Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) has received a $300,000 grant from the Walter S. Johnson Foundation to support and expand its Fostering College Success (FCS) program. This initiative provides comprehensive support to students with foster care backgrounds and other disconnected youth who are pursuing higher education.
The new funding will be distributed over three years and builds on an ongoing relationship between TMCC and the Walter S. Johnson Foundation. Since 2019, the Foundation has invested a total of $555,000 in the FCS program, backing it from initial planning through implementation and continued growth.
The Fostering College Success program connects students to individualized advocacy, mentoring, emergency financial help, and referrals to campus and community resources. Over the past several years, more than 200 students have benefited from this support, helping them overcome challenges such as housing instability, financial difficulties, and lack of consistent adult guidance.
A graduate who participated in the program shared their experience: “Growing up in foster care without consistent family support, I didn’t see higher education as something that felt accessible to me. Once I applied to TMCC and was accepted into the Fostering College Success Program, that changed. I quickly realized that family isn’t always who we’re related to, but who shows up and walks alongside us. Even though I am no longer at TMCC, the fact that I still have that connection is a testament to the strength of the program itself. If it were not for this program, I truly wouldn’t be where I am today.”
A key feature of the program is its Advocate position—a staff member dedicated to providing continuous support for students. This role helps build trust with participants while coordinating efforts with organizations such as Washoe County Human Services, RennerVation Foundation, Eddy House, and TMCC’s Career Hub.
Another student commented on their experience: “The Fostering College Success Program at TMCC provided me with a person in my corner who provided a little support and community that maybe family wouldn’t have. This support helped me find a place here and, even more importantly, like I belonged here. The welcoming heart of this program helped me bypass my feelings of unworthiness.”
With this new grant funding, TMCC will maintain the Advocate position and expand essential resources including emergency funds for students, assistance for books and supplies, and a Technology Fund designed to provide reliable access to laptops—a growing need as hybrid and online learning becomes more common.
Looking forward, TMCC aims to serve additional students each year through the FCS program by strengthening community partnerships and seeking further funding for long-term sustainability. The Walter S. Johnson Foundation’s continued investment highlights a joint commitment to ensuring that students with foster care backgrounds or similar disruptions receive necessary support not only to enroll but also persist through college.
Truckee Meadows Community College plays a significant role in northern Nevada by contributing over $678 million annually to the regional economy while preparing most graduates—95 percent—for local industries (official website). Serving nearly 20,000 students across four main sites and over 20 community locations (official website), TMCC offers credit-bearing academic programs as well as career training options tailored for both university transfer pathways and direct workforce entry (official website). As part of its mission (official website), TMCC focuses on providing accessible educational opportunities designed to transform lives throughout Reno-Sparks region.
For more information about the Fostering College Success Program or other services offered by Truckee Meadows Community College’s Campus Connections Office please visit their website.
