COSI's Youth Mentorship Scholarship Program awarded grant funding to four organizations to provide scholarships to college students in exchange for mentorship services. In 2023, SB23-149 created the COSI youth mentorship assistance grant pilot program and appropriated $100,000 to be used through June 30, 2026.
The funding will bolster mentorship programs while helping students pay for college. COSI is providing $25,000 grants to youth mentorship organizations focused on LGBTQ+ youth, disabled youth, youth of color and youth at risk of being involved in the criminal justice system. Organizations can use the funding to provide scholarships to students who work as mentors in their programs and attend a public Colorado Institution of Higher Education.
- Awards
In Fiscal Year 2023-2024, the COSI Advisory Board awarded the following organizations:
- College Access Navigators, Inc. for its mentorship program serving youth of color: $25,000
- Colorado Initiative for Inclusive Higher Education for its mentorship program serving youth who have physical, mental, or developmental disabilities: $25,000
- Larimer County Partners, Inc. for its mentorship program serving youth who are justice involved: $25,000
- University of Colorado - Colorado Springs for its mentorship program focused on LGBTQ+: $25,000
- Reporting
Providers will be required to submit an annual report every fiscal year by June 30 for each year they distribute scholarship funds:
- June 30, 2024, for all funds distributed Summer 2023 to Spring 2024
- June 30, 2025, for all funds distributed Summer 2024 to Spring 2025
- June 30, 2026, for all funds distributed Summer 2025 to Spring 2026
All reports must be submitted through the COSI Reporting Portal.
Reports include two documents: Student Level Data and a Narrative report. You can find templates and instructions on the Google Drive.
Grantees have the option to submit a draft report for early review. Drafts must be submitted by June 14th.
- Cosi Point of Contact
Jacquie Granados
Program Manager