HEAF’s Mission
For 36 years, the Harlem Educational Activities Fund has partnered with families, schools, community organizations and supporters to change the lives of young people from under-resourced New York City communities. HEAF’s high-impact college access program provides academic enrichment, personal development, college prep, and career exposure from middle school through high school and college.
HEAF's Impact
%
of our students graduate from high school and are accepted to 4-year colleges
years changing the lives of young people
%
of our students earn bachelor degrees
HEAF partners with students and families to build academic confidence, expand opportunity, and support long-term success. Our programs provide consistent guidance from middle school through college and into early careers.
Achieve
Achieve provides intensive, multi-year academic enrichment, individualized advising, social-emotional learning, and college access support for students in grades 6–12, with continued guidance through college. Students engage in after-school and summer programming that builds skills, confidence, leadership, and readiness for postsecondary success
Inspire
Inspire expands access by delivering school- and community-based academic enrichment and college access programming in partnership with public high schools and community organizations. HEAF advisors and instructors are embedded in partner sites, offering in-school support, financial aid guidance, and career exposure to students who might otherwise lack these resources.
Community
HEAF Community opens select college access, enrichment, and family engagement opportunities—such as workshops, panels, and resource fairs—to students and families across New York City. These citywide programs strengthen access to information, reinforce a college-going culture, and extend HEAF’s impact beyond its core cohorts.
HEAF has a 36-year track record of delivering strong, permanent outcomes that exceed NYC and national averages.
100% of our students graduate high school on time — the 2019 average is 67% for African Americans and 64% for Hispanic students in Harlem.
Nearly 100% of our students enroll in four-year colleges immediately after graduating high school — in NYC 57% of students enroll in college or career programs within 6 months of graduation.
83% of our college students earn a bachelor’s degree within six years — nationally, the average is 37% for African American students and 42% for Hispanic students who are enrolled in private four-year colleges.
Congratulations to the Graduating Class of 2025
Class of 2025 College Commitments
Cornell University
Franklin & Marshall College
Medgar Evers College (CUNY)
Morgan State University
Morgan State University
New York City College of Technology (CUNY)
New York University
Siena College
Skidmore College
State University of New York at Albany
State University of New York at Fredonia
Judy
Current HEAF Student
“HEAF will open doors for me to be able to have opportunities I might not have otherwise. At HEAF, I get to learn and make new friends. I am more comfortable within myself and around others because of HEAF.”
Sahara Gipson
HEAF Volunteer
Sahara was introduced to HEAF by a friend who recruited her to volunteer for a one-time resume and interview workshop with the students in Harlem. She’s been a consistent volunteer ever since!
Sahara helped coordinate a team of colleagues for ongoing career development classes as part of HEAF’s Industry Immersion program.
She says: “When we transitioned to remote work, having a consistent time each week to interact with a class of HEAF high school students was such a highlight for me; getting my colleagues involved has been even more meaningful. HEAF’s impact is powerful and I am proud to be a part of the growing community of volunteers. These students are the future!”