A lot can happen by chance: CSFP scholarships, for example, are distributed by random lottery. Yet the winners of these K-8th grade scholarships (and their families) put in the hard work necessary to succeed at their chosen schools. The hard work and perseverance that our parents and children demonstrate, once given this scholarship opportunity to…

On February 7, CSFP families from across the city visited Dilworth Park’s Rothman Rink for a day full of winter activities as part of CSFP’s SuperSkate Sunday event. One hundred children and their families enjoyed ice skating and hot cocoa. During the event, families also participated in arts & crafts provided by CSFP and science…

On January 14 and 15, Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia (CSFP)’s executive staff joined leaders from other Children’s Scholarship Fund National (CSF) partner organizations for a two-day summit. Representatives from over 20 programs shared ideas and experiences in order to help scale educational opportunities and outcomes for low-income children. CSFP ED Ina Lipman served on a…

CSFP’s free, easy-to-fill out application has just a few questions on it. The responses to one of these questions—“How did you hear about CSFP?”—has prompted a new, annual volunteer event for the organization. Each year, hundreds of families note that they hear about CSFP through word of mouth, from a friend or neighbor. CSFP decided…

“I can’t believe it. Let me catch my breath.” –new CSFP parent R. Burns on learning that her child was selected from CSFP’s random lottery for special “opening day” scholarships this month. On December 15, over 200 children learned that they would receive an extra holiday gift this year: financial assistance to great K-8th grade…

More than 300,000 Pennsylvania children are at risk of losing much-needed educational services this year. CSFP and more than 700 other K-12th grade educational and scholarship programs in Pennsylvania are funded in large measure through the generosity of corporate donors utilizing two state tax credit programs: EITC and OSTC. The Governor’s office is not allowing…

On November 18, over 700 supporters, parents, children, and school administrators joined CSFP at the National Constitution Center (NCC) to mark the release of new applications for CSFP’s random scholarship lottery. The event also served as a call to action for those in attendance: vital scholarship funding provided by Pennsylvania corporate tax credits is in…

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, our partnership with Art-Reach, and a growing network of volunteers and Parent Network members, CSFP was able to host families with children enrolled in our scholarship program at the Adventure Aquarium in Camden on Saturday, November 14. Nearly 600 people joined CSFP for this fun-filled family outing, which…

Watch video of Ina Lipman of the Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia, Mark Gleason of the Philadelphia School Partnership, and Deborah Gordon Klehr of the Education Law Center examine the state of Philadelphia public education, what an “equal education” in Philadelphia would look like, and their specific proposals for getting there. They also explain what, if…

The Philadelphia Inquirer recently reported that Philadelphia has the highest rate of deep poverty among America’s largest cities. The causes for deep poverty are many and complicated, but when interviewed for the Inquirer, Drexel University economist Neeta Fogg cited issues related to educational attainment as a major factor. Participation in the job market requires an…