What Catholic Schools Foundation does

Catholic Schools Foundation (CSF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts that operates as the largest K-12 scholarship-granting organization in Massachusetts, providing financial aid to low-income students to attend Catholic elementary and high schools in the Archdiocese of Boston. CSF supports approximately 4,300 students through a portfolio of programs led by the Building Minds Scholarship Fund, with complementary offerings including the CSF Horizons Scholarship (for housing-insecure students, in partnership with Horizons for Homeless Children), the LCA Continuum Scholarship (a pathway connecting Lawrence Catholic Academy to Central Catholic High School), and merit/need scholarships such as GO, Inspiration, Peter Lynch, and Harrison. With 90% of donations going directly to scholarships and a 100% high school graduation rate for scholars, the organization positions itself on measurable academic outcomes and longitudinal scholar support.

CSF's technology footprint is intentionally minimal and described in source data as "not applicable" — it operates through a website platform (csfboston.org) used for donations, applications, and information dissemination, rather than as a software or product company. Strategic delivery is executed through a regional school-partnership channel with 40+ Catholic elementary schools and 29 Catholic high schools, with scholarships recommended by partner schools and funds directed to tuition.

CSF's revenue model is donation-based across four primary streams: individual donations (one-time and recurring), corporate partnerships (matching gifts, sponsorships, and direct donations from partners such as PwC and Dedham Savings), planned giving (bequests, trusts, Legacy Society), and the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program. The organization targets multiple customer segments including low-income families in the Archdiocese of Boston, students experiencing housing instability, Lawrence-area students, and high-achieving needy students, with a hybrid segmentation approach. Customer-side pricing is zero (no fees to student beneficiaries), while donor-side pricing is tiered through programs such as the Scholarship Angels monthly giving starting at $25/month.

Name

Catholic Schools Foundation

Legal name

The Catholic Schools Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://csfboston.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Catholic Schools Foundation is the largest K-12 scholarship-granting organization in Massachusetts, providing renewable financial aid to low-income students attending Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Boston through a portfolio of programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Private School Scholarship Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

Keywords

• K-12 scholarship grants
• Private school scholarships
• Nonprofit scholarship fund
• Tuition assistance programs
• Charitable education funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: CSF receives charitable contributions from individuals who support the Building Minds Scholarship Fund. Donors include alumni, community members, and supporters who make one-time or recurring donations.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Companies partner with CSF through corporate matching gifts, sponsorships, and direct corporate donations. Event sponsors like PwC and Dedham Savings support CSF programs and events.
3. Planned Giving: CSF accepts planned giving contributions including bequests, trusts, and legacy society donations for long-term sustainable support.
4. Scholarship Tax Credit Programs: CSF participates in the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program, which allows corporations to receive tax credits for contributing to scholarship organizations.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Catholic Schools Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides renewable K-12 tuition scholarships enabling low-income students in the Archdiocese of Boston to attend Catholic elementary and high schools. Its core vehicle is the Building Minds Scholarship Fund, supplemented by specialized programs (Horizons, LCA Continuum, GO, Inspiration, Peter Lynch, Harrison) that target particular student populations such as those experiencing housing instability, Lawrence-area pathway students, and high-achieving students with financial need.

Product overview

Catholic Schools Foundation (CSF) is the largest K-12 scholarship granting organization in Massachusetts. The organization operates as a unified portfolio of scholarship and support programs rather than a technology platform. The core offerings include the Building Minds Scholarship Fund as the primary vehicle, supplemented by specialized programs like the Horizons Scholarship (for housing-insecure students), LCA Continuum Scholarship (for Lawrence-area pathway students), GO Scholarship, Inspiration Scholarship, Peter Lynch Scholars, and Harrison Scholarship. Together, these programs support thousands of low-income students in Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Boston, with 90% of donations going directly toward scholarships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Building Minds Scholarship Fund CSF's primary K-12 scholarship program providing renewable tuition assistance to low-income students attending Catholic elementary and high schools in the Archdiocese of Boston.
• CSF Horizons Scholarship Program Scholarship program in partnership with Horizons for Homeless Children providing long-term tuition support (covering approximately 90% or more of tuition) for students experiencing housing instability attending Catholic schools.
• LCA Continuum Scholarship Continuation scholarship program connecting Lawrence Catholic Academy students to Central Catholic High School, creating a continuous Catholic education pathway; CSF invests more than $400,000 annually.
• GO Scholarship Program Need-based scholarship supporting financially in-need students graduating from CSF-sponsored elementary schools as they continue to Catholic high school.
• Inspiration Scholarship One of CSF's most competitive scholarship opportunities, recognizing high-performing students combining demonstrated merit with financial need for Catholic high school attendance.
• Peter Lynch Scholars Program Competitive scholarship honoring high-achieving eighth graders who demonstrate exceptional work ethic and financial need, continuing Peter Lynch's legacy of commitment to Catholic education.
• Harrison Scholarship Named scholarship supporting high-achieving students attending partner Catholic high schools such as Ursuline Academy, providing tuition relief and affirming recipients' sense of purpose.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% high school graduation rate for CSF scholars
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and general.

• Lawrence Catholic AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020LCA Continuum Scholarship program partner. CSF, Lawrence Catholic Academy, and Central Catholic High School launched a pilot in FY21 with $100,000 to increase Catholic high school access. The program has increased LCA student matriculation from 32% to 85% and grown LCA enrollment by 56%.
• Central Catholic High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020LCA Continuum Scholarship program partner providing additional resources, investment, and support for scholarship recipients. The number of LCA students attending Central Catholic has increased fourfold since 2021. CSF invests more than $400,000 annually in this scholarship program.
• Horizons for Homeless ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 201610-year partnership providing scholarships to students experiencing housing instability. Since 2016, the program has distributed over $2 million in scholarships, growing from a $46,000 investment supporting 9 students to a projected $350,000 annual investment supporting 55 students. CSF provides funding and access to Catholic schools; Horizons provides expertise in serving families in crisis.
• Saint John Paul II Catholic AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost school for CSF Horizons Scholarship Program. Provides full-day care from 6:30 AM breakfast through 6:00 PM after-school program, addressing food insecurity and educational stability for homeless students.
• Saint Columbkille Partnership SchoolgeneralOthersPartner school with CSF scholars recognized as GO and Peter Lynch Scholars. Students received Spirit of the Class Award, Carolyn Keough Shea Memorial Scholarship, and academic excellence awards.
• St. Pius V SchoolgeneralOthersPartner school with CSF scholars receiving Presidential Academic Fitness Awards and scholarship recognition to St. Mary's High School and Malden Catholic High School.
• Saint Anthony's SchoolgeneralOthersPartner school where CSF scholars were recognized with Salutatorian Award, Valedictorian Award, GO Scholar Scholarship, and Lynch Scholar Scholarship.
• Immaculate Conception School (Lowell)generalOthersPartner school with CSF scholars receiving Integrity Award, Principal Award, Drama Club Scholarships, James Polcari Scholarship, and Presidential Education Awards.
• Ursuline AcademygeneralOthersPartner high school where Harrison Scholarship recipient Briana Li graduated. Part of CSF's network of 29 Catholic high schools accepting scholarship recipients.
• Fontbonne AcademygeneralOthersPartner high school where multiple CSF scholars, including alumna Jasselis Lopez, attended. CSF support continued through high school for qualifying students.
• Cristo Rey Boston High SchoolgeneralOthersPartner high school with Corporate Work Study Program. Valedictorian Jada Nguyen and Angelia Cao (Harrison Scholarship recipient) are alumni attending Princeton and College of the Holy Cross respectively.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Step Up For Students: Step Up For Students administers Florida's K-12 scholarship programs including the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship and Gardiner Scholarships. While it operates in a different geography (Florida) and is much larger in scale, it shares CSF's nonprofit scholarship-administration model focused on K-12 access.

Broad incumbents

• National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA): NCEA is the largest professional association for Catholic educators in the U.S., supporting Catholic schools through advocacy, research, and member services. It is the umbrella organization across the Catholic education ecosystem in which CSF operates and disburses scholarships.
• EdChoice: EdChoice is a national nonprofit advocating for and researching school choice policies including tax-credit scholarship programs. It connects to CSF through the school choice ecosystem that enables CSF's federal scholarship tax credit participation and broader policy environment.

Direct peers

• ACE Scholarships: ACE Scholarships provides K-12 private school scholarships to low-income families across multiple states including Colorado, Louisiana, and elsewhere. It shares CSF's mission of directing scholarship funds toward private K-12 education for disadvantaged students, though it serves a broader geographic footprint.
• Inner-City Scholarship Fund: Inner-City Scholarship Fund (ICSF) is a New York City-based nonprofit providing scholarships to low-income students to attend Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New York. It is structurally and mission-wise the closest analogue to CSF Boston, making it the most directly comparable peer.
• Children's Scholarship Fund: Children's Scholarship Fund provides need-based K-8 scholarships nationwide to low-income families for private school choice. It shares CSF's model of awarding scholarships directly to families and partnering with private/religious schools, with similar outcome tracking.
• The Catholic Education Foundation: The Catholic Education Foundation in Los Angeles provides tuition assistance to low-income students attending Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Like CSF, it operates independently as a 501(c)(3), partners with Catholic schools, and focuses on K-12 scholarship disbursement.
• Catholic Education Foundation (Cincinnati): Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation provides need-based scholarships to students attending Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, operating with the same nonprofit scholarship-granting model and K-12 Catholic education focus as CSF Boston.

Emerging players

• Black Alliance for Catholic Achievement (BACA): BACA is a nonprofit that supports Black students in Catholic schools through scholarships and advocacy. It overlaps with CSF's mission of increasing access to Catholic education for underrepresented students, though with a narrower demographic focus.

Others

• Horizons for Homeless Children: Horizons for Homeless Children is CSF's 10-year partner in the CSF Horizons Scholarship Program, providing wraparound services and expertise for students experiencing housing instability. It is a key operational partner and ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/csf_boston
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CSFboston
• Facebookfacebook.com/Inner-City-Scholarship-Fund-Boston-166747992437
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/catholic-schools-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/csfboston

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Catholic Schools Foundation