Hope Ignites Chicago

Hope Ignites Chicago is a residential scholarship program for academically motivated young people in need who see academics as a pathway to a better life. Hope Ignites helps Scholars break down barriers to achievement by providing safe and structured homes; nightly meals around a family table; excellent college prep education at partner schools; medical care, including dentistry and orthodontics; social-emotional support, including individual therapy; tutoring; mentoring; college application prep; and community service opportunities. Following high school graduation, Hope Ignites supports Scholars through college with scholarship funds, financial aid navigation, dorm setup, one-call-away guidance, and a robust internship access program.

Hope Ignites works! The program has a 100% high school graduation rate, 100% college matriculation rate, and a 75% college graduation rate (compared to 15% from the lowest economic quartile, nationally, per the US Census Bureau 2020). For 47 years, Hope Ignites Chicago has worked to close the achievement gap and workforce development divide by acting as a bridge to opportunity spanning middle school through college graduation and into career launch. Scholars seek out this program ready to learn, grow, and build their futures.