1. COLLEGE COMPLETION INNOVATION FUND
2019 Grantmaking Cycle

2. The College Completion Innovation Fund
Graduate NYC (GNYC) launched the College Completion Innovation Fund (CCIF) in March 2015
The CCIF is the first collaborative fund dedicated to improving college completion rates in New York City
Invested almost $2 million in innovations
Grants are made to support undergraduate colleges and nonprofit community-based organizations (CBOs)
Projects serve low-income students and other groups underrepresented among degree holders

3. Fund Goals
Increase persistence and completion rates by testing new models and bringing promising practices to New York City
Facilitate ongoing dialogue and engagement related to increasing degree attainment in New York City
Foster greater collaboration among and between colleges and CBOs
Support learning that can inform the field
Generate interest among funders to invest in college completion efforts

4. Funded Projects Overview – 2018 Grantees
Grant to CUNY School of Professional Studies to address two obstacles institutions face in serving adult learners: forgiving past poor academic performance of working adults attempting to return to school, and abbreviating time to degree for working adults attending part time.
Grant to the Hunts Point Alliance for Children, supporting the Hunts Point College Culture Collective, leveraging HPAC’s relationship with Rocking the Boat and St. Ignatius Middle School Graduate Support Program to create a neighborhood-wide college-going culture with key supports embedded in the community.
Grant to LaGuardia Community College supporting the Pushing Momentum project, which includes an embedded mobile advisement application to redress the fact that a large percentage of LAGCC students shift from full-time to part-time status—or fail to persist altogether—after their first semester, due to unfamiliarity with college administrative processes.
Grant to Queens College supporting Transitions to Teaching, a pilot that seeks to improve the momentum and persistence of transfer students in the school’s Elementary Education program, using a holistic approach to address informational, socioemotional, and academic barriers.

5. 2019 Grantmaking Cycle
The CCIF will invest in at least four new innovations with grants at the $75,000-$200,000 level over the course of 1-2 years
Eligible parties include New York City-based undergraduate colleges (public or nonprofit) and CBOs with a 501(c)(3)designation
A majority of students served by projects must be low-income students
Funded projects will launch in Fall 2019

6. Impact Areas Improving Transfer Student Success
Strengthening the two- to four-year college transfer pipeline
Improving persistence rates of transfer students
Increasing Momentum
Improving efficiency and decreasing time to degree, including for part-time students
Supporting Near Completers/Comebackers
Focal populations are those traditionally underrepresented among degree holders, including:  First-generation college goers  Low-income students  Young men of color  Immigrant students  Justice-involved youth  Students with disabilities  Students aging out of the foster care system

7. The College Completion Innovation Series
Investing in the sector through grantmaking and professional development
Work with our expert partner, inno.Cat, along with like-minded professionals, to utilize innovation frameworks
Support the development of new approaches to tackling challenges of degree attainment
Offer frameworks and tools that organizations can use for other purposes
Provide space for networking and cross-institutional collaboration
Exposure to funders

8. Application process
Application process to participate in the Innovation Series
Can accommodate up to 25 Colleges and Organizations
Complete the application form online
Identify two to three project leaders
In-person dates:
Tuesday, January 29
Tuesday, February 26

9. The College Completion Innovation Series
Participate in two in-person, full-day workshops
Invited to submit a full proposal for implementing their innovative practice
Optional coaching calls with design thinking experts and use of an online collaboration space

10. Timeline Application publically available November 30
Applications Due December 21
Participants Selected January 17
In-person Workshops: January 29 & February 26
Optional Coaching Calls: March
Full Proposals Due: April 12
Decisions Announced: May 13
Projects Launch Fall 2019

11. Additional Benefits to Grantees
Networking and support from the learning community of CCIF-funded projects
In-person convenings covering timely issues in higher education for staff from the funded projects
Ongoing consultation with GNYC and other experts as needed
Opportunities to promote your work to the broader college access and success field, and to the funding community

12. Questions? Visit the FAQs section of the 2019 Grantmaking Cycle webpage. Contact: Melissa Herman (718)

13. Introduction to Innovation Frameworks
John Raymond, inno.Cat GNYC partner and expert in innovation frameworks
Prepare to submit an application to CCIF and an introduction to tools and resources