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Hope Chicago is an Illinois-based nonprofit organization focused on building economic opportunity and stability in low-income communities through postsecondary education. Our innovative two-generation model for supporting postsecondary access and success uplifts families and communities, and with Hope Scholars overwhelmingly staying in Illinois for college, all of Illinois stands to benefit. Hope Chicago is not a traditional college scholarship program. The most notable difference is our mission of bringing about systemic change in postsecondary affordability and support for low-income students across Illinois. Our program is intentionally designed around two systemic goals: (a) show the social and economic impact of policies that dramatically increase college access for both first-time freshman and returning adult students, and (b) identify and encourage the postsecondary support necessary for low-income, first-generation students to succeed.

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As part of its program, Hope Chicago provides both a debt-free scholarship and wraparound support to enable Scholar success in their postsecondary education. The debt-free scholarship that first-time freshman Scholars receive is applicable at any postsecondary partner of Hope Chicago, which presently includes every public four-year university in Illinois, City Colleges of Chicago, and several private colleges and universities. At these in-network schools, the scholarship provides (i) tuition and mandatory fees after financial aid and scholarships are applied and (ii) on-campus housing and meals, or commuter meal plans, up to a maximum of $12,000 per year per student. Additionally, the scholarship includes (iii) books and supplies, (iv) a laptop as they begin college, (v) a small stipend for ancillary living expenses, and (vi) access to emergency funds. Parent Scholars also receive a scholarship to tuition-based partner programs, inclusive of the same elements as first-time freshman except on-campus housing and meals and the stipend.

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With funds from this Illinois Board of Higher Education grant, Hope Chicago will provide its full program as described above, including scholarship and wraparound support to the following participants (numbers are estimates): ? 1,200 incumbent Hope Scholars from the high school classes of 2022 thru 2025 ? 160 Parent Scholars already enrolled in college and workforce programs ? 500 new first-time freshmen from the high school class of 2026 ? 125 new Parent Scholars We estimate we will support approximately 2,000 Scholars and Parent Scholars during FY25. With a scope of work covering the full Hope Chicago program for Scholars and Parent Scholars, IBHE should expect the same results and outcomes that Hope Chicago holds itself accountable for, which at a top-line are (a) rates of college enrollment at or near 80 percent, (b) college persistence rates at or above historical rates, and (c) meaningful increases in the number of college graduates YOY from the five partner high schools. Hope Chicago is prepared to report on these three outcomes annually, shortly following the start of the Fall academic term each year. However, on a semi-annual basis, Hope Chicago will report on leading indicators of success, such as the number of Hope Scholars enrolled each term, their persistence term-by-term, as well as credit attainment metrics.

Education Organizations;

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Project Grants

Education

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As outlined in grant agreement

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7/21/2026

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FY 2027 : $8,000,000