The Facts

Michael Moritz's Crankstart Foundation awarded 223 San Francisco high school seniors college scholarships worth up to $15,000 a year. The Crankstart Scholarship can last up to six years and includes college advising, workshops, and emergency aid. In the first cohort, the program backed 200 students, with 83% first-generation and 91% at the highest level of financial need, according to Jill Tucker at The Chronicle.

The Context

The program launched in San Francisco with a 2025 uAspire grant focused on Balboa, Burton, Galileo, and Mission high schools. Crankstart was founded by Michael Moritz and Harriet Heyman and has become one of the city's biggest philanthropic players. For students who get into college but still face housing, food, or tuition gaps, flexible aid and hands-on advising can matter as much as the scholarship check itself.

The GrowSF Take

Bravo to Moritz!