Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation

Our mission is to provide college tuition as well as one-on-one mentoring to adult Delaware women facing financial and personal challenges. These women, many of whom are single mothers and first in their family to attend college, desire to extricate themselves from these challenges to join the ranks of college graduates, thereby opening doors to new opportunities and setting a positive example for their family, neighborhood and wider community. With degree in hand, our graduates acquire upward economic mobility through higher-paying, more stable careers which are likely to withstand the turmoil of economic downturns such as we experienced during the pandemic. They have earned a "fresh start" in life through the power of education.

$7,482 raised from 54 donors

$30,000 goal

The Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation is an all volunteer organization that helps Delaware women transform their lives through education.  For more than 25 years, we've provided financial and mentoring support to women facing personal limitations, enabling them to transform their lives by earning a college degree. Since our inception, we have:

  • Served more than 300 scholars 
  • Provided one-on-one mentoring 
  • Managed program costs so that 90% of our expenditures go towards scholarships
  • Achieved a 72% graduation rate and average 3.4 GPA for scholars
  • Magnified our impact by being the example  set for our scholars and their families.

Fresh Start’s success is dependent on community support. Entirely volunteer run, 90 cents of every dollar raised goes back into the scholarship program.  With your help, we can provide more scholarships and opportunities to our present and future scholars. You can review some of our outcome and impact in our annual report here: https://bit.ly/3SBMxic

Here are some things our scholars have said about their Fresh Start experience: 

“The Fresh Start scholarship has been one of the first times I have felt as though I was with a group of people where I fit in. Everyone has a similar background, similar struggles, and similar dreams and drive to achieve them. This program truly gave me one of my first signs of hope that I can actually go to school, and that it is possible to graduate. Thank you for this opportunity. My desire is to continue my relationship with Fresh Start in some way to further support other women who simply need someone to believe in them." Holly G., Nursing, Delaware Technical & Community College

"There is nothing that can replace the love that has been pourted into me by my mentor. 
I will forever hold and cherish our friendship"
Keisha C. – Nursing, Wilmington University

About Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation

Mission: Our mission is to provide college tuition as well as one-on-one mentoring to adult Delaware women facing financial and personal challenges. These women, many of whom are single mothers and first in their family to attend college, desire to extricate themselves from these challenges to join the ranks of college graduates, thereby opening doors to new opportunities and setting a positive example for their family, neighborhood and wider community. With degree in hand, our graduates acquire upward economic mobility through higher-paying, more stable careers which are likely to withstand the turmoil of economic downturns such as we experienced during the pandemic. They have earned a "fresh start" in life through the power of education.

Since inception in 1996, Fresh Start has raised and awarded more than $1.5M in scholarships to more than 300 Delaware women.  We are an all-volunteer organization of women helping women achieve their potential through education.