Opening Doors
This year, I had the privilege of serving as Interim Executive Director. It was an exciting season of transition as Rainier Scholars added critical positions, redefined roles, and opened new spaces. Along the way, we gained valuable insights into our key areas for growth and witnessed the incredible resilience of the scholars, families, and staff dedicated to our mission.
The best part of my job will always be running into scholars and parents in our community. During those chance encounters, I’m reminded that the opportunities we provide scholars make a significant difference in the lives of real people. That’s why I have remained passionate and committed to Rainier Scholars for the past 13 years.
As interim leader, I had the joy of witnessing alumni represent companies and network with scholars at our Career Expo. I cheered on graduating high school and college scholars, knowing they had to navigate a pandemic, the impact of the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling, and the challenging FAFSA rollout to get where they are. I watched with great excitement and anticipation as the ribbon was cut at the new Scholar & Family Education Hub in Tacoma.
Rainier Scholars remains committed to opening doors for students of color who are often excluded from opportunity. We currently support students in 142 schools in Seattle and Tacoma and are dedicated to expanding our footprint, ensuring that transformational education opportunities are available to even more students in the coming years. To that end, I am also profoundly grateful to the staff and community members I work with every day.
Looking forward, I am thrilled to welcome Eddie Lincoln as our new CEO. He brings years of dedication to young people and a deep commitment to fostering the growth and promise of every scholar we serve. Under Eddie’s leadership, Rainier Scholars is poised and ready to embrace new horizons of possibility.
Thank you for your generous support. Together, we will continue to open doors for generations of Rainier Scholars to come.
With gratitude,
Kaila Davis Nsimbi Seattle Executive Director
Learn about Eddie!
12-Year Program Overview
Recruitment
Rainier Scholars focuses its recruitment of underrepresented students of color from six school districts in and around Seattle and Tacoma.
Academic Counseling
Rainier Scholars supports the academic and personal development of students from middle school through college completion. Academic counselors build personal and trusting relationships with scholars and families — meeting regularly, organizing socials, and leading workshops.
College Counseling
Rainier Scholars provides oneon-one support for students and families as they navigate the complex college application and decision-making process. Through financial aid guidance, essay review, and admissions coaching, we’re there every step of the way.
Prep and Placement
Fifth graders start with academic onramp programming spanning multiple summers, coupled with supplemental classes during the school year. We prepare students for rigorous college preparatory programs in public and independent schools.
Leadership and Career Development
We identify and provide access to academic, leadership, and professional development opportunities. Scholars make the most of high school and college internships and skillbuilding workshops. They leverage opportunities to explore career pathways and build their professional networks.
Alumni
Our growing alumni community includes young professionals committed to mutual support, networking, and professional development. This group stays connected through social activities and mentoring younger scholars.
We envision a just and inclusive society with equitable representation of people of color at all levels of leadership and influence.
What Sets Us Apart Vision
Mission
Rainier Scholars cultivates the academic and leadership potential of underrepresented students of color through rigorous, transformative opportunities that increase college graduation rates and empower new generations of leaders.
Early Start
Scholars in our program receive longterm support starting in 5th grade and continuing to college completion.
Mental Health Support
Scholars and families are supported by mental health experts throughout the program. The team offers one-on-one student and family counseling sessions and workshops.
Culturally Relevant Curriculum
Our intentional curriculum is designed with an equity lens to help students uphold and honor their cultural identities.
Free to Students & Families
Thanks to the generous commitment of our partners and supporters, our programming is offered at no cost to students and their families.
How We’re Building a Bold Future
We believe in the potential of students, and we know that, given access to opportunities, they will thrive and make a positive impact in their communities.
Our strategic plan outlines our progress towards deepening our commitment to student- and family-centered programming, discerning ways to meaningfully enhance the alumni connection long after college graduation, and building our organizational and financial capacity to continue to grow and increase our impact.
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Strengthen the Scholar & Family Experience
Over the past year, a self-study was conducted to assess climate, culture, and outcomes. Through team and department self-evaluations, staff identified one-on-one support and hands-on programming as great strengths of the Rainier Scholars program. The study also reported excitement about the ways that scholars and their families are increasingly involved in setting the direction of the program. Next, we’ll partner with an outside organization on survey design and soliciting feedback from scholars and families. We’re excited to hear about their experience and perception of Rainier Scholars! Find out more!
Build a Vibrant Alumni Network
Through surveys, focus groups, outreach to peer organizations, and one-on-one conversations, a staff committee gathered extensive data and information from Rainier Scholars alumni on their experiences as scholars and their needs now.
Alumni recommendations included:
Hire a full-time staff person to build an alumni program.
Provide extended career and graduate school support.
Offer additional opportunities to engage and give back to support current scholars.
Establish an online alumni community platform, where they can connect and engage with each other.
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Grow College Success
As a first step toward future growth, a staff committee focused on defining what is core to Rainier Scholars, what is flexible, and what is critical to achieve our outcomes while operating a sustainable program model. The next steps include weighing different scenarios for growth and partnering with outside expertise to help us build out a multi-year strategic roadmap with key milestones.
Opening Doors to Leadership
Cohort 14 Rainier Scholar Adriana Hernandez Jimenez credits the internships she has completed with helping to boost her confidence and embrace her power. In fact, she described her Summer 2023 Congressional Hispanic Caucus Internship (CHCI) as an experience that opened her eyes to what advocacy means.
“
You have to be an advocate for yourself, and you have to advocate for others.
— Adriana, Cohort 14 Scholar
Adriana continued to expand her advocacy work with an internship in the criminal defense department of a D.C. law firm, where part of her role included translating for Spanish-speaking clients. Reflecting on each internship, she stressed the positive impact of being surrounded by Hispanic leaders and professionals.
Internship opportunities like these are made possible through the Rainier Scholars Career Development program, which facilitates high school and college internship placements, professional development programming, career exploration events, networking opportunities, and individualized career coaching. Through these programs and offerings, scholars are empowered to explore their interests and
Now a junior at George Washington University, Adriana returned to the CHCI Annual Awards Gala this year as a volunteer, calling it a full-circle
Wherever I go, I meet GW alumni or people who’ve been a CHCI. I’m so happy to be part of that circle. I know it will continue opening doors for me going forward.
Adriana Hernandez Jimenez
Cohort 14
Junior at George Washington University
Read the full article!
By the Numbers
Our Impact: 5-Year Averages
of scholars are on college prep pathways in public or private schools.
of high school seniors have been accepted to four-year colleges and universities.
Total Number of Students
673
students served in the 2023-24 school year from 5th grade to college graduation.
of eligible scholars have graduated, or are on track to graduate, from four-year colleges and universities.
Partnerships
Leadership Development
196
students attended personal development retreats and workshops.
Career Development
500 89
30 + + + %
internships for high school and college students facilitated over the last five years.
of reporting college graduates are in full-time jobs or enrolled in graduate school programs aligned with their interests.
strong partnerships with public school districts and independent schools to ensure scholars can access college preparatory pathways.
Academic On-Ramp
1K
hours of educational enrichment equivalent to one additional school year.
College Enrollment
189
Alumni
370
Rainier Scholars are attending 71 colleges and universities around the country.
alumni around the world are making positive impacts in their communities.
Opening Doors in Tacoma
On a sunny June day, a ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opened the doors of Rainier Scholars’ Scholar & Family Education Hub on Tacoma’s west side. The vibrant space was designed by Black-owned real estate development firm Alpha Sharp Development Partners, Inc.
Rainier Scholars expanded to Tacoma in 2021 and currently serves about 120 students in three cohorts, with the next cohort of students beginning in July 2025.
In the new center, we have space for tutoring sessions, a library, counseling services, and staff offices. It’s a very comfortable, welcoming, and flexible space that’s designed for our community.
— Jennifer Ward, Tacoma Executive Director, Rainier Scholars
Check out more photos!
Investing in Growth
We’re proud to report that philanthropic support continued to increase in fiscal year 2024. Thanks to this generosity combined with prudent financial oversight, Rainier Scholars has built a strong reserve balance. Given the expansion into Tacoma and preparation for continued growth, in fiscal year 2024, the Rainier Scholars Board of Trustees invested reserve funds in addition to the revenue listed below to support the organization’s ambitious strategy.
2023-24 Financials*
Generosity Keeps Doors Open
The Rainier Scholars mission often means helping scholars navigate unexpected and complex challenges. The roll-out of the simplified FAFSA application created tremendous barriers for our scholars. The FAFSA form opened months later than usual, and the website crashed frequently. Scholars whose parents don’t have Social Security numbers weren’t able to access the FAFSA, and it often took hours on hold to reach the Federal Student Aid Information Center support staff.
However, thanks to the generosity of 47th Avenue Foundation, Rainier Scholars was able to step in with financial support to ensure our scholars could attend college this fall – regardless of their FAFSA status. This is just one of the ways 47th Avenue Foundation is a champion for Rainier Scholars!
“We are honored to support Rainier Scholars and the incredible work they’re doing to support students in Seattle and Tacoma. By supporting Rainier Scholars, we hope to play a small part in empowering their scholars to chase their dreams and realize their full potential. Together, we share a commitment to breaking down barriers and creating pathways for students to thrive.
— Lauren Bruck, Vice President of Strategy at
47th Avenue Foundation
Help Us Make an Impact
At Rainier Scholars, we take our commitment to students seriously, but we can’t do it alone.
We count on your partnership! Whether you can give a little or a lot of your time, talent, or treasure, there’s more than one way to invest in our scholars and families.
2100 24th Ave S, Suite 360
Seattle, Washington 98144-4646
info@rainierscholars.org 206-407-2111
Support Rainier Scholars!
Rainier Scholars Board of Trustees
Kevin
Joe
Kristina
John
Zander
Bisrat
Thaddaeus
Nicolette
Sarah
Bradaigh
Diankha