Thrive Forward Grant Program
Building Futures Beyond Foster Care
Each year in California, 4,000 youth age out of foster care without the support of a permanent family.
In the Bay Area, these young adults face one of the highest costs of living in the country - while navigating adulthood on their own.
What if one small investment changed that?
Our youth have dreams.
They just need the support to reach the next step.
Thrive Forward Grant Program Overview
Targeted interventions that combine mentorship, financial assistance, and stability increase educational success for foster youth as they enter adulthood.
The Thrive Forward Grant Program (TFG Program) provides targeted support to help students pursue their goals and access essential resources so they can stay focused on their education and social interactions.
This program builds on Set To Thrive’s mission of providing comfort, confidence, and stability—extending that care into a critical stage of life when many traditional systems fall away. It serves as a powerful “bookend” of support: from the moment a child enters foster care and receives a Thrive Bag, to the moment they step into adulthood with the tools, confidence, and support they need to succeed.
Thrive Forward Grant Program Goals
Reduce financial barriers for foster youth transitioning to adulthood.
Increase presence in college, trade school, or vocational training programs.
Improve equitable access to programs, classes, technology, textbooks, and learning materials.
Strengthen partnerships with schools, child welfare agencies, and youth-serving organizations.
Develop a mentor for each youth.
More Than Financial Support
Every scholarship recipient will have the support of:
Mentor
Youth-Serving Organization
Research consistently shows that youth with strong mentors are more likely to enroll, persist, and succeed in higher education.
FAQ
-
Thrive Forward Grant is designed for young adults ages 18-21 who are currently or formerly in foster care and are pursuing education or career training after high school. Eligible pathways may include community college, a four-year university, trade school, vocational or certification programs, apprenticeships, and workforce development programs.
-
Thrive Forward grants generally range from $500 to $2,000, depending on the applicant’s individual need and available program funding. Funds may be paid directly to a vendor, provided as reimbursement for an approved expense, or distributed through another approved payment method to the recipient or provider of their item/program.
-
You will complete a short application describing your educational or career goals and how the grant will help you move forward. You will also be asked to provide proof of foster care status, documentation of your education or training program, and information supporting the amount you are requesting.
-
The Thrive Forward Grant program accepts applications on a rolling basis.
-
Even a relatively small investment can remove a significant barrier. Thrive Forward grants range from $500 to $2,000 per recipient.
For example, $500 can help provide books, supplies, or trade-school equipment; $1,000 can provide technology support; and $2,000 can fund a full Thrive Forward grant.
-
Applications are reviewed by Set To Thrive representatives based on factors such as demonstrated financial need, alignment with the program’s goals, and the applicant’s educational or career plan. The goal is to direct resources where they can remove a meaningful barrier and help a young person continue moving toward independence.
-
Set To Thrive plans to stay connected with recipients through follow-up outreach, check-ins, and surveys. Program impact will include measures such as the number of young adults supported, the education or training programs they pursue, continued participation or completion, and recipient feedback and testimonials.
