Over the next five years, the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts plans a new $500,000 investment to help local students and families navigate the complex financial aid process for higher education and access more affordable pathways.
This investment will make our region the first in Massachusetts where every high school has coordinated access to expert financial aid guidance at no cost, including Ayer-Shirley Regional High School and Nashoba Valley Technical High School.
To achieve this, the Community Foundation has committed to a five-year partnership with the nonprofit organization College Affordable, a $100,000 investment annually.
The program operates through two integrated services designed to ensure broad access while addressing equity gaps. The Financial Success Series offers group workshops and on-demand counseling for all students and families, while the Bridge to Equity program provides more intensive, individualized support for students facing significant financial or personal barriers.
“Financial aid is often the determining factor in whether a student can pursue higher education, yet navigating the process can be overwhelming, especially for first-generation college students and families facing economic hardship,” said Brian Gardiner, Executive Director of College Affordable.
“This generous commitment from the Community Foundation allows us to ensure that every student in North Central Massachusetts, regardless of their zip code or family income, has access to the guidance they need to make college affordable, ” he said.
The new investment will bring financial aid counseling to 13 additional schools, including Ayer-Shirley and Nashoba Valley Technical High School, which serves Ayer students, along with Bromfield in Harvard, Groton Dunstable, Parker Charter, Littleton and Lunenburg.
In the past, Community Foundation grants have helped College Affordable partner with nine schools across the region, including in Fitchburg, Clinton, Gardner and North Middlesex, which serves Townsend, Pepperell and Ashby students.
The Community Foundation will work with College Affordable to attract additional support from local philanthropists and foundations inside and outside the region. By leveraging a large, multi-year commitment, the Community Foundation expects to create a catalyst to bring more resources to the region.
“Rather than spreading resources thinly across many one-year grants, we’re making a substantial, multi-year commitment to an organization that has proven it can transform lives,” said Stephen Adams, President of the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts. “By ensuring every family in our region has access to expert financial aid guidance, we’re removing a critical barrier to higher education and creating pathways to economic mobility for generations to come.”
Ayer News compiled this story from the Community Foundation’s announcement. Read the Community Foundation’s announcement on its website and learn more.