Overview of Our Support
The Indian River State College Foundation plays a central role in advancing student success by addressing the full range of financial and personal barriers that can prevent students from enrolling, persisting, and completing their education.
The Foundation’s student support model begins with the removal of direct education costs through the IRSC Promise Program, a donor-funded, tuition-paid initiative that guarantees in-state tuition coverage for eligible associate-degree pathways. Complementing Promise, the Foundation administers a robust scholarship program, awarding more than $3 million annually through hundreds of donor-supported scholarships. By eliminating the single largest cost of attendance, Promise allows students to focus on academic progress rather than financial strain.
In addition, the Foundation provides funding to the College to help offset educational costs for students honoring donor intent through named and endowed opportunities. The Foundation also supports student needs through campus emergency funds, the food pantry, and other forms of financial assistance designed to address short-term disruptions that could otherwise derail a student’s progress. These just-in-time resources help students manage unexpected challenges and remain enrolled.
Beyond direct aid, the Foundation provides philanthropic support for student success programs and student life initiatives that promote wellness, mental health, food security, engagement, and belonging. Together, these efforts reflect a best-practice, philanthropy-driven approach to student support—integrating tuition relief, scholarships, basic needs assistance, emergency aid, and strong governance, all administered in alignment with donor intent and institutional priorities to ensure sustainable, long-term impact.
Pioneer Pantry
The Pioneer Pantry at Indian River State College provides critical food assistance to students experiencing food insecurity, ensuring basic needs do not become a barrier to academic success. Operated through the College’s Health & Wellness and Student Affairs areas, the pantry offers non-perishable food items and personal care products in a confidential, supportive environment. This essential service is strengthened through philanthropic support from the Indian River State College Foundation, which provides funding to help sustain pantry operations, replenish supplies, and respond to increased student need. Together, the College and Foundation support student well-being, persistence, and completion by addressing food insecurity as a fundamental component of student success.
Emergency Fund
Emergency Funds at each campus are supported by the Indian River State College Foundation in partnership with Campus Directors to address urgent, short-term financial needs that may otherwise prevent students from continuing their education. These funds provide timely assistance for emergency expenses. Campus Directors play a key role in identifying student needs, coordinating with student services, and ensuring funds are deployed quickly and responsibly. Emergency Funds are designed as just-in-time support, complementing scholarships and tuition assistance, and are administered with clear guidelines, documentation, and oversight to promote student persistence, accountability, and successful degree completion.
Technology Loans
Indian River State College supports student success by providing access to loaner technology through its campus libraries, ensuring students have the tools needed for coursework, online learning, and research. Students who lack reliable devices may borrow laptops and related equipment for academic use, reducing technology-related barriers that can impede progress. This program is strengthened through philanthropic support from the Indian River State College Foundation, including funding from a technology endowment that helps sustain, refresh, and expand loaner equipment over time. Together, the College and Foundation promote equitable access to essential technology, supporting academic engagement, persistence, and completion for students across all campuses.
Student Health and Wellness
Student Health & Wellness is a critical component of student success at Indian River State College. Through campus-based wellness services, the College provides access to mental health counseling, crisis support, and referral services that help students manage stress, anxiety, and other challenges that can interfere with academic performance and help our students to excel. These services recognize that emotional well-being is essential to learning, retention, and completion. Philanthropic support from the Indian River State College Foundation helps strengthen student wellness initiatives by supporting programs and resources that expand access to care and promote a healthy, supportive campus environment. Together, the College and Foundation ensure students receive the support they need to thrive academically and personally.
How to Give
Donors may support student success at Indian River State College Foundation by directing gifts to specific student support appeals aligned with their philanthropic priorities. Contributions may be designated to tuition assistance through the Promise Program, scholarships for direct and indirect educational costs, campus emergency funds, the Pioneer Pantry, technology access, or student wellness and mental health initiatives. Gifts may be made as one-time contributions, recurring monthly support, or through endowed funds to provide long-term impact. Each gift is administered in alignment with donor intent and institutional priorities, ensuring philanthropic support addresses critical student needs and strengthens persistence, completion, and overall student well-being.
Help Youth Escape the Cycle of Poverty
Take Stock in Children is a comprehensive program that helps at-risk, low-income children succeed by providing college scholarships, volunteer mentors, student advocates, early intervention, and long-term support.
The Indian River State College Foundation is the lead agency for Take Stock in Indian River, Martin, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee counties. In the past 29 years, the program transformed the lives of more than 1,455 young people in our community.
Partnerships with local school districts, the Florida Prepaid Foundation, and countless businesses and individuals are vital to the continuation of this highly successful program.
“I am so appreciative for the scholarship and support I received from the Take Stock in Children program. This support helped to relieve the financial stress of paying for college and allowed me to focus on my studies.”
Cristian Trejo, Recipient of the Take Stock in Children
Apply Now
Take Stock in Children Scholarship Applications are now being accepted! Apply now!
TSIC Scholarships are awarded to Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie County public school students in ninth grade who meet free and reduced lunch income guidelines as proven by family financial documents. Selected students are required to maintain good grades, behavior and attendance, remain drug and crime-free and graduate from high school. Parents must agree to support the educational goals of the student, allow students to meet with a volunteer mentor, and maintain good communication with the TSIC staff. If they meet all of these guidelines, upon graduating from high school, they earn a four-year, 120 credit, tuition-based scholarship. Their Associate’s degree must be earned at Indian River State College. To earn a Bachelor’s degree, they are more than welcome to earn it at IRSC or transfer to another Florida public college or university.
Become a Mentor
Through the Take Stock in Children Scholarship Program, students are paired with a caring adult mentor who meets with them regularly at school. Relationships are formed and a pivotal transformation in each person’s life begins to take place. Many mentors have commented that they reap the benefits of mentoring, just like the student. It only takes a few hours a month to make a huge difference in the life of a child.
All mentors are background checked before being assigned a student. If you are interested in donating a small portion of your time to a student in the Take Stock in Children program, please complete the Volunteer Mentor Application and someone will be in contact with you.