About New Haven Promise
Provide incentive-based scholarship funding and wraparound supports (college advising, FAFSA workshops, internships, mentorship and career readiness) to connect New Haven students to college and careers and break intergenerational poverty.
Focus Areas
ScholarshipsHigher education accessCollege advisingFAFSA assistanceInternships and workforce developmentMentorship and peer supportAlumni engagement
Who They Fund
students seeking postsecondary educationcollege-bound high school graduates
Funding Style
direct financial aidindividual-level scholarship awards
About New Haven Promise
New Haven Promise Inc’s giving is built around scholarship dollars that move students from New Haven into college and through degree completion, paired with advising, FAFSA workshops, internships, mentorship, and career readiness supports. Its largest recent awards go to Connecticut colleges and universities, including $2,774,398 to the University of Connecticut in 2025 and $707,816 to Southern Connecticut State University that same year, showing a sustained commitment to postsecondary access and completion. The foundation also supports the Yale Teaching Fellowship, linking its education pipeline to teacher preparation and workforce development in New Haven. The recent grant list shows a strong concentration in scholarship support rather than a broad mix of discretionary philanthropy. Awards recur across institutions over multiple years, especially at the University of Connecticut, Southern Connecticut State University, the University of New Haven, Yale University, Gateway Community College, and Central Connecticut State University. That pattern fits the organization’s stated model of incentive-based scholarship funding and wraparound supports for New Haven students seeking college and career pathways.
What New Haven Promise Funds
Higher education access is the core of New Haven Promise Inc’s grantmaking. In 2025, it awarded $2,774,398 to the University of Connecticut for scholarships and $707,816 to Southern Connecticut State University for the same purpose. The foundation also extended scholarship support to the University of New Haven, with $222,672 in 2025, reinforcing a Connecticut-centered pipeline for New Haven students. Community college access is another visible strand. Gateway Community College received $89,556 in 2025, while earlier awards of $88,214 in 2023 and $85,105 in both 2024 and 2025 show continuity. Yale University appears as a scholarship recipient as well, with $131,875 in 2025 and $79,188 in both 2024 and 2025. The Yale Teaching Fellowship adds a separate focus on teacher preparation and K-12 workforce development in New Haven.
How New Haven Promise Gives
Grant sizes cluster in the mid-five-figure range, with p25 at $20,000, a median grant of $52,444, and p75 at $80,289. The recent record is dominated by scholarship awards repeated across years rather than one-time gifts. Several recipients appear in multiple 990 years, including the University of Connecticut, Southern Connecticut State University, the University of New Haven, Yale University, Gateway Community College, Eastern Connecticut State University, and Morgan State University. The organization does not fund individuals directly and does not make program-related investments. Its structure is programmatic and award-based, with scholarships and fellowship support delivered through named education programs rather than an open unsolicited-application model.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$8.9M
Total Assets
$3M
Total Revenue
$6.2M
Total Expenses
$5.8M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $20K and $80K, with a median of $52K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$52K
75th Percentile
$80K
Geographic Reach
Regional6 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
Patricia Melton
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