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For over two decades, College Visions has been transforming lives by empowering first-generation students from underserved communities to achieve the promise of higher education. Now, with a new endowment fund at the Rhode Island Foundation, the organization is building long-term sustainability for both its mission and continued growth.

"When I came on board in 2022, one of my first thoughts was endowment," says Lamont Gordon, Executive Director of College Visions. "We're over 20 years old, we've matured and grown, and it's time to start thinking not just about today, but the future. An endowment solidifies our commitment to expanding access for years to come."

Lamont, a first-generation college graduate himself, knows firsthand how transformative higher education can be. That personal connection drives his work at College Visions, where the approach differs from many college access organizations. "Others often focus on 'high achieving' students as defined by test scores, but we believe that any student who wants to go to college should be supported,” he explains. "We meet students where they are and help them find the right fit. Some go to community college, others to highly selective schools, and everywhere in between."

The organization's impact is substantial: over 1,000 students have participated in the program, with close to 600 alumni who have graduated from college. Currently serving approximately 550 students annually across 12 Rhode Island cities, College Visions guides participants from college admission through graduation—and now, through their new strategic plan, the college-to-career transition.

"Graduating from college is an amazing accomplishment for first-gen students, but it's not the ending," Lamont notes. "Our longer-term vision is that students will graduate, build careers, and become the next generation of leaders in our state."

The endowment is a cornerstone of College Visions' strategic plan to strengthen their financial foundation while expanding services. The organization is also developing a planned giving program and exploring ways to serve additional communities throughout Rhode Island.

The Rhode Island Foundation has been instrumental in College Visions' evolution, also providing grant funding and professional development opportunities. "When people think about the Foundation, they might think about it as a place that gives out money," Lamont reflects, "but it really is having an impact in multiple ways, supporting the continued growth of organizations like us."