USF Pearls

Donate to USF Pearls

These funds do more than meet immediate needs, they restore hope, build belonging, and change futures. Your support is helping one student at a time move from surviving to thriving, proving that with the right support, success is possible.

Our Funds

The USF PEARLS Pre-Matriculation Onboarding Program (Fund #PC0058)

This fund is a vital bridge initiative designed specifically for students with foster care experience. Launched before the start of the fall semester, this intentional program helps new PEARLS students build a strong foundation by offering early support, meaningful campus connections, and the confidence needed to navigate the transition to college life successfully. Students who have experienced foster care often begin college without the consistent support systems or guidance available to many of their peers. They may face these challenges alone while managing housing and financial instability, limited access to basic needs, and the absence of dependable adult advocates. Your contribution to this fund directly addresses those gaps by helping students secure essentials such as dining dollars, bookstore credit, Bull Bucks for laundry, and a Y Lot annual student parking pass; practical resources that reduce stress and allow students to focus on their academic and personal growth. Your gift can make the difference between a student entering college uncertain and unsupported, or stepping into their college journey with confidence and community.

The USF PEARLS- Level III Coaching Training (Fund # PC0054)

Training our staff through the Fostering Success Coaching Institute ensures that every team member supporting USF PEARLS students is equipped with specialized, trauma-informed tools proven to empower those with foster care experience. These evidence-based courses teach the Seven Core Principles of the Fostering Success Coach Model鈥攕uch as cultural humility, network development, goal setting, and skill-building鈥攚hich translate directly into real-time support for students facing academic, housing, or emotional challenges. With this training, our staff can engage authentically, help students build resilience, strengthen their sense of belonging on campus, and guide them toward graduation. Your contribution directly funds this crucial professional development鈥攅nsuring that every student receives knowledgeable, compassionate support that can transform their college experience and set them on the path to lifelong success.

The USF PEARLS Emergency Fund (Fund #PC0053)

This fund provides critical, discretionary support to foster care alumni at USF who are facing unexpected financial hardships that could jeopardize their ability to stay enrolled and complete their degrees. This fund helps students navigate urgent challenges related to health, housing, or employment by covering essential expenses such as emergency shelter, rent, utilities, books, laptops, software, or other immediate needs. In some cases, scholarships may be awarded for one semester to eligible full- or part-time students from foster care backgrounds, across all majors and campuses. Your gift can make the difference between a student pausing their education or persevering to graduation.

How To Donate

  1. Visit the USF Foundation website: .
  2. Click "Search for a USF fund".
  3. Enter one of the fund numbers listed above.  Be sure to include the PC in front of the number.
  4. Select your gift amount and giving frequency.
  5. Click "Add this gift." to enter your billing and gift information.