Overview of Give Something Back
Q. What is Give Something Back?
Q. When was Give Back founded and what is the timeline for it to be in my state?
Q. Where is Give Back headquartered?
Q. If Give Back is not in my area, how can I bring it here?
Contact us at info@giveback.ngo to request this information for your state. We can walk you through the steps and partnerships that are needed to begin a Give Back program in your area.
Q. Who does Give Back serve?
Give Back serves low-income, high-achieving students with a primary focus on youth who have experienced foster care, homelessness, or the incarceration of a parent. All Give Back students are required to have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of zero as indicated by completing a financial-aid forecaster similar to FAFSA as a part of the program’s admissions process and maintain a 2.5 GPA. Since inception, we have served over 1,600 students.
Q. What is the model and what are the outcomes of the Give Back program?
Give Back scholars can apply as early as 8th grade. Accepted students are assigned to a mentor who assists them with college preparation through high school and college/trade school. We help students navigate the complex financial aid and scholarship processes when applying to and attending institutions of higher education. We partner with Community Based Organizations (CBOs) for additional support and mentor services. Our outcomes are outstanding with over 90% of high school students remaining in the program and continuing to college and 87% of those graduating from college on time (2 years for associate degrees and 4 years for bachelor’s degrees).
Q. How has the Give Back program changed since it began?
Give Back started by giving low-income, high-performing high school seniors in Illinois $20,000 toward their college education. The program was modified to select middle school students and provide a mentor to help the students through their high school years. We further refined that model to one that awards the promise of a full-ride scholarship to 9th graders who actively participate in Give Back programming, earn a minimum of a 3.0 GPA, and demonstrate good character. The scholarship provides room, board, tuition, and fees. Students participate in mandatory mentorship, events, and programs throughout high school that offer support.
Our plan moving forward is to focus on helping students to first attain an associate degree and/or trade certification(s) before attaining a bachelor’s degree if that is the desire of the student. Additional expenses (e.g. room and board) will be considered and supported on a case-by-case basis. Regardless of the post-secondary track the student chooses, Give Back will strongly encourage and help scholars maintain a 2.5 GPA and demonstrate upstanding character. A 2.5 GPA ensures the student is on track to succeed academically after high school, as well as maintain their eligibility for financial aid.
Q. How is Give Back different from other nonprofits and college readiness programs?
Give Back’s mission is to identify, enroll, and support academically promising students who have the greatest financial need and the lowest statistical likelihood of enrolling in college and achieving a degree or trade certificate. Give Back prioritizes enrollment for students who have experienced foster care, homelessness, and/or the incarceration of a parent. We assist our students through high school and college by providing scholarships so the student can obtain an advanced degree and change their lives for the better, graduate on time, and protect them from burdensome debt.
Q. How can I get involved or support Give Back?
Our greatest needs are for mentors and for CASA/GAL volunteers. Give Back offers the opportunity to participate in virtual mentoring. Caring adults from all 50 states can become virtual mentors, providing long-term support to deserving students. Please apply at: www.giveback.ngo/mentors/
Donations to Give Back can also be made via our website at: www.giveback.ngo/donate/ and through participation in the Chip-In program. Through Chip-in, you can register your credit card and a percentage of your spending can support Give Back or other charities of your choosing. For more information, please visit: https://chip-in.getbeyond.com/
Q. How can I donate to Give Back?
Donations are accepted at: www.giveback.ngo/donate/. If you prefer to send a check, it should be made payable to Give Something Back and mailed to: 902 Carnegie Center, Suite 160, Princeton, NJ 08540.
Q. How can I get my local nonprofit to partner with Give Back?
By becoming a member or supporter of Chip-In. Please do that via https://chip-in.getbeyond.com/.
Prospective Merchant Sponsors
Q. How can I sponsor the Give Back and ProStart programs?
Become a Beyond Customer
Thanks to Beyond and Chip-In, merchants can support Give Back’s mission by becoming a customer of Beyond, Inc., one of the most trusted and fastest growing payment processors and payroll providers in the U.S. Give Back is a beneficial owner of Beyond, meaning that every merchant of Beyond and every customer who shops with Beyond merchants is supporting Give Back. For more information about how your restaurant and business can sign-up with Beyond, please contact Ivy Cohen at ivy.cohen@getbeyond.com.
Promote Chip-In
Chip-In, a unique program of Beyond, empowers merchants and consumers to give to their favorite charities including Give Back and ProStart simply by shopping and using their registered bank card. Download the Chip-In app from your phone’s app marketplace to see how it works and what other businesses and charities are utilizing it near you. For more information about Chip-In and to sign-up, please visit: https://chip-in.getbeyond.com/.
Offer Internships to Give Back Scholars
Your restaurant or business can offer internships to Give Back scholars if your business is in an existing area where Give Back’s program is operating. If we are not yet operating in your state, your interest in supporting the program in your community will help bring it there. Contact info@giveback.ngo for more information.
Encourage & Incentivize Your Employees to Become Mentors
Give Back scholars receive mentoring through high school and until they achieve their post-secondary academic goals of completing trade school, earning an associate degree, or bachelor’s degree. Give Back’s mentoring program can be delivered virtually, enabling mentors from all 50 states to support our scholars. We are looking for motivated, caring individuals who are committed to inspiring our scholars. Mentors not only help students navigate through the process and stay on track to completion, but they also shape the next generation of the workforce with better managers and leaders. In turn, the mentoring experience will help make these volunteers better managers and leaders. Please complete the mentor interest form to learn more.
Donate to Give Back
Donating $500 or more to support Give Back’s mentoring and scholarship program in your area will ensure that your business is listed as a supporter on Give Back’s website. Additionally, Beyond regularly recognizes merchants that support Give Back across its social media platforms and blog.
Q. What is expected of the merchants that sponsor?
We would like (but do not require) our merchant partners to consider using our Chip-In program as a method of supporting local nonprofits.
Q. How can we help in ways other than financial support?
It is great when a merchant can offer part-time employment and/or internships for our students and encourage employees to become Give Back mentors.
Q. How do we see where funds are going?
The Chip-In program reports that information monthly. Also, as a public charity, Give Back’s financial information is available through its annual 990 filings.
Q. How does sponsorship with these programs benefit my business?
Merchants enjoy numerous benefits from supporting local charities. Customers are more likely to shop or dine at businesses that support charity. Employee morale is higher when merchants support their local communities and your support will translate into increased visibility. Your community will benefit and be a better place for students and businesses alike.
Q. Is Give Back in my local community?
Give Back is currently in 11 states: New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, California, Kansas, Washington, Maryland, Connecticut, Florida, and Illinois. We are always building programs for future states behind the scenes and are seeking to move into new areas in the near future. Please keep an eye on our website and social media accounts to see regular updates on our program, expansion, and opportunities for partnership.
Q. How can my employees become part of Give Back and ProStart programs and how do they benefit them?
Your employees or their children can apply for Give Back if they meet the eligibility requirements: sufficient academic standing to be eligible for financial aid (typically a 2.5 GPA or higher), an EFC of zero, and are at least in the 8th grade. For details about applying and the benefits of these programs, please visit: www.giveback.ngo/ to begin the process of applying for the program.
Employees can also become Give Back mentors in your local community or anywhere through virtual mentoring opportunities.
Q. How can I hire Give Back / ProStart students?
Currently, Give Back operates in 11 states: New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, California, Kansas, Washington, Maryland, Connecticut, Florida, and Illinois. If you have businesses in those states seeking to offer jobs to excellent students, please contact: info@giveback.ngo.
Q. If I have already hired ProStart participants, how can they join the Give back program?
Your employees and ProStart participants can apply for Give Back if they meet the eligibility requirements: sufficient academic standing to be eligible for financial aid (typically a 2.5 GPA or higher), an EFC of zero, and are at least in the 8th grade. For details about applying and the benefits of these programs, please visit www.giveback.ngo to begin the application process.
Q. What are some businesses that Give Back already works with?
Give Back is the primary beneficiary of Beyond, Inc., a payment processor, payroll provider, and business solutions company founded by Robert O. Carr. Beyond currently has thousands of businesses throughout the country as clients, especially those focused on food service and hospitality.
Q. Can Give Back work with my business in another state and how can Give Back come to my state?
Give Back is looking to expand. Though your state may not be listed on the website yet, it does not mean we are not currently planning to set up a program there. We are also seeking partners for current states and potential states as a means to make connections and establish Give Back in communities. If you see your state listed, please contact info@giveback.ngo.
Prospective Merchant Supporters
Q. How can I work more closely with businesses in the hospitality industry through Give Back?
Give Back is the primary beneficiary of Beyond, Inc., a payment processor, payroll provider, and business solutions company founded by Robert O. Carr. Through this company, Give Back has access to thousands of businesses throughout the country, especially those focused on food service and hospitality.
Q. How can I support Give Back and ProStart through my local business?
Becoming a member of Chip-In means you will join a community of businesses with a goal of giving back to the local community. Give Back and ProStart are just some of the options of a broad network of possible nonprofits to support. Please download the Chip-In app on your phone to see all of the local business and nonprofits in your area.
Q. Will we have access to Give Back staff to increase program engagement with our employees?
Yes, Give Back team members can work with your business to provide information and recruit mentors, to provide employees information about the Give Back program as a possible pathway for their children, and to encourage the adoption and utilization of the Chip-In program. For more information, please contact info@giveback.ngo.
Prospective Internship Businesses
Q. What makes Give Back students different from other interns?
Give Back students have hope for the future and are on their way to a post-secondary education. These students receive mentoring from volunteers and are required to maintain good academic standing in school and demonstrate upstanding character.
Q. Does this program help in finding interns for my business?
We can work to make connections between our students and your business.
Q. How are interns selected?
Internship selection for scholars through Give Back will be determined by ensuring the scholars are meeting all Give Back requirements. Beyond that, our goal would be to match youth with internships in their potential career paths.
Q. How do I become an internship partner with Give Back / ProStart?
Currently, Give Back operates in 11 states: New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, California, Kansas, Washington, Maryland, Connecticut, Florida, and Illinois. If you have businesses in those states seeking to offer internships to excellent students, please contact info@giveback.ngo.
Q. Do the student interns in this program have any pre-qualifications or basic training in my business’s field?
Yes, if you are in the hospitality business.
Q. Are all Give Back interns in high school?
At this time, we have no college interns, but our plan is to have them both in high school (if 16 or older) and college.
Q. Do I have to offer paid or unpaid internships to be an internship partner? Full-time, part-time?
There is no requirement for the type of internship you offer. We just ask that it be a safe and educational experience for our scholars. Most will always have classes, so it is more beneficial for part-time experiences.
Q. What other internship partners does Give Back have?
Give Back is a majority beneficiary of Beyond, a credit card payments and business solutions company founded by Robert O. Carr. This company is also a partner in providing internships. For more partners, please check giveback.ngo for updated information.
Q. Will we have someone on the Give Back staff we can contact for questions or concerns?
Yes, you will be able to contact the Give Back team members nationally or in your area to help you maximize your partnership with Give Back.