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Welcome to New Jersey SEEDS: Where Opportunity Meets Potential
New Jersey SEEDS (Scholars, Educators, Excellence, Dedication, Success) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1992 that prepares motivated, high-achieving, low-income students for admission to private schools and colleges across the country. Nearly 750 students are served annually through SEEDS' academic and guidance programs, in addition to the more than 1,200 alumni continuing their educations or in the workforce.
Each of our three programs provides a demanding course of study designed to develop the intellectual and leadership potential of our students and prepare them for long-term success. We strive to ensure that our students receive 90-100 percent in financial aid from the independent schools and colleges they attend. And we encourage our alumni to pursue lives of professional accomplishment, leadership and service to the community, thus realizing their full potential.
Young Scholars participate in a 14-month program that begins with a summer program following fourth or fifth grade, meets on Saturdays during fifth or sixth grade and culminates with a three-week summer program and overnight retreat the summer before sixth or seventh grade. The Young Scholars Program is open to students in Greater Newark (Newark, Orange or East Orange).
The Scholars Program takes place over a 14-month period, beginning in the summer after seventh grade with a three-week residential program, continuing Saturdays during the eighth grade year, and culminating in a second three-week residential experience during the summer between eighth and ninth grade. The Scholars Program is open to students who live in the state of New Jersey.
College Preparatory Program students participate in a three-year program that begins the summer prior to tenth grade. The College Preparatory Program is only open to students who are enrolled in SEEDS' partner high schools.
Our Placement team matches students with the most appropriate school with regard to academics, social environment and cultural fit. SEEDS graduates receive 90-100 percent in financial aid.
Our Guidance and Alumni Programs serve students who have completed the SEEDS program. Our Guidance team provides direct services to 450 Scholar Alumni after placement in independent schools. Our Alumni department provides support services to more than 1,200 alumni in college and beyond.
New Jersey SEEDS has been recognized locally and nationally. Our work in changing lives and building communities has been recognized by the Althea Gibson Foundation, Bank of America, Jersey Cares, Mutual of America, Oprah’s Angel Network, the Partnership in Philanthropy and Rutgers University.
In addition, Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of the financial health and efficiency of nonprofit organizations, awarded New Jersey SEEDS four stars, its top rating, for four consecutive years. Only 9 percent of organizations rated by Charity Navigator receive at least 4 consecutive 4-star ratings; proof that SEEDS “consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way and outperforms most other charities in America.”
If you cannot find the information you are looking for on our website, please call us at 973-642-6422.
New Jersey SEEDS does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, nationality, ethnicity or any other
characteristic protected by law in the admission to and administration of its programs and services.
"What I appreciate the most about SEEDS is that so many people are putting in effort on behalf of the students - staff, teachers, parents and other scholars. You start to see the impact right away in independent school."