The Sallie Mae Fund

Established in 1992, The Sallie Mae Fund today directs more than $10 million in annual giving to support access to higher education, including hundreds of scholarships. The Fund supports a wide variety of philanthropic programs and initiatives to help ensure that students are ready for college both financially and academically including:

Paying for college resources

One of the major barriers to post-secondary education is low awareness among parents that higher education is accessible. The Sallie Mae Fund conducts the Paying for College workshop series, with bilingual resource materials, in more than 100 communities nationwide each year to help educate families about the college process and the financial resources available.

National Latino bus tour

Awareness of financial aid options is critically lacking in the Hispanic community. The Fund's national Paying For College Bus Tour visits Latino communities nationwide delivering free financial aid information to students and parents in person, and in their preferred language. Since 2004, this initiative has reached more than 75,000 students and parents.

Scholarships

To help students and families afford the cost of higher education, The Sallie Mae Fund provides $2.5 million in college scholarships each year—most are awarded to minority and low-income students.

Academic achievement programs

Poor academic achievement is another barrier to success in post-secondary education. The Sallie Mae Fund supports a variety of programs that foster improved academic performance including Reading Is Fundamental, Junior Achievement, and pre-K literacy programs.