Richmond Promise reports nearly 4,200 scholars supported since 2016; asks city partners to consider sustained funding

Richmond Promise presented a progress report to the Richmond City Council on Tuesday, describing nearly a decade of scholarship and student‑support work and urging continued local investment to sustain the nonprofit’s scholarship program.

Christopher Whitmore, executive director, highlighted a short film and provided data showing Richmond Promise has supported more than 4,200 scholars and paid about $11 million in scholarships since the program began in 2016. The noncompetitive Richmond Promise scholarship is currently $1,500 a year for eligible students and is available for up to six years of postsecondary study. Whitmore said roughly 1,300 scholars are served in a typical year.

The organization described program pillars — college awareness and access, scholarship, scholar success services, and career services — and recent efforts to increase career readiness through internship partnerships with the city and health‑career connections. Whitmore said Richmond Promise’s own estimate for long‑term sustainability is $4 million to $5 million per year, with an anchor funder expected to provide a large portion of that support.

Councilmembers praised the program’s results and asked about the nonprofit’s relationship to past ECIA (Chevron) funding. Whitmore said Richmond Promise is an independent 501(c)(3) created via city support and that while a Chevron employee sits on the organization’s board, Chevron has not been a principal program funder; employee donations and occasional matches have been received. Whitmore also said the organization plans to seek more diversified funding and to modestly raise the scholarship amount — to about $2,000 annually — to restore purchasing power lost to inflation.

A Richmond resident and speakers at public comment commended the organization and said they planned to attend a celebration event. The council did not take formal action on the presentation.