Why We Evolved
Evolving to Meet Today’s Challenges
For more than four decades, FC2S has successfully provided traditional postsecondary scholarships and innovative student support programs. Today, the economy is changing rapidly, workforce demands have shifted, and public investments in education and workforce training have declined. As employers struggle to fill critical jobs and more young adults seek affordable pathways to rewarding careers, FC2S is evolving to meet these challenges.
Nationwide, there are growing shortages of job-ready workers in healthcare, skilled trades, construction, manufacturing, and other essential industries. At the same time, many young adults need to quickly enter the workforce with in-demand skills and little to no student loan debt.
In 2026, FC2S launched CommunityNow, an initiative designed to increase the number of young adults who earn credentials that lead to employment and long-term economic stability. Through Career and Technical Education (CTE) training and two-year degree programs, students can connect learning to well-paying career opportunities.
CommunityNow partners directly with selected community colleges, CTE providers, and local initiatives offering programs in healthcare and construction. Our investments are student-focused and may include stipends, grants that replace student loans, funding for required tools and uniforms, and certification testing fees. CommunityNow invests in local partnerships that help talented young adults pursue the education, training, and credentials needed to succeed in the workforce and contribute to their communities.
Our History
A Legacy of Leadership and Impact
For 45 years, FC2S has believed that every young person deserves access to education or training beyond a high school diploma. That belief has inspired our work and continues to guide us as we evolve to meet the changing needs of today’s workforce.
In 1981, Joseph Rivers founded Foster Care to Success (FC2S) under the name Orphan Foundation of America. Having spent his entire childhood in a Syracuse, New York orphanage, he understood firsthand how difficult it can be to enter adulthood without a strong support system.
It began as a small outreach effort in the basement of a Washington, DC, community center, helping youth navigate the challenges of education, employment, housing, and young adulthood. Volunteers worked one-on-one with participants to address immediate needs while helping them set goals and make informed decisions.
The organization’s first educational grants were modest — just four awards of $500 each. Those early investments laid the foundation for what would become the nation’s largest college scholarship program serving students who had experienced foster care.
Joseph Rivers died in 1990, but his vision inspired a dedicated network of board members, staff, volunteers, and donors who expanded the organization’s reach nationwide. Over the following decades, FC2S awarded millions of dollars in scholarships, grants, and direct support while helping thousands of young adults pursue higher education and career opportunities.
Our Impact
Shaping Policy, Changing Lives
FC2S has also played a significant role in shaping public policy. The organization’s experience and expertise informed the development of the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999, the nationwide Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program, and state-based tuition assistance initiatives. FC2S helped inspire programs and services that continue to increase traditional postsecondary enrollment and student support services across the country.
Today, extended foster care, tuition vouchers, on-campus assistance programs, housing stipends, living expenses, and mentoring services are available in every state. Many of the barriers that existed when FC2S was founded have been addressed through decades of public awareness, advocacy at the state and federal levels, and increased public investment.
We are proud of the role FC2S played in advancing those efforts and the difference our work has made in the lives of the thousands of students we served, their families, and communities across the nation.