Esperanza Scholarship Foundation Dollars for Scholars

What Esperanza Scholarship Foundation Dollars for Scholars does

Esperanza Scholarship Foundation Dollars for Scholars is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1999 and headquartered in Ontario, California, operating as a local affiliate of Scholarship America, the nation's largest private scholarship provider. The foundation administers scholarship programs for high school seniors from the Chaffey Joint Union High School District, Fontana Unified School District, and Pomona Unified School District, as well as continuing college students, with a mission focused on low-income, first-generation, underrepresented students in the Inland Empire and portions of Los Angeles County. Its core offerings include one-time high school senior scholarships (requiring a 3.50+ GPA), a Renewable Scholarship Program for prior awardees at four Partner Colleges (California State University San Bernardino, University of La Verne, Cal Poly Pomona, and California State University Fullerton), and continuing college scholarships for students at non-partner institutions; recipients must complete 25 hours of community service.

The foundation operates on a donation-funded revenue model with no commercial sales or pricing structure. It receives funds from individual donors, corporate sponsors (tiered platinum/gold/silver/bronze at $1,000-$10,000+ annually), foundation grants (IME-Becas, Edison International STEM, Stater Bros. Charities, Niagara Cares, Dr. Irving Fradkin Legacy Award), and Partner College matching grants. Over 27 years it has raised more than $1.6 million and awarded over 1,500 scholarships, averaging 50-70 per year. Its technology stack is minimal: it uses Scholarship America's ChapterNet Student Dashboard for application management and GiveLively for online donations, with no proprietary platform. The organization is run by a small team of approximately 7 employees supported by a volunteer board, with key leadership comprising President Lorena Corona, Fundraising Chairman Alex Espinoza, and Founder Paul Gomez.

The foundation's go-to-market is event-driven and relationship-driven, anchored by the Annual Mayor's Gala, Toyota Leadership Dinner, Ontario Independence Day Parade, and Annual Tardeada. It recruits scholarship recipients through school district partnerships and the ChapterNet platform, and cultivates donors through 15+ year corporate relationships (Toyota, Edison International, Burrtec, Orange Coast Title, Dental Kidz Club) and a 1,500+ member alumni network. Outcomes include an 81% graduation rate for locatable recipients from the Class of 2014 and over 20,000 community service hours contributed by scholars, positioning the foundation as a sustained community intermediary in a region where per capita private foundation giving is dramatically lower than Los Angeles County.

Name

Esperanza Scholarship Foundation Dollars for Scholars

Legal name

Esperanza Scholarship Foundation Dollars for Scholars

Website

https://esperanza.dollarsforscholars.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Esperanza Scholarship Foundation Dollars for Scholars is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 in Ontario, California, providing renewable and one-time scholarships to low-income, first-generation high school and college students from the Inland Empire, funded through corporate sponsors, foundation grants, and individual donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Philanthropy / Scholarship Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)

Keywords

• Scholarship foundation services
• College scholarship funding
• Nonprofit education grants
• First-generation student support
• Community foundation giving

Headquarters

HQ city

Ontario

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individual community members to support the scholarship campaign and award scholarships to local students.
2. Corporate and Business Sponsorships: Sponsorships and donations from businesses including platinum, gold, silver, and bronze tier sponsors. Companies donate varying amounts from $1,000 to $10,000+ annually.
3. Foundation and Grant Awards: Grants from foundations including IME-Becas ($4,800), Edison International STEM grants ($10,000), Stater Bros. Charities ($2,500), Niagara Cares ($5,000), and the Dr. Irving Fradkin Legacy Award ($10,000).
4. College Partner Matching Grants: Partner colleges provide matching grants for scholarship recipients attending their institutions, amplifying the foundation's scholarship impact.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Esperanza Scholarship Foundation Dollars for Scholars is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds and administers college scholarships for low-income, first-generation high school seniors and continuing college students from the Inland Empire and portions of Los Angeles County. It offers one-time High School Senior Scholarships, multi-year Renewable Scholarships (with matching grants from partner colleges) for sophomores, juniors, and seniors, and Continuing College Scholarships for students at non-partner institutions. Award values typically range from $1,000 to multi-year totals of $3,000+, with recipients required to complete 25 hours of community service.

Product overview

Esperanza Scholarship Foundation Dollars for Scholars is a scholarship disbursement organization operating as a single unified program. The core offering consists of scholarship programs for high school seniors, renewable scholarships for continuing college students at partner institutions, and continuing college scholarships for non-partner schools. The organization also provides supplementary programs including annual events (Mayor's Gala, Toyota Leadership Event), an internship program, and a Scholarship Ambassador Program for leadership development. All scholarship recipients must complete 25 hours of community service. The foundation serves students from low-income, underrepresented families in the Inland Empire region, primarily those who would be first in their families to attend college.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Esperanza Scholarship Foundation Dollars for Scholars (Scholarship Program) A 501(c)(3) non-profit scholarship organization providing financial aid and academic support to students in the Inland Empire and portions of Los Angeles County, with a focus on underrepresented, low-income, high-performing students who are often first in their families to attend college. Scholarship awards require 25 hours of community service.
• High School Senior Scholarships One-time scholarships awarded to current high school seniors attending schools in Chaffey Joint Union High School District, Fontana Unified School District, or Pomona Unified School District who meet GPA requirements (3.50 or higher) and community service criteria. Recipients are announced at the Annual Mayor's Gala.
• Renewable Scholarships Multi-year scholarship program providing financial assistance to prior awardees attending Partner Colleges (California State University San Bernardino, University of La Verne, Cal Poly Pomona, California State University Fullerton) for their Sophomore, Junior and Senior years, designed to increase graduation rates and reduce student debt. Includes matching grants from partner institutions.
• Continuing College Scholarships Scholarships for current college students who have previously received an ESFDFS Scholarship, continue to meet requirements (2.50+ GPA), and are attending non-Partner Colleges. Provides one-year Foundation Scholarships to support ongoing education.

Quantifiable outcome

• 81% graduation rate for located students (Class of 2014)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Dolores Huerta International Academy Alumni ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Esperanza announced a new partnership for 2026 with the Dolores Huerta International Academy Alumni Program.
• Promise ScholarsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership agreement entered in January 2020 with Promise Scholars to award 30 additional $1,000 scholarships to students in Chaffey Joint Union High School District. This partnership marked the first scholarships presented jointly by the two organizations.
• Scholarship AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEsperanza is an official affiliate of Scholarship America, the nation's largest recognized scholarship and educational support organization. This affiliation provides access to the ChapterNet platform, best practices, and periodic grants like the Dr. Irving Fradkin Legacy Award. Scholarship America also facilitates matching grants through its California university partners.
• California State University, San BernardinocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner College providing matching grants for Esperanza Scholarship recipients who attend CSUSB. One of four partner institutions in the Renewable Scholarship Program for sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
• University of La VernecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner College providing matching grants for Esperanza Scholarship recipients. Host of the annual Toyota Leadership Event and provides additional support for scholars.
• Cal Poly PomonacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner College providing matching grants for Esperanza Scholarship recipients attending Cal Poly Pomona. One of four partner institutions in the Renewable Scholarship Program.
• California State University, FullertoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner College providing matching grants for Esperanza Scholarship recipients attending CSU Fullerton. One of four partner institutions in the Renewable Scholarship Program.
• Toyota Motor North AmericacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerToyota hosts the annual Toyota Leadership and Mentoring Event at their North American Parts Facility in Ontario. They provide venue, dinner, and networking opportunities for Esperanza scholars. Partnership has continued for over 8 years.
• Inland Empire Community FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Inland Empire Community Foundation publishes a list of scholarships available to Inland Empire students and partners with Esperanza to connect students with additional funding opportunities through the Common Application Portal.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• The Jackie Robinson Foundation: National scholarship provider with a multi-year renewable scholarship model and mentoring component for minority students. Comparable scholarship structure (multi-year renewable + support services) but serves a different demographic nationwide.

Direct peers

• Inland Empire Community Foundation: Regional grantmaking organization serving the same Inland Empire geography; partners with Esperanza via the Common Application Portal and publishes local scholarship listings. Comparable mission of directing philanthropic dollars to local students and nonprofits.
• Scholarship America: National parent-affiliate organization that Esperanza operates under; provides the ChapterNet platform, best practices, and national recognition (e.g., Dr. Irving Fradkin Legacy Award). Directly comparable as the largest U.S. private scholarship provider with an affiliate chapter model.
• CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation: University-affiliated foundation of California State University San Bernardino, one of Esperanza's four Partner Colleges providing matching grants. Comparable as a scholarship-granting organization serving Inland Empire college students.
• IME-Becas: Mexican government program that has awarded Esperanza $4,800 grants annually for 4 consecutive years to fund scholarships for Hispanic students. Comparable in targeting Hispanic, first-generation students with scholarship funding.
• Promise Scholars: Direct partner organization with whom Esperanza jointly awarded 30 scholarships to Chaffey Joint Union High School District students. Comparable college-access nonprofit model serving similar first-generation populations.

Broad incumbents

• UNCF (United Negro College Fund): Major national scholarship provider serving underrepresented minority students. Comparable in administering scholarships and corporate partnerships for first-generation college students, though focused on a different demographic.
• College Futures Foundation: California-focused philanthropy working to increase college access and completion for low-income students. Comparable in targeting California low-income, first-generation students with scholarship and support programs, though at significantly greater statewide scale.
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund: National nonprofit providing scholarships and college support to Hispanic Americans, including many Inland Empire first-generation students. Comparable mission and target demographic but operates at significantly greater national scale.
• California Community Foundation: Large Los Angeles-based community foundation that has historically received a much higher share of per capita giving than Inland Empire foundations. Comparable as a regional grantmaker but operates at materially greater scale and endowment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EsperanzaDFS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqQSYYLKzb_PJvAsLMxpr7w
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/esperanza-scholarship-foundation-dollars-for-scholars
• Instagraminstagram.com/esperanzadfs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Esperanza Scholarship Foundation Dollars for Scholars