About Brilliant futures

Brilliant Futures is a children’s savings pilot program that will provide kindergarten students at two schools with up to $1,000 in savings each year from kindergarten through 12th grade.

The Community Foundation has partnered with Montgomery County Public Schools and Prince George’s County Public Schools to launch the pilot program at Jackson Road Elementary School in the White Oak neighborhood of Silver Spring, MD in Montgomery County and Bradbury Heights Elementary School in Capitol Heights, MD in Prince George’s County.

The Community Foundation has committed to funding the pilot program for two consecutive kindergarten cohorts at each school — specifically the future graduating classes of 2036 and 2037 at Jackson Road Elementary School and classes of 2037 and 2038 at Bradbury Heights Elementary School. The pilot program is expected to enroll up to 400 students between the two schools.

Our Partners

Brilliant Futures is a public-private partnership between Montgomery County Public Schools, Prince George’s County Public Schools and The Community Foundation that is funded using $10 million of contributions raised by The Community Foundation’s Together, We Prosper Campaign for Economic Justice and through investments from generous donors.

In addition to Montgomery County Public Schools and Prince George’s County Public Schools, The Community Foundation has partnered with community-based nonprofits including the Parent Encouragement Program (Montgomery County) and the Reid Community Development Corporation (Prince George’s County) to ensure that this pilot program is managed equitably and effectively.

How It Works

Each child enrolled in the pilot program will receive a deposit of up to $1,000 each year from kindergarten through 12th grade. The overall funds will grow over time through The Community Foundation’s expert investment management. Our goal is that, upon completing high school, each student will have access to at least $13,000 that they can use to seed their future aspirations — whatever those aspirations may be.

Upon graduating (or an equivalent), students enrolled in Brilliant Futures can put their savings toward ongoing education and training or to pursue other income- or wealth-generating opportunities, such as buying a home or starting a business. Community partners will work with participating students throughout their elementary and high school education to support their ongoing success, including providing coaching and resources to help them plan for the future.

Building the CAse for Future investment

Over the next decade, The Community Foundation will closely monitor the impact of Brilliant Futures on student performance and other factors.

As the initial investor and convener, our vision is to build public will in support of children’s savings programs so that they can be scaled from pilots to policy. Our aspiration is that initiatives like Brilliant Futures can become a common practice for advancing economic security and closing the racial wealth gap in the Greater Washington region.

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