OUR PARTNERSHIPS
SOME OF OUR WISE IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS
The WISE Scholarship Program™ is made possible through mission-aligned partnerships with organizations that share our commitment to supporting youth through education, mentorship, and long-term opportunity. These partnerships form the foundation of how WISE is implemented across the world, with each organization helping shape the way participants engage in social and non-formal learning experiences.
Founded by Matthew and Camila McConaughey, the Just Keep Livin Foundation empowers high school students to lead active lives and make healthy choices through a structured after-school program focused on fitness, nutrition, wellness, and community service. With over 45 program sites across 19 U.S. cities, JKL serves more than 3,000 students annually in states including California, Texas, Georgia, and New York.
Through our partnership, the JKL program is embedded into the WISE Scholarship Program™ as part of the Social & Non-Formal Education pillar, allowing participants to earn scholarship points through consistent engagement. Students involved in JKL not only benefit from hands-on life skills training, but also build discipline, service-mindedness, and personal accountability — all key outcomes WISE actively tracks and rewards through its Earn to Learn model.
This partnership represents the kind of high-impact, mission-aligned integration that makes WISE scalable and deeply effective across diverse communities.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale (BGCS) has been supporting youth across Arizona for over 70 years. With a mission to ensure that success is within reach of every young person who enters their doors, BGCS helps students stay on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, strong character, and a healthy lifestyle. One of its signature initiatives, the Keystone Teen Program, offers a structured environment where teens take on leadership roles, explore careers, engage in community service, and build critical life skills.
Through our partnership, the Keystone program is embedded into the WISE Scholarship Program™ as part of the Social & Non-Formal Education pillar. Participants earn points within the WISE “Earn to Learn” model through their consistent involvement in Keystone, reinforcing accountability, leadership development, and civic responsibility.
This collaboration strengthens our shared commitment to measurable growth and long-term development. It blends hands-on engagement with structured academic and career preparation, helping participants move forward with purpose.
Grace Sober Living (GSL) is a faith-based recovery and transitional housing program supporting women as they rebuild their lives after addiction, trauma, and homelessness. Located in Mesa, Arizona, GSL provides a safe, structured environment grounded in spiritual growth, accountability, and purpose-driven living. Their mission is to reduce relapse rates, strengthen long-term sobriety, and equip individuals with the life skills needed for independent wellness.
In partnership with the WISE Scholarship Program™, GSL delivers a customized version of the WISE model tailored to adult learners in recovery. The program spans three structured sessions, each focused on personal transformation and long-term goal setting. Participants earn scholarship points through engagement in three core areas: Spiritual Empowerment, Community Service, and Life Skills Development — all designed to support progress toward education and self-sufficiency.
This partnership demonstrates how WISE can adapt to meet the needs of highly motivated individuals outside the traditional school setting. Through a thoughtful blend of recovery, structure, and educational support, GSL and WISE are creating a path toward stability, opportunity, and lifelong growth.
SOS Children’s Villages – Ghana has a long-standing commitment to supporting children and youth without parental care, helping them build secure futures through access to education, stable housing, and family-strengthening initiatives. Their programs provide structure, safety, and holistic development for vulnerable young people across Ghana.
As an implementation partner of the WISE Scholarship Program™ through the Youth Thrive Project, SOS Children’s Villages delivers in-country support to WISE participants throughout their four-year secondary school journey. The partnership brings educational access, mentorship, and long-term guidance to students who demonstrate strong potential and a desire to pursue post-secondary education.
This collaboration also includes integration with the Head of State Award Scheme (HoSA) — Ghana’s official delivery partner of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. As WISE participants complete the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award levels, they gain leadership experience, community engagement, and non-formal learning that contribute directly to their WISE scholarship points through the Social & Non-Formal Education pillar.
The partnership between SOS, HoSA, and WISE represents a collective investment in structured, meaningful development for students in Ghana — connecting global educational frameworks with localized support to help participants grow with purpose.
WISE Program in Action – HoSA Ghana/DofE Award Activities (Social & Non-Formal Pillar)
WISE Program – 2023 DofE Bronze & Silver Awards Celebration (SOS-HGIC, Social & Non-Formal Pillar)
2025 Launch – Youth Thrive WISE Program: Expanding Access & Opportunity in Ghana
The WISE Scholarship Program™ is honored to partner with the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, a globally respected leader in education and empowerment. In a powerful recognition of shared values, ABF recently dedicated a space at its historic San Firenze headquarters in Florence, Italy to The Steele Family Foundation and the WISE Scholarship Program™.
This partnership reflects a deep alignment in our missions — to break down barriers, expand access to opportunity, and invest in the next generation of global leaders. Together, ABF and WISE are creating pathways that reach across borders, cultures, and communities. With a shared belief in the power of education to transform lives, this collaboration is rooted in purpose, dignity, and long-term impact.
International Student Foundation (ISF)
Through our alliance with the International Student Foundation, the WISE Scholarship Program™ is expanding its global reach to support talented, low-income students in Turkey. Together, we are launching a joint scholarship fund designed to open access to higher education opportunities around the world — creating new pathways for Turkish students to pursue their academic and professional goals.
This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to advancing equity in education and investing in students whose potential far exceeds their circumstances. By aligning ISF’s international network with the Earn to Learn framework, we’re unlocking life-changing opportunities for a new group of Stranded Superstars ready to thrive on the global stage.
SOME OF OUR STRATEGIC PARTNERS
The WISE Scholarship Program™ is strengthened by the generous support of organizations and individuals who help power our mission. These strategic partners provide vital resources, expertise, and opportunities that expand WISE’s reach and impact, helping us build a stronger future for every participant we serve.
