NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program

A scholarship and savings program administered by NYC Kids RISE, Inc., a nonprofit, in partnership with the NYC Department of Education and the City of New York. The program provides NYC Scholarship Accounts to eligible children and offers matching funds and community scholarships.

Geographic Scope: New York City, specifically District 30 (Queens area including Long Island City, Jackson Heights, Astoria, Sunnyside/Woodside, Ditmars, East Elmhurst)

Eligible Participants:

• Kindergarten, first, second, third, and fourth grade families
• Children in NYC public schools and charter schools in participating districts

Three Building Blocks

1. Building Block 1: Activate NYC Scholarship Account
2. Building Block 2: Open and connect own college savings account (NY 529 Direct Plan or Amalgamated Bank Save for College Account)
3. Building Block 3: Make first deposit of at least $5 into connected account

Award Amounts

• Initial Scholarship: Automatic deposit into NYC Scholarship Account upon activation
• Building Blocks Rewards: Up to $75 for completing all three building blocks
• Savings Match: NYC Kids RISE matches family deposits up to $100 annually (double your savings)
• Community Scholarships: Additional deposits from community partnerships (e.g., Seamless "Donate the Change" - $48.89 per student; Parent-to-Parent Community Scholarship - $60.48 per student)
• Total potential: Up to $150+ in annual rewards

Community Scholarship Opportunities

• Seamless Community Scholarship: Through food delivery app donations
• Parent-to-Parent Community Scholarship: Parents fundraise for students (College Opportunity Fund raised $15,000 for P.S. 92 first and second graders)
• GoFundMe deposits: Community fundraising for specific schools (e.g., P.S. 111 received $108.39 per student)

Key Features

• Savings Match: When families save in connected college savings accounts, NYC Kids RISE matches deposits in the NYC Scholarship Account (up to $100)
• Savings Tracker: Online portal to view child's scholarship account and track deposits
• Financial Counseling: Free, confidential one-on-one financial counseling at NYC Financial Empowerment Centers (20+ locations)

Supported Account Types:

1. NY 529 Direct Plan (contact: 866-734-4533, nysaves.org)
2. Amalgamated Bank Save for College Account (800-662-0860)

Contact Information:

• Phone: 833-KID-RISE (833-543-7473)
• Text: 866-367-1810
• Email: [email protected]
• Hours: Monday-Wednesday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Thursday 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM; Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Address: 28-07 Jackson Avenue, 5th Floor, Long Island City, NY 11101
• Website: nyckidsrise.org

Languages Supported: Arabic, Bangla, Chinese, English, Haitian-Creole, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Urdu

Additional Resources:

• School Partners: Charter Hub resources for charter schools
• Community-Based Organizations: Partnership with local CBOs
• "My Kid is Going to College" interactive workshops
• Family and Community Dinners (monthly events)
• Summer Savings Support Sessions

What the Program Provides:

• College savings education and planning
• Matched savings incentives
• Community scholarships
• Financial counseling partnerships
• College and career readiness workshops
• Family engagement events

Program Partnerships: NYC Department of Education, City of New York, Seamless, Amalgamated Bank, NY 529 Direct Plan, local community organizations (Sunnyside Community Services, Make the Road NY, Queens Community House, Urban Upbound, etc.)

How to Apply / 3 Building Blocks Process

Building Block 1: Activate NYC Scholarship Account

1. Visit nyckidsrise.org
2. Click "Log Back In" or "Activate Account"
3. Enter required information to activate child's NYC Scholarship Account
4. Account receives automatic initial scholarship deposit

Building Block 2: Open and Connect College Savings Account

1. Choose one of two account types:
   • NY 529 Direct Plan: Visit nysaves.org or call (866) 734-4533
   • Amalgamated Bank Save for College Account: Visit local branch or call 800-662-0860
2. Open the selected account in parent/guardian name
3. Connect/link it to child's NYC Scholarship Account
4. Reference materials available at nyckidsrise.org/options with step-by-step instructions for each account type

Building Block 3: Make First Deposit

1. Deposit at least $5 into the connected college savings account
2. Multiple deposit methods typically available through each account provider
3. Visit nyckidsrise.org/start-saving for deposit instructions and savings tips

Timeline and Deadlines

• Complete all 3 Building Blocks to earn full rewards ($75)
• Savings Match ongoing throughout school year (up to $100 annual match)
• Community Scholarships deposited periodically (when fundraising goals met)

Required Materials/Information

• Parent/Guardian information
• Child's information
• Contact information (for account activation)
• Minimum $5 deposit for Building Block 3

Support Resources

1. Phone Support: 833-KID-RISE (833-543-7473), Monday-Friday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
2. Email Support: [email protected]
3. In-Person Support: Summer Savings Support Sessions at various NYC locations
4. School Support: Contact school Parent Coordinator
5. Financial Counseling: Free sessions at NYC Financial Empowerment Centers (20+ locations citywide)

Accessing Your Account

1. Visit Savings Tracker portal on nyckidsrise.org
2. Log in with parent/guardian credentials
3. View child's scholarship account balance and transaction history
4. View graph showing account value over time
5. Track all deposits (initial scholarship, Building Blocks rewards, Community Scholarships, Savings Match)

Additional Program Engagement

• Attend "My Kid is Going to College" workshops at child's school
• Participate in monthly Family and Community Dinners
• Attend Summer Savings Support Sessions
• Contact school Parent Coordinator for assistance

Eligibility Verification

• Must have kindergarten through fourth grade child in NYC school
• No income requirements stated in materials
• Program open to all eligible families in participating districts