As the regional coordinating organization (RCO) of the statewide Cash for College workshop campaign, L.A. Cash for College, partners with schools and organizations to host Financial Aid Completion Workshops throughout the financial aid application season (Oct. 1 through May 2).
By signing up to host Cash for College Workshops, sites agree to provide students with access to internet-connected computers to allow students to complete the FAFSA, CA Dream Act or Chafee Grant Applications. In return, site hosts receive support from the California Student Aid Commission and the L.A. Cash for College team to conduct successful FAFSA assistance workshops at their location. Depending on site hosts' needs, support may include training, volunteer recruitment assistance and more.
Workshop Organizer Expectations & Responsibilities
To ensure low-income, first-generation, college-bound students are receiving the support they need to apply for all possible financial aid, Workshop Organizers are expected to take on the following responsibilities.
- Provide students with access to internet-connected computers at the workshop;
- Provide students and their parents/guardians/caregivers with line-by-line assistance on the FAFSA, CA Dream Act application, and/or Chafee Grant application;
- Offer additional language support at the workshop, specific to local needs;
- Administer the Cash for College Student Exit Survey to participants at workshop (electronic or paper form);
- Aggressively promote your workshop; and
- Recruit volunteers and encourage them to attend a "FAFSA Overview" training (provided by L.A. Cash for College).
To learn more about what it takes to become an approved California Cash for College Organization, please view the Partnership Agreement.
Support for Workshop Organizers
As a workshop organizer, the following support is available to you from L.A. Cash for College and the California Student Aid Commission:
- A secure organization account on the California Cash for College Workshop Management System (WMS) at www.cash4college.org
- Workshop Organizer Training for you to successfully host a Cash for College Workshop
- FAFSA Assistance Training for workshop organizers and volunteers who would like to assist at Workshops
- Regional coordination to promote FAFSA completion and workshop attendance, and to recruit volunteers (Please note: volunteer recruitment is a shared responsibility between L.A. Cash for College and Workshop Organizers.)
- Financial Aid materials and PowerPoint presentations developed by financial aid experts
- A collection of customizable planning and outreach tools
- Site support stipends for sites serving at least 30 students (who complete a Student Exit Survey)
- Regional scholarship support: 10 $1,000-1,500 scholarships will be awarded at random (from students who complete a Student Exit Survey and submit a FAFSA or CA Dream Act application by May 2)
VIEW WORKSHOP RESOURCE MATERIALS
Register to Host a Workshop
Schools and organizations who want to host a Cash for College Workshop can register themselves through the Workshop Management System (WMS) at www.cash4college.org. From the WMS portal page, on the left side you will see a "Become an Approved Organization" section. In that section, click on the "register" button. You will need to complete three sections: 1) Agency Information, 2) Primary Contact Information, and 3) Payee Information.
BEGIN THE REGISTRATION PROCESS
For more information, email Maria Marquez Alvarez at [email protected].