Hispanic College Fund

Hispanic College Fund

Hispanic College Fund, Inc. (HCF) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to prepare the next generation of Hispanic professionals. It serves primarily high school and college students.

The Hispanic College Fund Pipeline

High School Programs: Each year, the Hispanic College Fund hosts the Hispanic Youth Institute, which kicks off with the Hispanic Youth Symposium, a summer college residency program for high school students. During the Symposium, students spend three days on a local college campus, attending college prep workshops, developing relationship with professional and near-peer mentors and planning their academic and professional futures. Once the Symposium concludes, student participants are enrolled in year-round programming provided by the Institute, which helps them create a college-going culture in their high schools.

College Programs: The organization was founded in 1993 and awards approximately $2 million in scholarships to students from across the United States. Seventy percent of students who receive scholarships from the Hispanic College Fund are the first in their family to attend college. The median household income of scholarship recipients is $21,500.

The Hispanic College Fund also administers NASA's Motivating Undergraduates in Science and Technology program, which provides scholarships and academic support to underserved students pursuing STEM careers.

Young Professionals Programs: The Hispanic Professionals Institute brings dozens of HCF's top scholars to Washington, DC each year for intensive professional development training. Students attend resume writing and personal branding workshops, participate in mock interviews with HR professionals in their field of choice, and take part in other activities that help them prepare to enter the career world.

Awards and Recognition:

In 2007 USA Today named the Hispanic College Fund as one of the Top 25 Charities in the United States. During 2007 and 2009, the Hispanic College Fund also received a 4-star rating (out of a possible four stars) from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent evaluator of charities. In 2010, HCF's Hispanic Youth Institute was recognized with the College Board's College CompactKeys award, which acknowledges the program for innovation in helping students prepare for college.

Today HCF is funded through personal and corporate contributions from some of the best-known companies in America, including Estée Lauder Companies, The Ford Motor Company Fund, General Dynamics, Marriott International, Lockheed Martin and Sodexo.

HCF annually hosts a gala to recognize its sponsors and scholarship winners. The "Portraits of Success" gala attracts upwards of 500 attendees. Past keynote speakers have included Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, Chairman & CEO of Marriott International, Bill Marriott and U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman, Orrin Hatch, Kay Bailey Hutchison and Mel Martinez.