Making Saint Paul's Promise Permanent
CollegeBound Saint Paul gives every child born in Saint Paul a start toward their future. Friends of CollegeBound Saint Paul helps ensure that promise is supported through community ownership, institutional partnerships, and shared investment.
The children born in Saint Paul are the authors of this city's story. Friends of CollegeBound Saint Paul exists to help that story begin with opportunity and continue through a lasting investment in their future.
CollegeBound Saint Paul is the City of Saint Paul's citywide college savings program. Every child born in the city receives a college savings account with a $50 seed deposit. The program is designed to help children and families begin building toward future educational success.
How We Work
The City runs CollegeBound Saint Paul. Friends helps make it permanent.
The City provides the program and seed deposits. Friends builds the public support, community ownership, institutional partnerships, and resources that help CollegeBound Saint Paul thrive over time.
A CITYWIDE COMMITMENT TO EVERY CHILDOur Commitment
Every family belongs. Every child matters. Early investments shape what’s possible, not just for individual children, but for Saint Paul as a whole.
Friends of CollegeBound Saint Paul exists to protect, strengthen, and grow this shared commitment so it remains trusted, visible, and deeply rooted in the life of our city.As of June 2026,
22,000+ children enrolled in CollegeBound Saint Paul
Over $4 million saved for Saint Paul’s future
What Success Looks Like
We believe CollegeBound Saint Paul should become a permanent part of Saint Paul's civic infrastructure, supported by families, schools, community institutions, employers, and donors.
Success means future generations of children continue to benefit from a program that remains trusted, supported, and resilient.
Building Public Will. We help Saint Paul understand, value, and support CollegeBound Saint Paul as a permanent public investment in children and families.
Building Community Ownership. We engage families, alumni, partners, and residents in sustaining a citywide commitment to every child.
Stewarding Key Partnerships. We help maintain a shared commitment across institutions that make CollegeBound Saint Paul possible, including the City of Saint Paul, Saint Paul Public Schools and other partners.
Securing Long-Term Resources. We steward philanthropic investment, mobilize new resources, and help build the financial foundation needed to expand participation, strengthen impact, and support CollegeBound Saint Paul over time.
What We Do as Friends
WHY COLLEGEBOUND SAINT PAUL MATTERSWhy CollegeBound Saint Paul
CollegeBound Saint Paul is a leading example of how cities can expand opportunity by investing early in every child. Recognized locally and nationally, the program shows how a simple, citywide investment can strengthen educational expectations, family engagement, and long-term economic mobility, benefiting both children and the broader community.
The following resources offer additional perspective on its impact and public value:
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Local coverage showing how CollegeBound Saint Paul connects early savings with financial education and school engagement, helping children and families begin planning for the future from the start.
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An analysis commissioned by the City of Saint Paul finds that investments in CollegeBound Saint Paul generate significant long-term value for children, families, and the broader community, demonstrating that early investment in kids strengthens outcomes across the city. An investment in CollegeBound Saint Paul pays off: for every $1 invested, Saint Paul sees about $9 in benefits across children, families, and the broader community.
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National research highlighting CollegeBound Saint Paul as a leading model for how cities can build opportunity and financial security for children through early, scalable investment.
OUR ROLE & RELATIONSHIP TO THE CITYWho We Are
CollegeBound Saint Paul is a public program of the City of Saint Paul designed to normalize asset‑building at birth and strengthen educational expectations citywide.
Friends of CollegeBound Saint Paul is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit formed to complement that public commitment.
With separate governance and fiduciary oversight, Friends of CollegeBound Saint Paul focuses on what philanthropy and community partnership do best: help ensure this work remains trusted, supported, and sustainable for future generations.
Support CollegeBound
Saint Paul
Help Make Saint Paul's Promise Permanent.
Give Today
Your generosity helps ensure that CollegeBound Saint Paul remains a lasting commitment, one that continues to:
Reach every child born in Saint Paul
Grow in awareness, participation, and impact across the city
Remain broadly supported by families, institutions, and community partners
Giving to the Friends of CollegeBound Saint Paul is an investment in a commitment to Saint Paul's children. Your support helps build the public support, partnerships, and long-term resources needed to ensure CollegeBound Saint Paul remains strong.
Institutional Supporters
1:1 Fund (Prosperity Now)
3M
Andersen Corporate Foundation
Bigelow Foundation
Bremer Bank
Bush Foundation
The Cargill Foundation
Carlson Family Foundation
City of Saint Paul
Ecolab Foundation
Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation
Hiway Credit Union Foundation
The Hubbard Broadcasting Foundation
The Kresge Foundation
National League of Cities
Northwest Area Foundation
Pohlad Family Foundation
RBC Foundation USA
Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
Securian Foundation
State of Minnesota
Sunrise Banks
The McKnight Foundation
Thrivent Financial Foundation
Wells Fargo Foundation Minnesota
Individual Supporters
Craig Leipold & Helen Johnson-Leipold
Jay Lund & Gail Lund
Kate & David Mortenson
Liz & Tim Welsh
Lois Quam & Arshad Mohammed
Page Knudsen Cowles & Jay Cowles
Supporters
We gratefully acknowledge the organizations and individuals whose support has helped advance CollegeBound Saint Paul from planning and inception through implementation and growth.
Support reflected here may have been provided through various partners and funding channels to support CollegeBound Saint Paul and does not necessarily represent contributions made directly to Friends of CollegeBound Saint Paul.