertainment – California Department of Education
Asian Health Services Community Health Center
Aspire Public Schools
Asset Funders Network
Baptist Ministers Union of Oakland
Bay Area Teen Science
Bay Area Urban Debate League
Bay Community Fellowship
Be a Mentor, Inc.
Book Trust
Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland
Boys Hope Girls Hope San Francisco Bay Area
Braven
Bridge the Chasm
Brighter Beginnings
BUILD
California Charter Schools Association
Campaign for Black Male Achievement
Campaign for Free College Tuition
Center for Elders Independence
Centro Legal de la Raza
Chabot Space & Science Center
Chapter 510
Children’s Defense Fund
Citizen Schools
City of Oakland/City Administrator
City of Oakland/Community Action Program
City of Oakland/Head Start Program
City of Oakland/Human Services Agency
City of Oakland/Treasurer
Civic Nation
Clear Channel Outdoor
Coliseum College Prep Academy
College Bound
Community Engagement, OUSD
Community Financial Resources
Community Technology Network
Convergence Covenant Church
Devry University
EARN
East Bay Asian Youth Center
East Bay College Fund
East Bay Community Foundation
East Bay Consortium
East Bay Spanish Speaking Citizens Foundation
East Oakland Boxing Association
Educate78
Education Redesign Lab, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Educational Coalition for Hispanics in Oakland
Enroll Oakland Characters
Ethol
Faith Network of the East Bay
Family Independence Initiative
Family Paths, Inc.
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
First 5 Alameda County
First Place for Youth
Footsteps 2 Brilliance
Fred Finch Youth Center
Friedman Family Foundation
Full Court Press Communications
Game Theory Academy
Generation Citizen
GO Public Schools Oakland
Golden State Warriors Community Foundation
Great School Choices
Hack the Hood
Harbor House Ministries
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Alameda County
Holy Names University
Holy Names University Upward Bound Project
iMentor
InPlay
Inside Track
Irene S. Scully Family Foundation
Jostens
Juma Ventures
Junior Achievement of Northern California
Lao Family Community Development
Latino Education Network
Leadership Public Schools
Lend A Hand Foundation
Life Academy of Health and Bioscience
LifeLaunchr, Inc.
Lighthouse Community Charter School
Lincoln
LRNG
MarketingVUE
Menlo College
Merritt College
Mills College TRIO Programs
Museum of Jazz & Art
My Brother’s Keeper
National Equity Project
New Covenant Tabernacle Church
New Door Ventures
New Hope Covenant Church
New Leaders
Oakland African-American Chamber of Commerce
Oakland Chamber of Commerce
Oakland Community Organization
Oakland Empowerment Scholarship, Mentoring & Sports Program for Girls
Oakland High School
Oakland Housing Authority
Oakland Leaf
Oakland NAACP
Oakland Natives Give Back
Oakland Parents Together
Oakland Public Library
Oakland Rotary Club
Oakland Technology Exchange West
Oakland Temple Visitors Center
Oakland Turkey Trot
Oakland Unified School District
Oakland Workforce Development Board
Oakland Worship Center
Opportunity Fund
Partners in School Innovation
Partnership for Children and Youth
Peer Health Exchange
Peralta Community College District
Playworks
Points of Light
PolicyLink
Project Peace East Bay
Promise Neighborhoods Institute at PolicyLink
PUEBLO
Quest Foundation
Quest Therapeutic Camps
Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Reading Partners
Ready Nation
Redwood Heights School
Regeneration
Rex Consulting
Rogers Family Foundation
S and D Girl Talk
Sage Financial Solutions
San Francisco Foundation
Scholar’s Youth Sorority
ScholarShare, State of California Treasurer’s Office
Science is Elementary
Science, Engineering and Mathematics Link, Inc.
Sharks Ice
Shiloh Church
Spotlight Education
Springboard Collaborative
St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church
St. John’s Episcopal Church
Stuart Foundation
StudentReach
Summer Search
Sungevity
Super Stars Literacy
Tandem, Partners in Early Learning
Teach for America
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
The College Promise Campaign
The Education Trust-West
The New West Oakland Movement
The Oral Lee Brown Foundation
The Zorgos Project
uAspire
UC Berkeley
UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital
UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, Center for Community Health and Engagement
United Negro College Fund
United Way Bay Area
Urban Strategies Council
West Oakland Job Resource Center
West Side MBC
Williams Chapel Baptist Church
World Impact, Inc.
WriterCoach Connection
Young Sparks Foundation
Youth ALIVE!
Youth Radio
Youth Transportation Organization
Youth UpRising

Testimonials

I am impressed by the bold and comprehensive approach of the Oakland Promise which has pulled together best practices from around the country. As former US Secretary of Education, I've seen many initiatives across the country ---- Oakland Promise is one of the most strategic and effective and has the potential to be a national model... it leverages private philanthropy for public dollars and has already achieved outstanding results. OP changes the trajectory of our Oakland students from the time they are born, through the time they graduate from college and enter the workforce. Oakland Promise is truly a game changer for Oakland and its future generations.”

Arne Duncan

Former Secretary of Education under President Barack Obama (2009-2015)

“(The) Oakland Promise focuses on family education early and often, offering financial education and student support, making college a reality for thousands more kids. By the time they apply for college in their senior year, (the) Promise students are ready to succeed, knowing that financial assistance and guidance is available. The Oakland Promise scholarship for non-tuition expenses gives them that extra boost to reduce college costs, so critical for low-income students to complete a college degree or career-technical certificate.”

Dr. Martha J. Kanter

Executive Director, College Promise Campaign; Former U.S. Under Secretary of Education (2009 - 2013)

"(The) Oakland Promise supports students and families on their journey to higher education by coupling direct financial aid with critical college access counseling and support. The total cost of attending college, including transportation, housing, and supplies, is out of reach for many Oakland students. In addition to coaching families through the college grant and scholarship application process, (the) Oakland Promise helps alleviate some of these cost barriers with gap-filling grants to support students' successful college enrollment and completion.”

Lande Ajose, Ph.D.

Executive Director of California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy

Video Testimonial

Find Out How To Get Involved

We need mentors, volunteers, donors, champions and partners to help us to create more impact for Oakland’s youth. Please note that the mentor recruitment season is open for the 2022 - 2023 academic year. You can make a difference in a young person's life!

Get Involved Become a Mentor

Stay Informed

Learn the latest news on Oakland Promise and in the field of education and community in Oakland.

College Access

College Completion