About the Nonprofit
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The Posse Foundation began in 1989 because of one student who said, “I never would have dropped out of college if I had my posse with me.” This simple idea became the basis for a national program that identifies diverse, urban public-school students with exceptional leadership talent and academic potential, who are admitted to top colleges and universities in peer support teams of 10―posses―with full-tuition, merit scholarships. The comprehensive, five-year program ensures that Posse Scholars graduate at a 90% rate prepared to excel in meaningful careers and as strong leaders. For 20 years, The Posse Foundation has transformed the lives of extraordinary students from the Greater Los Angeles area. Posse provides them with a path to graduation from top colleges and universities and career success while training them to be strong leaders for America’s increasingly pluralistic society. Neatly 15% of Posse’s 11,550 total Scholars are from the Great Los Angeles area. The impact of the Posse program has a ripple effect that begins with the individual Scholars and expands outward to their families and communities, to their college classrooms and campuses, to their places of work, and to the world at large. The elite colleges and universities that admit Posse Scholars achieve more diverse campuses which advances learning for all students and helps them become better informed citizens in an increasingly diverse society. Furthermore, Scholars lead in bridge-building and model cross-cultural communication, thereby developing campus communities that are more welcoming for students from all backgrounds. Posse’s strategy of recruiting from the diverse public-school student populations of the nation’s largest cities ensures that most Scholars are from backgrounds critically underrepresented at elite schools and in America’s leadership ranks. According to the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), 80% of students come from low-income families. Most student nominations to the Posse program are from LAUSD high schools.
The Posse Foundation achieves its goals through four program components. Together, these program components enable Posse to identify outstanding and diverse leaders as Scholars and to actively and consistently support them from their senior year in high school, throughout their college years and as Posse alumni.
Posse uses a strengths-based model that focuses on students’ leadership potential, motivation to succeed and academic abilities. Partner colleges and universities award these students merit-based scholarships in recognition of the exceptional leadership talents and skills they
bring to the campus community. This concept is critically important to how Posse Scholars perceive themselves and how they are perceived by others.
The Posse model eases the college access, retention, and financial obstacles faced by high achieving youth from diverse, urban backgrounds. Scholars are provided the tools they need to be successful on campus, graduate, and become leaders in the workforce and their community. Posse Scholars take on leadership positions in college and help change the dynamic of communities – on-campus and at home. These Scholars persist and graduate at a rate of 90 percent. Scholars transition into the workforce taking on leadership positions at competitive organizations in all industries. They are also applying for national and international fellowships and top-tier graduate and professional studies programs. The prestigious awards won by Scholars and alumni have included the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, the Rangel Fellowship, the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship for research, and Fulbright grants and scholarships, among many others.
Posse Los Angeles serves students from communities all over the Greater Los Angeles area, including Bell, Boyle Heights, Compton, East LA, Gardena, Huntington Park, Inglewood, South Los Angeles, Vernon Central, San Gabriel Valley, San Fernando Valley, Long Beach, and the South Bay. The median household income in many of these neighborhoods is as low as $31,235, compared to $64,300 for all of Los Angeles County. The self-identification breakdown for Posse Los Angeles’ 2022 Scholars is as follows: 40.7% Hispanic, 32% African American, 13% bi/multi-racial, 9.6% Asian, 3% Caucasian, and 2% indigenous/other.
While Posse does not define itself through any “deficiency” in its population served, we operate and recruit in urban communities and recruits from underserved public high schools. Scholars represent the demographics and diversity of the populations served by LAUSD (80 percent of LAUSD’s nearly 700,000 students qualify for a free or reduced-price lunch.) Of the 258 schools that nominated in 2021, more than 80% qualify for the Free and Reduced Meal program. Based on an analysis of self-reported financial data collected for financial aid, 80% of Posse Los Angeles Scholars and their families are defined as low-to-moderate income. Additionally, nearly 60% of Posse Los Angeles Scholars are first generation college students.
