The Consortium and its member colleges and universities give back to the community in a variety of ways. The College Info Center (CIC) is a joint endeavor of all the Consortium institutions to provide college information and counseling to individuals in the area seeking further education and training opportunities. Using funds from the Consortium, private foundations, and governmental entities, the CIC assists thousands of people annually in getting started on new educational opportunities. As an example of the role of Consortium institutions in the community, $20 million annually is provided from their own resources in scholarship assistance to D.C. residents. Individual universities also participate in hundreds of other projects with local schools and community organizations.