Give to Guardian Scholars

Take a look at the current data reflecting educational outcomes for young people exiting foster care.

College Enrollment

In Indiana in 2022, only 67% of 19-year-olds exiting foster care had earned a high school diploma or GED. Twenty-six percent were currently enrolled in an educational program of some sort (GED, Associate's, Bachelor's or vocational certification).

(Indiana Department of Child Services, 2022)

College Retention & Graduation

Research suggests that foster alumni are twice as likely to drop out of college than their low-income, 1st gen peers. The estimated graduation rate for foster alumni who are not receiving supportive interventions is 40%, and those who do graduate do so at 2/3rd's the pace.

(Day et al., 2011)

College Success

Recent research indicates that foster alumni who participate in campus-based support programming like the Guardian Scholars increase their graduation rates by 33% over their non-participating peers.

(Gross et al., 2022)

The Guardian Scholars utilizes a strengths-based approach to student service. We are intentional about elevating the personal agency and dignity of our students through holistic support opportunities. Our program aims to promote self-advocacy and growth mindset/resiliency as we help students navigate college life and build a sense of belonging on campus.

Newsletters

Read our most recent quarterly newsletter here.

Annual Reports

Our most recent annual report is available upon request!

Receive email updates from Guardian Scholars!

Donor Opportunities

Our program is dependent on the generosity of others in maintaining program support. Grant funding and individual donor support provide the means through which we support both program scholarships and daily programmatic expenses. If you are able to help us stand in the gap for these remarkable students, please explore the many outlets for in-kind and monetary giving that are represented in the tabs below.

Winter Break Boxes

Many of our program participants face challenges unlike their peers over holidays and during breaks from school. The Guardian Scholars program works to stand in those gaps by providing students with food and supplies to support their needs.

You can help support our efforts by giving towards our 2025 Winter Break Box donation drive!

Shop on Amazon with direct delivery here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1OOQX57TO9574?ref_=wl_share

Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1OOQX57TO9574?ref_=wl_share

Break Housing

Safe and reliable housing during breaks from school is a concern for many of our students. It is also a complex barrier to navigate.

Factors that contribute to this barrier include:

Financial Limitations
Student Eligibility for Extended DCS Services
Federal Financial Aid Regulations
Availability of Temporary Housing
Trauma-Informed Care (avoiding recreating the foster care experience)

Ball State has a year-round residence hall that many of our students utilize on breaks. However break housing is not included in their housing contracts and requires additional expenses to be incurred. We are staying up-to-date on best practices and emerging legislation related to housing provisions for foster alum. We are committed to supporting our students towards proactive break housing preparation and will support those needs through campus and local referrals, providing financial support as we are able.

TWYN Closet

Some students in the Guardian Scholars program face significant financial burdens and lack familial support to meet basic needs. Through grant funding and donor giving, we provide students with access to hygiene items in our Take What You Need Closet! These items are available in the office following 1:1 meetings and can be picked up discreetly.

Items currently available in the Take What You Need Closet include:

Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Mouthwash
Body wash
Laundry detergent
Dryer sheets
Deodorant
Saline solution
Tampons
Pads

We welcome donations of these items year-round at:

Ball State University c/o Guardian Scholars
2000 W University Ave. MC 206
Muncie, IN 47306

If you would like to purchase items towards our Personal Care Kits online, here is our Amazon Wishlist!

Graduation Gowns

Students who are approaching graduation may face unexpected expenses related to applying for graduation and costs associated with attending commencement ceremonies.

At current prices, expenses for graduation can amount to just under $100 for most students. We also provide a Guardian Scholars stole for students to wear at Commencement. If you would like to help our scholars offset these expenses, we accept donations of gently used graduation gowns in the current style in all sizes. We also welcome monetary donations towards program purchased regalia!

Care Packages

Many college students receive periodic care packages from their loved ones. Students in the Guardian Scholars are less likely to be recipients of this type of package, yet often have more need than their peers.

If you would like to contribute a care package for one or more of our students at any time, please reach out to the program manager (gscholars@bsu.edu) to arrange the details. We will provide you with some details about the student(s) (like favorite color, favorite snack, etc) so that you can customize your box.

Scholarships

Financial aid is a necessity for Guardian Scholars. Our program currently offers program participants the opportunity to apply for a $2,500 annual scholarship which is renewable for up to 4 years. The Guardian Scholars scholarship is a competitive scholarship that is awarded annually to students who exhibit academic excellence, strong program attendance and financial need.

We rely on the generosity of donors to fund our program scholarship. If you would like to make a donation or speak more about one-time, repeating or planned gifts to the Guardian Scholars, please reach out to us any time. Online giving is available below and your gifts are tax deductible.

Planned Giving

The future of the Guardian Scholars program rests in the planned giving of compassionate and invested donors. Being able to forecast available program funds allows us to plan with confidence and set ambitious goals for expanding services to some of Ball State's most vulnerable students.

Please consider whether you might commit to making regularly scheduled financial contributions to the Guardian Scholars program.

$25/month could fund programmatic expenses for one annual event
$500 annually could fund break housing in our year-round residence hall for one student
$2,500 annually would fund one students scholarship for the year

One-time, recurring, or BSU employee direct-withdraw gifts can be processed through our Ball State Foundation accounts. See directions below!

Please reach out if you would like to discuss any desired philanthropic contributions including Legacy gifts and named scholarships. Together we are promoting equity and removing barriers to access for young people exiting foster care in Indiana.

To give online:

Visit Ball State’s secure online giving form
Click the drop down, and select the fund "Other"
Type in the "enter other designation" box: "8006" – Guardian Scholars Program Fund; or "3051" for donations to the Guardian Scholars Achievement Scholarship
Select the amount of your gift

If you are a Ball State employee who would like to set up payroll deduction contributions to the Guardian Scholars:

Download this Payroll Deduction Form.
Check the "Other" box and indicate Guardian Scholars Program Fund "8006" or Guardian Scholars Achievement Scholarship "3051" in the box.
Define the parameters of your payroll deduction by completing the rest of the form.
Return your form to Lana Wright at lanawright@bsu.edu or Terry Snyder at tlsnyder@bsu.edu

If you have questions or other ideas of ways to support our program we would love to hear from you!

Please contact Bria Zolman at gscholars@bsu.edu or 765-285-5538 to begin that conversation today.