San Pablo Scholarship
Pilot Program Update
COMMUNITY SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE PRESENTATION
May 4, 2026
Presentation Overview
● Program Goals
● Program Achievements
● Scholarship Eligibility
● Priority Considerations
● Program Timeline
● Application & Rolling Review
● Marketing and Outreach
● Professional Services
● Conditional Award Process
● Next Steps for Cohort 4
Program Goals
● Provide financial support to City of San Pablo Youth
with post high school education and career technical
training
● Reach as many students in need as possible
● By Fall 2026, evaluate the program to understand the
community impact of the pilot scholarship program to
contribute to analysis of future city-initiated funding mechanisms for eligible San Pablo students
Program Achievements: Total Scholarships Issued to Local Youth Scholarships First-time
Awards
Renewal
Awards
Total Awards,
by Cohort
Cohort 1 (2023) 79 n/a 79
Cohort 2 (2024) 60 47 107
Cohort 3 (2025) 144 51 195
Total 283 98 381
Scholarship Eligibility
✓ A resident of incorporated City of San Pablo
✓ Be under 25 years old at time of application
✓ Be a high school graduate OR have received
GED/high school equivalency within the last
three academic years.
✓ Have submitted FAFSA or Dream Act
request for funding if planning to attend a 2-
year or 4-year college.
Priority Considerations
First Priority Group
✓ First time Trade/Career Education Students
✓ First time 2-year Community College Students
✓ First time 4-year College/University Students
Second Priority Group
✓ Undergraduate students NOT in their first year who have not previously applied ✓ Trade/Career Education students NOT in their first year who have not previously applied Third Priority Group
✓ Returning San Pablo Scholars. Returning Scholars will be invited to apply through a separate process and need to fill out the renewal application online.
Program Timeline
January 27: Launch Application and Marketing Activities March 31: Application Deadline
April 1 - April 10: Application Review Period
April 17: Conditional Award Letters Sent
May 6: Finalists’ Deadline to Secure Award
May 5, 12, 21: Financial Literacy Workshops
May 27: Award Confirmation Letter Sent
June 25: Ceremony and Reception
June 30: Scholarship Award Disbursal
Application and Rolling Review
January 27 – March 31, 2026
● Launched Application and Review process on JotForm
● Program Budget allotted funds for 105 first-time scholarships and 50 renewal scholarships this year.
Data as of
4/17/26
Applications
Received
Eligible
Applications
Received
Available
Awards
% of Eligible
Applicants Offered
Scholarship Awards
First-time 188 120 105 88%
Renewals 126 93 50 54%
Total 314 213 155
Marketing and Outreach Activities
Audience Activities
City of San Pablo General Public Radio, Banners, Billboard, Posters, Social Media, Press Release, City Events, Activity
Guide, CM Newsletter, Comcast Channel 26,
Website
College bound youth and their counselors and
supporters.
WCCUSD High Schools, Counselor
Outreach, Assemblies, School
Presentations, College and Career Fairs,
EAOP, College is Real
Technical/Vocational education bound Youth and
their counselors and supporters
WCCUSD High Schools, Contra Costa
College, Puente, Presentations, Signage,
Career Fairs, San Pablo EDC
Renewal eligible youth Direct email invitation to apply, Individual In-person customer service
10 10
Amplifying Outreach through Strategic Marketing
• eBlast campaign to 4,000+
• Mass email campaigns 7,200
• Social media channels+tagging partners
• Digital LED billboard ad design
Why this Approach
was Effective?
• Established a trusted and
recognizable brand
• Maximized reach across
platforms and audiences
• Leveraged algorithms with
“movement,” e.g., videos
• Reduced barriers and
amplified partner outreach
Media & Content
Community Presence
Email & Digital
• Local Media (radio, press, El Portal)
• Videos (bilingual audio/trilingual subtitles)
• Hiring Fairs
• Tabling at schools, community and business events
Partnership Connection and Measurable Impact
Partner Network
● Contra Costa College
● 4CD sharing in career centers,
financial aid & on Handshake
● Vocational training partners, notably
Construction Trades
● County agencies, fellow CBOs
● Large community events
Impact & Outcomes
● Expanded reach through coordinated
partner communication
● Increased views & shares
● Stronger community awareness and
engagement
● More stakeholders actively promoting
the scholarship
The Result
➢ A stronger, more recognizable program supported by partners ➢ Cross-sector collaboration (education, workforce, community) ➢ Versatile, collaborative internal team #StrongerTogether
Wrap-around Supports and Coaching
Financial Empowerment Workshops
● Financial empowerment coaching
● Hands-on, engaging exercises
● Getting banked
● Matched savings grant
● Unlimited sessions available
Wrap-around Supports
● Coaches available any time
● Fee-free credit union accounts
● Food gift cards
Building Professional Networks
● Mock and informational interview coaching
➢ Connect to Opportunity
➢ Hiring fairs for internship queries
● Introductions to potential mentors
28 Scholars
$300 Matched savings
grant per scholar
$8,400 Total
grants
Financial Empowerment Workshops & Survey Feedback
142 scholars participated in group sessions + 1:1 coaching Outcomes
● Increased understanding of
financial basics
● Greater awareness of risks
Improved confidence in making
financial decisions
● Enrollment in matched savings
& unlimited coaching
Conditional Awards Process
April – May 2026
April 17, 2026 Conditional Award Letters sent to 155 finalists CSD Requirements
By May 6, in response to the Conditional Offer Letter, scholars must provide:
• Signed Scholar Agreement
• Proof of school enrollment in the Fall 2026
• Registration for Financial Literacy Workshop
EDC Requirements
By May 21, all qualified applicants CSD/YSCP has deemed qualified will have:
• Provided a W-9 and bank account verification
• Attended a Financial Empowerment Workshop
By May 30, CSD/YSCP will:
• Review documents to ensure awardees meet conditions
• Prepare Final Award letter confirming the Scholarship Award • Invite Scholars to the Scholarship Ceremony and Reception • Prepare a Final list of Awardees to San Pablo EDC for payment
What’s Next
May 5, 12 & 21: Financial Literacy Workshops
May 27: Award Confirmation Letter Sent
June 25: Ceremony and Reception
June 30: Scholarship Award Disbursal
December 2026: Evaluation Year 4 Complete
New Potential Funding Source Needed:
**Sustainability: City Council will need to determine continuing financial support for local scholarships beyond December 2026**
Currently, there is no GF funding designated to continue the Scholarship Program past 2026, as the Federal ARPA funds used over the past three years will be completely depleted by that time.
In July 2026, the City Council will formally consider placing a new half-cent (0.50) sales tax measure on the November 2026 ballot for local voters. If approved, this measure would establish a stable funding source for the Scholarship Program for the following 10-years, extending through 2036.
Thank you!
Questions?
Evaluation Findings
2026 Findings Memo Summary
About the Evaluation
HTA Consulting engaged in 2023 for three-year Pilot Program, extended to a four-year Pilot Program.
The San Pablo Scholarship Pilot Program Evaluation Plan covers four scholarship cohorts awarded from May 2023 – June 2026.
Evaluation Plan Has Four Learning Areas:
1. Scholarship Selection and Requirements
2. College and Career Readiness
3. Trades/Workforce
4. Scalability
Evaluation Activities:
1. Scholar Surveys
2. Scholar and Parent Focus Groups
3. Program Document Review
4. Staff Group Interviews
A complete list of the questions is included on Year 3 Evaluation Findings Memo, page 2.
About the Evaluation
November 2023 Evaluation work begins
January 2024 – Current Bi-monthly Reporting Meetings (Year 2, Year 3, Year 4) October 2024 and October 2025 Staff Interviews (Year 2, Year 3) June 2024, June 2025 Scholar Surveys (Year 1 & 2, Year 3 Scholars) July 2024 and July 2025 Parent Focus Groups (Year 1 & 2, Year 3 parents) April 2026 Evaluation Findings Memo summarizes:
■ Scholar survey findings (Year 2 scholars)
■ Scholar focus group (Year 3 scholars)
■ Parent focus group (Year 3 scholars)
■ Staff Team Interviews (YSCP and EDC)
■ Bi-monthly reporting data (Year 3 reports)
December 2026 Year 4 Evaluation Findings Memo
Evaluation Report Findings Year 3
Strengths
1. Strengthened marketing strategies
2. Notable increase in applications
3. Successful scholarship ceremony
4. Deepened relationships with local
schools, community partners,
residents, and EDC.
Challenges
1. Differences in work and leadership
styles initially affected operational
efficiency.
2. Additional services were provided to
scholars without prior coordination.
3. Decentralized data tracking slowed
parts of the review process.
Partnership Implementation Strengths and Challenges
Year 3 Evaluation Findings Memo, page 4 - 5, 10
Evaluation Report Findings: Year 3 Scholar Focus Group Findings Scholars provided the following feedback on the program:
● Straightforward Application Experience
● Preference for Social Media Marketing
● Request for More Financial Empowerment Workshops
● Appreciate the Scholarship Ceremony and Reception
Year 3 Evaluation Findings Memo, page 9-10
Evaluation Report Findings
First-time Applicants Renewal Applicants
Banner or poster 89 17
Friends or Classmates 74 23
School College and Counselor 65 12
College and Career Fair 56 8
College is Real 45 23
Teacher 45 9
Scholarship Workshop 38 11
Social Media 37 17
Richmond Promise 34 13
Email 31 17
Other 27 20
EAOP College Adviser 21 11
Event 19 2
School Club 5 0
Puente/Puente Más 2 0
Table 1. How applicants learned about the scholarship program.
Source: City of San Pablo 2025 Scholarship Application Data, Year 3 Evaluation Findings Memo, page 4 Evaluation Report Findings
Figure 1. Number of applications received and awarded, Year 1-3 Source: City of San Pablo Programmatic data, Year 3 Evaluation Findings Memo, page 3 109
167
326
79 107
195
0 50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Applications Received Scholarships Awarded
Evaluation Report Findings
Figure 2. What ways did you learn about your options for college/career programs? Select all that apply. (N=37)
Source: 2024-2025 Scholar Survey, Year 3 Evaluation Findings Report, page 5
0.0%
2.7%
10.8%
24.3%
16.2%
24.3%
21.6%
32.4%
70.3%
0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0%
Other
Through my place of worship…
Through a community organization
Through a school club or…
From a friend or coworker
From a teacher
From the Internet (ex. College…
From my family (ex. Parents,…
From a college/career counselor…
Evaluation Report Findings
Figure 3. Do you currently work while attending a college/career program? This can include work-study, internships, gig work, etc. Select all that apply (N=37)
8.1% Yes, I work on campus
29.70%
Yes, I work off
campus
62.20% No
Source: 2024-25 Scholar Survey, Year 3 Evaluation Report Findings, page 6 Evaluation Report Findings
Figure 4. How many hours per week do you typically work? (N=14) Source: 2024-25 Scholar Survey, Year 3 Evaluation Findings Report, page 6
7.1%
21.4%
50.0%
14.3%
7.1%
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0%
Less than 5 hours
5-10 hours
10-20 hours
20-30 hours
More than 30
hours
Evaluation Report Findings
When asked to describe the main factors that went into their college/career program decisions, the most common deciding factors among scholars were:
25 21
17 15
12 0
5 10
15 20
25 30
Location Cost, finances,
and financial aid
Specific
programs or
coursework
offered
Program or
school reputation
Specific career or
academic
interests
Source: 2024-25 Scholar Survey. Year 3 Evaluation Findings Report, page 7 Evaluation Report Findings
When asked what knowledge or resources might have helped with their transition into their college/career program, scholars noted the following helpful resources, from most cited to least cited:
Source: 2024-25 Scholar Survey. Year 3 Evaluation Findings Report, page 8-9 Resource Mentions
Financial Resources, including financial education 11
Mentorship or Counseling 9
Academic Support 8
Bridge Programming 5
More Awareness of College or career options 3
Help with identifying goals and planning coursework 3
Awareness of campus resources 3
Time management support or advice 2
Knowledge of academic requirements, including topics like how transfer credits work and the required exams for different program certifications 2
Several students also noted they did not feel they needed any additional resources during the transition to their postsecondary program.
Evaluation Report Recommendations
Based on the findings presented in the YR 3 Evaluation Findings Memo, HTA offers the following recommendations to consider for the final year of the program:
1. Create a shared tracker to manage scholarship applications.
2. Continue to provide relevant financial education to scholars.
3. Provide scholar workshops on networking and identifying mentors.
Year 3 Evaluation Findings Report, page 10
Conclusion and next steps of this Pilot Program:
1. One more year to implement, evaluate, and celebrate.
2. On pace to grant over $500,000 in scholarship funds by the end of the Pilot Program—far surpassing the original goal of $300,000.
3. Deepened partnerships with agencies that are committed to serve City of San Pablo youth as they pursue post-secondary education and career training opportunities.
4. The City of San Pablo is well positioned to scale a sustainable program based on the expertise developed over the course of the Pilot Program, pending a funding mechanism.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
1. Receive the information and presentation; and
2. Persist in efforts to educate, inform, and highlight the significance of the San Pablo Scholarship Program on local students and families; and
3. Keep exploring the possibility of securing a sustainable funding source beyond 2026 to ensure the continuation of the
Scholarship Program.