Partners For Access

Join the YYGS PACC (Partners For Access)

Yale Young Global Scholars is a financially self-sustaining program of Yale University, which means the University does not underwrite any program costs. Our financial aid fund is therefore limited in part due to high operational costs. The gap between our participant need and our capacity to give varies each year, but is usually between $2-2.5 million USD (and rising).

Our partners help to close that gap by identifying and providing financial support to deserving YYGS students from their networks. If you are interested in joining the YYGS PACC, please email ami.sobin@yale.edu with the subject line “YYGS PACC.”

See below for a list of our Partners (current and former):

Since 1963, A Better Chance has been opening the door to educational opportunities for thousands of young people of color in this nation. Their mission is to increase substantially the number of well-educated young people of color who are capable of assuming positions of responsibility and leadership in American society and they carry out that mission through their signature College Preparatory Schools Program (“CPSP”), which annually recruits, refers and supports about 500 A Better Chance Scholars at more than 300 of the nation’s leading boarding, day and public schools.
Aaron’s Presents is a grassroots youth organization north of Boston that is helping kids find purpose and meaning by having an early encounter with using their unique gifts and qualities to make an impact on others’ lives. The kids can do anything they want as long as it is something good for someone else. It’s completely up to them to join, and they direct the entire process and outcome. The organization has been able to attract kids in gang activity, kids failing out of school, undocumented kids, kids living in high poverty, and kids who never sign up for anything. There’s no other program we can find that is developing kids’ engagement in the larger world in a way that is accessible to all youth, and the kids and teens are flocking to it, saying this is what they really need. Right now, we work with about 400 kids a year plus their older Alumni, and focus on cities such as Lawrence, Lowell and Lynn.
Abaarso School is a premier 7th-12th grade co-ed boarding school outside Hargeisa, Somaliland that is changing lives and helping to rebuild a nation. We believe in nurturing the academic, intellectual and character development of promising Somali boys and girls so that they can effectively and ethically advance their society as the leaders of tomorrow.
Boston Prep was carefully deseigned with the intention and purpose to offer our students an education worthy of their brilliance, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to lead lives aligned with their passion and potential.
Breakthrough San Francisco supports young people in San Francisco on the path to college, and trains outstanding college students for education careers.

Coney Island Prep High School (CIPHS) believes that all students are entitled to a high-quality education through which scholars will be able to succeed in the college and career of their choice. Coney Island Prep High School makes use of rigorous academics, marked with frequent assessment and evaluation, in order to consistently set high standards for achievement and encourage students to overcome all obstacles.  With high expectations for academics and behavior, and the supports and accountability measures to uphold those expectations, CIPHS provides a school culture that creates strong character, self-advocacy, and a responsibility to become life-long learners.

Cristo Rey New York High School is a Catholic, co-ed, college-prep school, part of the national Cristo Rey Network. We serve students of all faiths who have demonstrated the potential and motivation to achieve success and who do not have the educational background or financial means to attend another private, college-prep school.

Delaware College Scholars helps high-achieving public school students succeed in competitive four-year colleges and universities, no matter their backgrounds.

The mission of Democracy Prep is to educate responsible citizen-scholars for success in the college of their choice and a life of active citizenship. A simple philosophy guides Democracy Prep staff, scholars, and alumni alike: Work Hard. Go to College. Change the World!

DiscoverU is a mission-driven organization that equalizes access to high-quality, out-of-school learning experiences for all youth.  Through experiential learning, DiscoverU assists youth in developing a vision for their future and gaining the social-emotional skills necessary to succeed in college, career, and in life.  In addition to supporting youth directly, DiscoverU builds robust support systems that involve families, schools, communities, and learning-opportunity partners.
Evanston Scholars is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that improves college access and success for a diverse group of ambitious Evanston students who are traditionally first-generation college entrants, students from low-income families, and students of color, starting with the college admissions process and continuing through college graduation.
Excel Academy was founded in Massachusetts in 2003 with the mission to provide a high-quality education to students in East Boston and Chelsea, communities that are predominantly low-income and Latinx and historically have faced significant social and educational barriers. Founded in 2003, we have grown from one middle school to a network of four schools with 1,400 students and 240 staff members serving grades 5 to 12. We pride ourselves on serving a diverse community in which 86% of our students identify as Latino or African American and 68% are designated as high needs by the state. Excel Academy’s mission is to prepare students to succeed in high school and college, apply their learning to solve relevant problems, and engage productively in their communities.

The Forman Acton Foundation is a private non-profit corporation founded in October 2014 to advance educational opportunities for Salem’s Youth.

The mission of Friendship Public Charter School is to provide a world-class education that motivates students to achieve high academic standards, enjoy learning and develop as ethical, literate, well-rounded and self-sufficient citizens who contribute actively to their communities.
The Fund for Advancement of Minorities through Education (FAME) is a small non-profit organization, located in East Liberty, making a large impact on the lives of students of color in the Greater Pittsburgh area. FAME was established over 29 years ago to provide need-based scholarships to bright and talented African American students, making a high-quality independent school education possible. FAME also provides its scholars with an array of supplemental support including tutoring, internships, academic enrichment programs, leadership development, and career awareness workshops. In addition, FAME hosts a summer and Saturday preparatory program for middle school students interested in attending an independent school. 
Hartford Youth Scholars (HYS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works with Hartford students – beginning when they are in middle school – and helps them get “to and through” college. HYS helps highly motivated Hartford students gain access to and graduate from best fit secondary schools and colleges. The organization provides Scholars and their families with academic and mentoring support for 10 years, beginning the summer before students enter 7th grade and continuing through college graduation.
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. By offering the largest scholarships in the country, in-depth academic counseling and other direct services, the Cooke Foundation seeks to help high-performing, low-income students to develop their talents and excel educationally.
Joyce Ivy Foundation was established to assist young women in their pursuit of higher education opportunities. As a non-profit organization, The Joyce Ivy Foundation is dedicated to the academic advancement of young women in the Midwest. The Foundation seeks to provide exposure, encouragement, counsel, financial assistance, and employment support to young women who have the academic, intellectual, and leadership potential to attend the nation’s most selective institutions of higher education.

KIPP New Jersey schools are part of the nationally recognized “Knowledge Is Power Program” non-profit network of college-preparatory, free, public charter schools educating elementary, middle, and high school students. In 2002, KIPP New Jersey first opened its doors in Newark’s South Ward as a single class of 80 fifth graders and has since grown to serve over 6,900 students in grades K-12 in Newark and Camden. More than 90% of KIPP New Jersey students currently qualify for free or reduced meals. In the next few years, KIPP New Jersey will have fifteen schools in Newark and ten in Camden. By offering highly effective educators with strong bonds to families, more time in school learning, services that support a variety of student needs, and a culture focused on achievement, our students succeed on their way to and through college.
An after school college prep program in Lynn, MA, the La Vida Scholar  mission is to equip low-income, high-achieving students with the resources needed to enter great colleges. We award families who save with matched funds and the training necessary to make the right decisions about their child’s higher education.
Minds Matter is a comprehensive and highly-successful three-year program that empowers young people from low-income families to achieve college readiness and success. The organization was founded in New York City in 1991 by six Wall Street professionals who understood that the gap in low-income student achievement is not one of intelligence, but resources.
New Hampshire GEAR UP, which stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, is a federal program funded by the U.S. Department of Education whose mission is to significantly increase the number of middle and high school students who are prepared to enter and succeed in post-secondary education.
Opportunity Network levels the playing field for low-income high school and college students by providing access to college and career success.
The DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) created the OSSE Scholars program in 2012 to provide access and college exposure, and to mitigate undermatching at the post-secondary level for our highest potential, yet most under-resourced students in the District of Columbia. OSSE Scholars provides high-achieving, academically-motivated 10th and 11th grade students who exhibit financial need with the opportunity to attend selective summer college programs. As an OSSE Scholar, students attend top-tier universities across the country for rigorous summer courses. The program offers early exposure to college-level academics, navigating a college environment, and, at certain universities, earning college credit.
The mission of Palouse Pathways is the advancement of educational and career opportunities and the provision of educational and career preparation, information and resources. They work with students who reside in rural communities and small towns along the Idaho Washington border.

Peak Education disrupts the status quo by closing opportunity gaps in their Colorado community. They believe all students deserve to reach for their full potential and all willing learners can do so. They do this by working to enact change at multiple levels beyond the individual students who participate directly in our program. Their work impacts families, schools, and our city to further access to education as well as social and economic inclusion.
Peninsula Bridge is a college access and completion organization that supports underserved, highly-motivated middle school, high school and college students with a comprehensive, 13-year program model. We are helping to break the cycle of poverty and greatly increase each student’s chance for success in school, life and career by empowering the next generation of employees, entrepreneurs and leaders from diverse backgrounds.

Reach for Excellence empowers determined learners and expands their possibilities in the classroom, in the community, and in life by preparing talented middle school students, who possess limited opportunities and resources, to succeed in college preparatory programs.  Through three six-week summer sessions and three school years of Saturday courses, Reach for Excellence provides and reinforces the academic and social skills each student needs to succeed in high school, college, and beyond.  A program of the Society of Mary, Reach for Excellence is tuition free and is hosted at Marist School in Atlanta, Georgia.
REACH Memphis helps high-achieving students succeed in high school, college and beyond. Educational opportunities are provided for motivated students to reach their highest potential by engaging them in a continuum of services including high school readiness programs, summer experiences, college counseling and mentoring.
REACH Prep helps motivated and talented black and Latinx students from underserved communities in Fairfield and Westchester counties and the Bronx gain admission to and thrive in rigorous independent schools. Upon placement, students benefit from a 12-year educational continuum, including comprehensive academic enrichment, leadership training and supplementary individual and family guidance, which prepares them to succeed at and graduate from competitive colleges. REACH Prep’s model of access to high-quality education along with sustained, comprehensive and long-term support achieves college success rates that defy trends and national statistics.
RoundPier team is a group of entrepreneurs, educators and technology enthusiasts but most importantly parents and students on a mission to create a unique global education community. Our dream for RoundPier is to be the dedicated community where all can come to connect, share, interact, and learn from one another. We want to eliminate the fear of missing out and increase the hope of better reaching one’s full potential.

Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) is running a project called “Seoul Learn” which supports learning for underprivileged students (ages 6-24) from low-income classes, who live in Seoul, in an effort to reduce educational gap between the group with wealth and those who aren’t by providing on-line educational contents, and mentoring program.

St. Ignatius Loyola Academy is a tuition free and independent Catholic Middle School in Maryland that serves boys from underserved communities. The Graduate Support office follows our students through secondary school and six years post secondary education.

St. Paul’s Foundation is an independent not-for-profit organizations that manages the scholarship programme of St. Paul’s School. Our aim is to award full-ride scholarships for talented children living in São Paulo, who have excellent academic records and the grit and determination to excel in their studies at St. Paul’s School. We are also proud to define talented in the broadest manner, be it in academic subjects, sports, music or the arts. We also aim to support them to enter a university of excellence in Brazil or overseas, giving them the opportunity to make a significant contribution to their own communities and Brazil. We hope to transform the lives of our scholars and their families through a St. Paul’s education.
The Schuler Scholar Program equips high-achieving and underrepresented students to gain access to and succeed at highly selective colleges and beyond. Schuler Scholars are typically first-generation college-bound, are students of color, or come from low-income families. To date, Schuler has helped more than 1,400 first-generation students, students of color, and low-income students in Chicago on their path to college and beyond.

CA, NY

 SEO Scholars is an 8-year, academic college access and completion program with a 90% college graduation rate for our first generation and low-income students. We currently serve high school students in New York and San Francisco through rigorous college-level classes in preparation for higher education, as well as college students around the country in preparation for successful career transitioning.
Seren is a network of regional hubs designed to support Wales’ brightest sixth formers achieve their academic potential and gain access to leading universities. The Seren Network nurtures Wales’ talented students to give them the best possible education and make the most of the opportunities available to them. Seren strives to stretch and challenge students in the subjects they enjoy, delivering subject-specific workshops to extend their depth of knowledge and creating a peer group of high achieving, like-minded and passionate  students. In addition, Seren supports schools and teachers in providing the best information, advice and activities for their high achieving students.
Steps to Success, Inc (STS) is a non-profit organization created to help support students from families who are considered economically disadvantaged, most living in Brookline’s public housing. Each year, STS serves approximately 250+ young people in Grades 3-12 and, through our College Success Initiative (CSI), an additional 50+ students in college or other post-secondary programs. STS provides academic support and enrichment, college awareness and readiness, paid summer internships, as well as family education and student support services. Our goal is to make a “sea change” for all of the young people in the population we serve.

Through the Summer of a Lifetime program, low-income, minority scholars of the Noble Network are provided funding and support to participate in life-changing, summer academic enrichment programs on college campuses nationwide. Founded in 1996, over 5,500 scholars have been served since our founding.

The Ellis Trust for Girls provides funding for eligible, female identifying scholars of limited financial means from Philadelphia public and charter high schools. The Ellis Trust provides Enrichment Grants that are meant to financially support students as they seek out meaningful experiences that strengthen academic skills, develop character, explore talents and help them discover who they are and who they hope to be. Ellis Scholars are curious, motivated and always seeking out a range of high-impact enrichment programs to try.
The Sunflower County Freedom Project is a 21-year old nonprofit organization serving 7th grade through college students in Sunflower County, Mississippi. We provide after school and summer programming, focusing on academic enrichment, arts programming, educational travel, college preparation, and leadership development. We use the legacy and spirit of the civil rights movement to inspire and empower today’s young leaders.
Since 1986, The Wight Foundation has worked to open the doors of higher education to underrepresented communities. The Wight Foundation, was founded with the mission to provide superior educational opportunities for young men and women of the Greater Newark, NJ area to achieve academic excellence and personal development within a boarding school environment. Our scholars attend boarding schools in the New England and Mid-Atlantic Regions. Our mission is highlighted by our motto of “Making a World of Difference”. We are committed to providing our students with the tools to achieve their goals and to give back to their community.
TEAK is a free program that helps talented students from low-income New York City families achieve their potential. Through intensive after school and summer classes, TEAK prepares middle school students to get into the nation’s most selective high schools and colleges. TEAK’s strong support system ensures that students thrive in their independent (day and boarding) high schools and graduate from college, ready to pursue their professional goals and positively impact the world.
Questbridge: Quest for Excellence NYC Award is a national nonprofit based in Palo Alto, California that connects the nation’s most exceptional, low-income youth with leading colleges and opportunities. By working with these students — beginning in high school through college to their first job —QuestBridge aims to increase the percentage of talented low-income students attending the nation’s best colleges and to support them to achieve success in their careers and communities.