Mission Statement
To ensure college and career success for high-potential students from low-income backgrounds, and through our efforts help build diverse, equitable and vibrant communities. We do this through a comprehensive model of financial aid and holistic support, and collaboration with our business, education, community, and philanthropic partners.
Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
Wallin helps to increase the odds of graduation and employment for the students of color, first-generation college students, and students from low-income backgrounds. In 2023, we attracted 1,455 applicants and awarded scholarships to a record 545 scholars, of whom 89% are students of color and 79% are first-generation students. We have 1,600+ active scholars and have expanded to serve 73 high schools. The average six-year graduation rate of Wallin’s baccalaureate scholars is 84%, which compares very favorably with the national graduation rate of 37% among students from low-income backgrounds (Pell, 2024). Our two-year program scholars are persisting at an average rate of 90%, significantly outpacing the statewide average of 54%, and our 2020 two-year program cohort has a 35% three-year graduation rate, which surpasses that of our three largest community college partners. Additionally, we introduced career-specific pathways for students pursuing careers in healthcare and construction. We also increased our capacity to help scholars secure professional experience in their field of study during college by acquiring UpTurnships, a nonprofit that provides culturally-responsive work-readiness training, coaching, and paid projects and internships while supporting employers’ efforts to be culturally inclusive and equitable. Finally, Wallin routinely surveys scholars to measure our effectiveness. The results of our Fall 2023 Student Survey revealed high satisfaction: 83% of scholars felt supported through academic challenges; 86% of scholars understood their financial aid package; 81% of scholars explored career opportunities with their advisor or other program staff; and 84% of scholars felt comfortable discussing personal matters with their advisor.
Current Goals
The five-year strategic plan Wallin adopted in 2022 defines our current organizational goals as doubling the number of students served while maintaining our exceptional degree completion rate and strengthening the scholar experience. To achieve this, over the next year, we will: 1. Increase the number of students we serve to 1,900 by June 30, 2025. Our highest priority continues to be supporting students at two-year and four-year colleges through our proven model. We also are offering our support program to other scholarship providers who are seeking to improve their outcomes. Additionally, to serve more scholars beyond the Twin Cities, we are exploring ways to sustainably expand to additional Minnesota communities; 2. Support 15 scholars in career-specific pathways through our partnerships with employers. We will solidify the career-specific pathways we are offering to two-year college students who are preparing for careers in construction and healthcare. We anticipate serving more students each year in these pathways and adding pathways in other high-demand areas such as accounting, automotive, financial management, and information technology: and 3. Strengthen our career programming and provide meaningful career experiences for our students. We will continue to build out a robust career program with the goal of providing every Wallin scholar with a variety of meaningful experiences aligned with their career interest. We are developing a sequential program consisting of five domains: career exploration and discernment; professional skill building; hands-on experience; direct career pipelines; and career support for alumni.
Community or Constituency Served
College-bound and current college students from lower-income backgrounds.
Geographic Area Served
Minneapolis, St. Paul, Twin Cities Metro, Granite Falls, Austin, Owatonna
