Buchanan Promise Kickstart to Career Savings Fund

Click Here to Login to your Buchanan Promise Kickstart to Career Savings Fund
Click Here to Donate to a Student's Buchanan Promise Kickstart to Career Savings Fund

As part of the Buchanan Promise, provided and managed by the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation, all kindergarteners have been given a FREE $50 College Savings Fund at Honor Credit Union. (You may opt out by completing the form below and returning it to Michigan Gateway Community Foundation or your child’s school) This free, deposit-only fund is designed to encourage an early start to saving for the future cost of post-secondary education and training.  Deposits are accepted from ANY source – students, parents, family members, and relatives.  The Community Foundation and its donors will also make incentive deposits during each student's school years.

Upon graduation from Buchanan High School, your student may be eligible for the Buchanan Promise Award. (Eligibility for Buchanan Promise requires graduation from Buchanan Community Schools AND residency within the Buchanan Community Schools District,)  The Buchanan Promise Kickstart to Career program is available to all students who graduate from Buchanan Community Schools. This fund is another way to plan and prepare for each student’s successful journey through post-secondary education and training on the path to their chosen career.

This savings fund is restricted for use in paying expenses related to going to college, pursuing a trade program, professional certificate, or any qualified educational pursuit after high school.  This money in this fund is NOT accessible until your student graduates from high school. (Hardship withdrawals of personal funds are allowed by application, see form below)

  • Kickstart to Career is a program designed to assist with post-secondary education expenses. The program is managed by the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation, with partner support from Honor Credit Union and Buchanan Community Schools. Each Buchanan Community Schools kindergarten student receives a savings fund at Honor Credit Union which is opened with a $50 deposit from Michigan Gateway Community Foundation.

  • It is a Children’s Savings Fund. This means the funds remain on deposit until the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation approves your withdrawal for future college and training expenses or until maturity. It is a deposit only fund.

  • No. The Michigan Gateway Community Foundation is the owner of the fund, but the funds are held in trust for you when you need them for post-secondary education.

  • Yes, your fund earns interest.

  • Interest is applied to each fund monthly.

  • No. Michigan Gateway Community Foundation has opened each fund with a deposit of $50. You may add to your child’s fund by making deposits of any size at Honor Credit Union. You need your child’s fund id number to make a deposit. Honor does not have a record of individual fund id numbers. Contact Michigan Gateway Community Foundation if you need your child’s fund id number.

  • Your fund is NOT subject to balance or transaction fees. It has been set up at Honor Credit Union as a fee free fund as a service to you and the community.

  • Yes, additional deposits are encouraged and accepted at any time.

  • School Deposit Days are on the 3rd Thursday of every month from November through May. Your child should bring their deposit in a sealed baggie or envelope with a deposit slip. Your child’s name and fund id should be on their slip. You can also make deposits at Honor Credit Union. Please make sure you have your child’s fund id number as Honor does not have access to individual student fund id numbers. Contact Michigan Gateway Community Foundation if you need your fund id number.

  • No. This is a savings fund for the benefit of students. There are no limits unless they are imposed by Honor Credit Union.

  • The Michigan Gateway Community Foundation will approve your qualified withdrawals for post-secondary education expenses after your graduation from Buchanan Community Schools.

  • If there is any remaining money after a student turns 25, they may request a withdrawal for the total of their private fund balance, including any earned interest. Any money that Michigan Gateway Community Foundation contributed will go back to The Buchanan Promise Kickstart to Career Incentive fund to be used for educational expenses for other Buchanan students.

  • You can contact the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation and complete an Education Completion Withdrawal Form to receive any private funds that you contributed.

  • Please contact the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation to discuss the possibility of an early withdrawal of private funds. Michigan Gateway Community Foundation, as fund custodian, will determine the eligibility of non-qualified withdrawals.

  • Please contact the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation to arrange an extension to the withdrawal date of your fund if you join the military.

  • Interest earned on private deposits NOT used for educational purposes may be subject to IRS reporting; please seek professional tax advice.

  • No, your deposits are not tax deductible.

  • You can login to the Buchanan Promise Kickstart to Career Fund Portal using the student username and password that is provided by Michigan Gateway Community Foundation. Please email info@buchananpromise.com to request your student login and password.

    Here is the link to that portal. https://mgcfkickstart.fcsuite.com/erp/portal

  • Yes. There is an incentive program available We periodically offer incentive deposits or matching funds.

  • If you wish to keep the fund, you are still considered a participant in the program and can continue to make deposits and request withdrawals for post-secondary education expenses. It is your responsibility to keep your contact information current by contacting the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation at info@buchananpromise.com.

  • Students and parents or guardians can login to the Buchananan Kickstart to Career Fund Portal to check fund balances. Here is the link to that portal.

    https://mgcfkickstart.fcsuite.com/erp/portal

    If you have any other questions, please email info@buchananpromise.com.

Buchanan Promise Kickstart to Career FAQs & Resources

Click on any of the questions on the right for more information!

Program Rules
Contact Change Form
Opt-Out Form
Early Withdraw Form

NOTES:

  1. The size of the matching dollar benefit will be determined by such things as funds available, number of eligible enrolled students, and a giving incentive minimum amount by the student.

  2. All kindergarten students receive a fund. New students may request to opt-in form and will receive a fund once we receive it.

  3. Students may commence withdrawals from their fund when they graduate from Buchanan Community Schools. If a student leaves the district before graduation, the money deposited by the student may be withdrawn. A portion of this withdrawal may be taxable income. Consult your tax professional. The initial deposit from Michigan Gateway Community Foundation and any matching dollars will be kept at the Foundation and redirected to new students entering kindergarten.