What The Lagrant Foundation does

The LAGRANT Foundation (TLF) is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1998 by Kim L. Hunter to increase ethnic minority representation in the advertising, marketing, and public relations industries. The foundation awards scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students from historically underrepresented communities who are pursuing careers in these fields, with undergraduate recipients receiving $2,500 and graduate recipients receiving $3,750. In 2025, TLF awarded $150,000 in scholarships to 50 students across its traditional program and its newer Healthcare Marketing & Communications program, bringing cumulative disbursements to 891 scholarships totaling over $3 million since inception.

TLF operates a community-led model in which scholarship funding is supplemented by multi-day career development workshops (in Washington D.C., New Jersey, Minneapolis, and Seattle), internship placements, and a mentorship program that pairs students with industry professionals volunteering twice monthly. Corporate donors — including Amazon, Microsoft, P&G, Omnicom PR Group, Edelman, Burson, Weber Shandwick, Bayer, Medtronic, and UnitedHealthcare — provide both financial support and direct hiring pathways, with the Alumni Advisory Council chaired by P&G and co-chaired by OPRG. The foundation reports that 77% of surveyed alumni remain employed in communications industry organizations, based on its 2025 Biennial Scholarship Alumni Engagement Survey which achieved a 74% participation rate from 676 alumni.

The organization is governed by a Board of Directors that in 2025 added Olga Fleming (CEO of MMC, part of Omnicom PR Group) and Drew Herdener (Amazon SVP). It is supported by a small staff of 2-5 employees, including Founder/Chairman/CEO Kim L. Hunter, and is not venture-backed or PE-owned. TLF monetizes exclusively through corporate and individual donations, with no commercial revenue stream, and holds no proprietary technology assets beyond its website and digital channels.

Name

The Lagrant Foundation

Legal name

The LAGRANT Foundation

Website

https://lagrantfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The LAGRANT Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that awards scholarships, internships, and mentorship to underrepresented undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in advertising, marketing, and public relations, funded by corporate donors across the communications industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Scholarship and Career Development Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Foundation/NGO & Philanthropic Scholarships (EDAIAOAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Degree-Level Scholarships (Undergrad/Masters/PhD/Postdoc) (EDAIAOAE), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

Keywords

• Minority scholarships advertising
• Diversity marketing scholarships
• Communications career development
• Nonprofit PR scholarships
• Underrepresented talent pipeline

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Corporate and Individual Donations: TLF operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded primarily through donations from corporations (advertising, marketing, PR agencies, and other companies) and individual supporters. The foundation receives support from major donors including Amazon, Microsoft, P&G, Omnicom PR Group, Edelman, Burson, and many others listed on their donor page.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Lagrant Foundation awards scholarships and provides career development programming for underrepresented minority students pursuing careers in advertising, marketing, and public relations. The foundation disburses approximately 50 scholarships per year totaling roughly $150,000, and supplements scholarships with mentorship, professional development, and industry networking support. It serves individual students while engaging corporate and individual donors to fund its mission.

Product overview

The LAGRANT Foundation is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of scholarship programs and career development services. Its core offerings include the Traditional Scholarship Program ($2,500-$3,750 awards with Washington, D.C. trips) and the Healthcare Marketing & Communications Scholarship ($2,500-$3,750 for healthcare-focused students). These scholarship programs are complemented by career development workshops, internship placements, and a mentorship program that connects students with industry professionals. The foundation also operates an Alumni Advisory Council for ongoing engagement and hosts Fireside Chat Events featuring senior communications executives. The organization does not offer a technology product platform; all services are delivered through direct programming, partnerships with corporations and agencies, and in-person events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Minority Scholarship Program Annual scholarships (approximately 50 per year, $150,000 in total) awarded to underrepresented minority students pursuing or planning careers in advertising, marketing, or public relations.
• Career Development and Mentorship Program Career preparation, mentorship, and industry networking support for scholarship recipients and alumni entering the advertising, marketing, and PR industries.

Quantifiable outcome

• 77% of surveyed alumni are currently employed within communications industry organizations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MMC (part of Omnicom PR Group)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 August 2025MMC CEO Olga Fleming joined TLF's Board of Directors in August 2025. MMC hosts career development workshops for scholarship recipients and has hired TLF alumni for employment.
• AmazoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon is a major donor and board supporter. Drew Herdener, SVP Communications & Corporate Responsibility, serves on TLF's Board of Directors. Amazon provides internship and career opportunities for TLF scholarship recipients.
• MicrosoftcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMicrosoft is a major donor. Frank Shaw, Chief Communications Officer at Microsoft, participates in TLF fireside chat events as a keynote speaker and industry advocate.
• Procter & Gamble (P&G)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerP&G serves as chair of TLF's Alumni Advisory Council. The company provides internship and career opportunities, and hosts workshops for scholarship recipients.
• Omnicom Public Relations Group (OPRG)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOPRG serves as co-chair of TLF's Alumni Advisory Council. The agency network provides internship placements, career workshops, and supports TLF's scholarship programs.
• EdelmancoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEdelman is a major donor providing financial support and internship/career opportunities. TLF alumnus Joseph Apodaca serves as VP at Edelman and chairs the Alumni Advisory Council.
• BursoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBurson is a major donor providing internship and career opportunities for TLF scholarship recipients. TLF alumna Stephanie Guzmán serves as Account Director.
• Weber ShandwickcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWeber Shandwick is a major donor. TLF alumna Danielle Calhoun serves as VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
• Ralph LaurencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRalph Lauren provides donations and has employed TLF alumni. Katie Ioanilli, Chief Global Impact & Communications Officer, serves as 2025 survey chair. Provided fragrance bottles as survey incentives.
• StarbucksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStarbucks is a donor providing $5 gift cards as survey incentives for TLF's Biennial Alumni Engagement Survey.
• BayercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBayer is a healthcare company donor that hosts career development workshops for TLF scholarship recipients, including those in the Healthcare MarCom program.
• MedtroniccoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMedtronic is a healthcare technology donor supporting TLF's Healthcare Marketing & Communications scholarship program, hosting workshops and providing career opportunities.
• UnitedHealthcarecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUnitedHealthcare supports TLF's Healthcare MarCom scholarship program, hosting career development workshops for scholarship recipients.
• FleishmanHillardcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFleishmanHillard is a major donor and part of OPRG, providing internship and career opportunities for TLF scholarship recipients.
• Real ChemistrycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerReal Chemistry supports TLF's Healthcare MarCom scholarship program as an example of healthcare-focused agencies for students interested in healthcare communications.
• LinkedIncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLinkedIn is a donor supporting TLF's Healthcare MarCom scholarship program and hosts career development workshops for recipients.
• Mars WrigleycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMars Wrigley is a donor providing internship and career opportunities. Hosts career development workshops for traditional scholarship recipients.
• NikecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNike is a corporate donor supporting TLF's mission and scholarship programs.
• WalmartcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWalmart is a corporate donor supporting TLF's scholarship programs.
• American AirlinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmerican Airlines serves as the official airline sponsor for TLF, providing travel support for scholarship programs.
• PR WeekcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPR Week is TLF's exclusive media partner, providing coverage of events and serving as a platform for TLF's industry visibility.
• Institute for Public Relations (IPR)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIPR is a nonprofit research organization that partners with TLF, with TLF supporting IPR NEXT program leaders.
• PageminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPage is an executive communications organization. TLF alumni are hired by Page members, and the organizations collaborate on professional development.
• PR CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPR Council collaborates with TLF on diversity and inclusion initiatives in the communications industry.
• IW GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBill Imada, Chairman and Chief Connectivity Officer of IW Group, is a longtime TLF board member who helped allocate scholarship funds for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students.
• KetchumcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKetchum is a PR/marketing agency donor providing internship and career opportunities for TLF scholarship recipients.
• GolincoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGolin is a PR/marketing agency donor supporting TLF's mission and providing career opportunities.
• Zeno GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerZeno Group is a PR/marketing agency donor supporting TLF's scholarship programs.
• Korn FerryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKorn Ferry is a talent/HR consulting firm donor supporting TLF's mission.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Thurgood Marshall College Fund: A nonprofit organization funding scholarships and leadership development for students at HBCUs and Predominantly Black Institutions. It is a direct peer as it provides scholarships, internships, and career pipelines for underrepresented minority students funded by corporate partners.
• National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ): An organization serving Hispanic journalists and communications professionals with scholarship and mentorship programs. It is a direct peer given its targeted scholarship-and-career development mission for an underrepresented minority in media and communications.
• American Indian College Fund: A 501(c)(3) providing scholarships and student support for Native American students in higher education. It is a direct peer given its scholarship-plus-career-support model serving underrepresented minority college students with corporate underwriting.
• National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ): A journalism and communications professional association that operates a scholarship program for Black students pursuing media careers. It is a direct peer as it focuses on minority scholarships in a communications-adjacent field with corporate sponsorship.
• Jackie Robinson Foundation: A national 501(c)(3) providing scholarships, leadership training, and mentorship to minority college students. It is a direct peer because it combines multi-year scholarships with mentorship and career development, backed by major corporate sponsors.
• Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA): A professional organization providing scholarships, internships, and career development for Asian American and Pacific Islander students in journalism and communications. It is a direct peer given its scholarship-plus-career-services model for an underrepresented communications cohort.
• United Negro College Fund (UNCF): The largest U.S. minority education nonprofit funding scholarships for African American students. It is a direct peer because it operates a similar scholarship-and-career-pipeline model serving underrepresented students with corporate donor underwriting.
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund: A major 501(c)(3) providing scholarships and career support to Hispanic Americans in higher education. It is a direct peer given its similarly broad scholarship model, large corporate donor base, and career-development focus on underrepresented minorities.

Others

• Page Society: An executive communications organization that partners with TLF on professional development and hires TLF alumni. It is thematically related as a senior-level communications body rather than a direct scholarship competitor, but shares TLF's industry focus on the PR/communications talent pipeline.

Broad incumbents

• Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Foundation: The philanthropic arm of the largest U.S. PR professional association, operating scholarship and diversity programs for PR students. It is a broad incumbent given its larger scope and broader communications mission, while still directly addressing TLF's PR scholarship niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LAGRANTFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-lagrant-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/lagrantfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Lagrant Foundation