Great Aspirations Scholarship Program Inc

TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN NEED TO ACCESS FINANCIAL AID, SCHOLARSHIPS, PRIVATE FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND COUNSELING TO ENCOURAGE AND MAXIMIZE EACH STUDENT'S EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. GRASP'S FOCUS IS ON INCREASING COLLEGE, TECHNICAL SCHOOL, AND WORKFORCE CREDENTIAL ACCESS AND GRADUATION RATES, PARTICULARLY AMONG FAMILIES WITHOUT SUFFICIENT FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO ACCOMPLISH THIS WITHOUT GRASP'S GUIDANCE AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.GRASP ANTICIPATES CONTINUING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE VIRGINIA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE TAX CREDIT PROGRAM ("NAP") AND EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ("EISP"). THE NAP AND EISP PROGRAMS PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT TAX INCENTIVES TO VIRGINIA PRIVATE AND BUSINESS DONORS WHO SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AS DEFINED FURTHER IN ITEM III, 4(C).

GRASP IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION SPECIALIZING WITH HELPING STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES, TO DEVELOP AN EDUCATIONAL PLAN FOR POST SECONDARY EDUCATION. GRASP'S PROFESSIONAL FINANCIAL AID ADVISORS WORK IN HIGH SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE SETTINGS, WITHOUT CHARGE TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, TO ASSIST WITH OVERCOMING FINANCIAL AND MOTIVATIONAL CHALLENGES TO THE GOAL OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

UNIQUE AMONG MANY COLLEGE ACCESS AND SUCCESS PROGRAMS, GRASP OPERATES SEVERAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS, INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE SCHOLARSHIP FOR EVERY SCHOOL IT SERVES. STUDENTS HAVE THE OPTION TO USE THESE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 2-YEAR, 4-YEAR, AND TRADE SCHOOLS.

GRASP ANTICIPATES CONTINUING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE VIRGINIA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE TAX CREDIT PROGRAM ("NAP") AND EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ("EISP"). THE NAP AND EISP PROGRAMS PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT TAX INCENTIVES TO VIRGINIA PRIVATE AND BUSINESS DONORS WHO SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OF (1) STUDENTS AND FAMILIES OF LOW TO MODEST FINANCIAL MEANS AND (2) PROVIDE SCHOLASTIC ASSISTANCE IN DEVELOPING POST - SECONDARY ACADEMIC AND VOCATIONAL PLANS FOR CHILDREN WITH ONE OR MORE DISABILITIES AS DEFINED UNDER THE FEDERAL IDEA LEGISLATION. THE NAP PROGRAM REQUIRES THAT MORE THAN 50% OF GRASP TAX CREDIT DERIVED REVENUES ARE USED FOR EDUCATION SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WITH INCOME AT OR BELOW 300% OF THE RECOGNIZED POVERTY LEVEL OF INCOME OR 400% OF THE RECOGNIZED POVERTY LEVEL FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. THE EISP PROGRAM, A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS IN K-12 WHO WISH TO ATTEND A PRIVATE SCHOOL, REQUIRES THAT AT LEAST 90% OF TAX CREDIT GENERATED REVENUES UNDER THIS PROGRAM BE PAID OUT IN SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS AT OR BELOW 300% OF POVERTY, OR IN THE CASE OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, 400% OF POVERTY BY THE END OF THE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR END. THE GRASP BOARD HAS DIRECTED THAT PREFERENCE BE GIVEN TO SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ATTENDING PRIVATE SCHOOLS WITH SPECIALIZED DISABILITY SERVICES UNDER THE EISP PROGRAM.