CSFP holds Lottery Day, notifying Philadelphia families of their children’s scholarships
PHILADELPHIA, PA – Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia (CSFP), Pennsylvania’s largest and most diverse K-8th grade scholarship program, held its annual Lottery Day on December 17th at URBN’s headquarters in South Philadelphia. Dozens of CSFP staff, parent ambassadors, volunteers, and sponsors gathered to share the good news with scholarship recipients.
“Every child deserves access to an education that helps them reach their full potential, and that begins with empowering parents to make the choice that’s right for their family,” said Keisha Jordan, President and CEO of Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia. “Each scholarship is an investment in a child’s future and our city’s future. We’re grateful to our sponsors and volunteers for making this event possible.”
This year’s event was hosted by URBN. Sponsors included DJS Associates, Janney Montgomery Scott, Amerihealth Caritas, the Commonwealth Foundation, MarchForward, and Wawa.
Each year, thousands of families apply for CSFP scholarships, and new scholarship recipients are chosen through a random lottery process. These need-based partial scholarships, which range between $1,250 – $3,350, can be used at more than 150 private and parochial schools throughout the Greater Philadelphia area. All participating CSFP scholars receive support through the completion of 8th grade. Families need more support than ever before – the average scholarship award has increased by more than $500 since the launch of the Breaking Barriers Campaign in 2022.
“I know firsthand from my 15 years leading Gesu School that you have to get the foundation first at an early age. CSFP recognizes the importance of early education and helps prepare students to succeed,” said Bryan Carter, President & CEO of Gesu School, which has partnered with CSFP since the organization’s founding.
In 2026, CSFP will celebrate its 25th Anniversary. Since its founding in 2001, the organization has awarded more than $150M in funding to more than 30,000 students. For the 25-26 School Year, the organization anticipates its total scholarship payment to exceed $17M, directly providing tuition support for Philadelphia families looking to access private educational options for their children.
About Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia
Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia (CSFP) changes lives by providing scholarship funding for Philadelphia families to choose a tuition-based school that meets their student’s educational needs. It is the largest and most diverse provider of K-8th scholarship support in Pennsylvania, focusing on the highest-need students in the lowest-achieving schools in the city. During the 2025-26 school year, CSFP awarded more than 6,800 scholarships for K-8th grade students enrolled at nearly 150 area tuition-based schools. CSFP scholarships are all need-based and awarded by random lottery. To learn more and support our efforts, please visit www.csfphiladelphia.org.