maya educational foundation

What maya educational foundation does

Maya Educational Foundation (MEF) is a 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 1992 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with field operations in Guatemala. The organization's mission is to expand educational opportunities for Maya youth and to strengthen Maya cultural identity and community. In the 2024-2025 academic year MEF supported 442 Maya students across Guatemala, the Mexican state of Chiapas, and Belize, working through established local partners including CIRMA in Guatemala, Sna Jtz'ibajom in Mexico, and the Julian Cho Society in Belize.

MEF's core offerings are university scholarships (averaging approximately $2,500 per student per year) and the English Language Program (ELP), delivered in-person at roughly $200 per student and online at $65 per student. The organization runs a small staff team split between the Cambridge headquarters and Guatemala field operations, supplemented by an alumni and volunteer network. The foundation also maintains memorial and named scholarship funds (e.g., the Goubaud Scholarship Fund launched in 2025, the Diane Nelson Fund, Joan Robinson Scholarships) to channel donor contributions to specific student cohorts.

MEF's business model is donation-driven: revenue comes from individual donors, foundation and corporate grants, named memorial funds, and third-party fundraising events such as textile sales run with Weaving for Justice and literacy events run with the Beaverton Literacy Council. The organization achieved 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in 2007, which makes contributions tax-deductible for U.S. donors. Financials are not publicly disclosed in the available data. In April 2025, founder-era Executive Director Elisabeth Nicholson retired after 30+ years and was succeeded by Amy Holly, marking the first major leadership transition in the foundation's history.

Name

maya educational foundation

Legal name

Maya Educational Foundation

Website

https://mayaedufound.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Maya Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that provides university scholarships and English-language instruction to Maya students across Guatemala, Chiapas (Mexico), and Belize, supporting 442 learners in 2024-2025 through local partner organizations and donor-funded programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Degree-Level Scholarships (Undergrad/Masters/PhD/Postdoc) (EDAIAOAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Foundation/NGO & Philanthropic Scholarships (EDAIAOAH)

Keywords

• Scholarship programs
• Educational nonprofit
• Indigenous education
• Cultural preservation
• University scholarships

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: MEF receives donations from individual supporters through its website using Network for Good's donation platform, by check, and through stock or IRA distributions. Donors can make one-time or recurring contributions.
2. Corporate and Foundation Grants: MEF receives support from foundations including the Daniele Agostino Derossi Foundation, Albert & Elaine Borchard Foundation, H.T. Ewald Foundation, Robert Laughlin Family Fund, and Plumsock Fund.
3. Memorial and Named Scholarships: The organization receives dedicated donations for memorial funds and named scholarship programs (e.g., Joan Robinson Scholarships, Diane Nelson Scholarship Fund, Goubaud Scholarship Fund, Vincent Phillips Memorial Fund) that support specific Maya students.
4. Third-Party Fundraising Events: Partner organizations like Weaving for Justice raise funds for MEF through textile sales and special events. The Art for Good fundraiser features donated artwork with proceeds supporting scholarships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Maya Educational Foundation (MEF) provides university-level scholarships and educational support to Maya and other indigenous students in Guatemala, Mexico, and Belize. Programs are administered through partnerships with local nonprofit organizations (CIRMA, Sna Jtz'ibajom, Julian Cho Society, and others) that deliver tuition, fees, books, uniforms, laptops, and mentorship. MEF also funds English language training and cultural preservation programs focused on Mayan language literacy and traditional practices.

Product overview

Maya Educational Foundation (MEF) operates as a scholarship and educational support organization rather than a technology product company. MEF provides university-level scholarships to Maya students in Guatemala, Mexico, and Belize through various named scholarship programs administered in partnership with local nonprofit organizations. The organization focuses on educational and professional advancement of Maya people, with special consideration for women, girls, and students from remote areas. MEF's work is concentrated on providing financial support for higher education rather than technology products or platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Programa Becas Mayas MEF con CIRMA Scholarship program serving approximately 60 Maya full-time university students from all over Guatemala, administered in partnership with CIRMA (Centro de Investigaciones Regionales de Mesoamérica) in Antigua, Guatemala. Provides tuition, fees, books, and related educational support with administrative oversight from CIRMA.
• English Language Program (ELP) Volunteer-based English language teaching program for Maya students, offered in two formats: a two-week intensive in-person course in Antigua, Guatemala ($200 per student, 25 students per cohort, 13 volunteer teachers) and an online program in coordination with Beaverton Literacy Council ($65 per student per year, serving 30 Maya students). Celebrated 20 years of operation in 2024.
• Belize Scholarship Program (with Julian Cho Society) Scholarship program serving 22 Maya high school and university students (16 female, 6 male) from 14 remote villages in the Toledo district of Belize, administered in partnership with the Julian Cho Society in Punta Gorda. Covers tuition, fees, books, and uniforms.
• Chiapas Scholarship Programs (with Sna Jtz'ibajom) Scholarship programs supporting approximately 35 full-time university students and 10 students in the Chenalhó program (7 vocational high school and 3 university) in Chiapas, Mexico, administered in partnership with Sna Jtz'ibajom (House of the Writer) in San Cristóbal de Las Casas. Includes Mayan language literacy support and cultural preservation work.
• Amigos de Santa Cruz Scholarship Program Scholarship program supporting Maya students in the Santa Cruz region of Guatemala, administered through the Amigos de Santa Cruz partner organization. Students supported include those studying architecture, tourism, and other fields.
• Colegio Bilingüe Intercultural Paxil Intercultural bilingual school program in the highlands of Guatemala focused on Ixil language, Mayan calendar, backstrap weaving, and Maya cultural preservation. Partner program supporting indigenous education at the school level.
• Diane Nelson Scholarship Fund Memorial scholarship fund established in honor and memory of Diane M. Nelson, supporting Maya students in environmental studies and related fields such as agroforestry engineering.
• Joan Robinson Scholarships Special scholarship program supporting 30 Maya students, named in honor of Joan Robinson, a humanitarian who worked to help indigenous people, especially girls and women. Funded through the Daniele Agostino Derossi Foundation.
• Yax Te' Books Educational books available through MEF in 2024 to support Maya education and literacy.

Quantifiable outcome

• 442 Maya students supported in 2024-2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 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 core, significant and supporting.

• CIRMA (Centro de Investigaciones Regionales de Mesoamérica)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMEF's key partner in Guatemala since 2024 hosting the Programa de Becas Mayas MEF. CIRMA, established in 1978, is a guardian of Mesoamerican visual and documentary heritage. The partnership provides administrative oversight for 60 Maya university students and hosts the annual student gathering.
• Sna Jtz'ibajom (House of the Writer)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenerable 40-year-old Maya cultural organization in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico. Partners with MEF to provide university scholarships to 45 Maya students and teaches Mayan language literacy to villages in the Chiapas highlands.
• Julian Cho SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in Punta Gorda, Belize administering the MEF scholarship program for 22 Maya students from 14 remote villages in the Toledo district.
• Weaving for JusticesignificantGTM or Marketing PartnerNew Mexico nonprofit that raises funds for Maya students by selling donated Maya textiles. Has raised over $45,000 for MEF scholarships and involves volunteers in year-round organizing of textile sales.
• Beaverton Literacy CouncilsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOregon-based organization partnering with MEF for ELP-online English language program serving 30 Maya students.
• Mayan HandssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting Maya students including Jesús Irene studying nursing at Universidad Panamericana, Sololá.
• Esperanza JuvenilsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization where student Adriana studies Criminal and Forensic Sciences.
• Amigos de Santa CruzsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in Guatemala where students like Veronica (studying Architecture) and Gladis (studying Tourism) receive scholarships.
• Colegio Bilingüe Intercultural PaxilsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural and educational partner in the highlands of Guatemala focused on Ixil language and Mayan culture preservation.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pueblo a Pueblo: Guatemala-focused nonprofit providing scholarships and educational support to indigenous youth. Highly comparable in target beneficiary (Maya/indigenous students), scholarship structure, and reliance on partner-led delivery.
• American Indian College Fund: U.S.-based 501(c)(3) providing scholarships and educational support for Native American/indigenous students. Closely analogous in being an indigenous-focused scholarship nonprofit, though serving U.S. populations.
• Common Hope: U.S.-based nonprofit providing education, healthcare, and family support in Guatemala — including scholarships for indigenous students. Directly comparable to MEF in mission, geography, and scholarship model, with added health programming.
• Friendship Bridge: Nonprofit serving indigenous women in Guatemala through education, microfinance, and health programs. Highly comparable geographic and beneficiary focus, with a broader service mix.
• Cooperative for Education (CoEd): Nonprofit focused on breaking the cycle of poverty in Guatemala through education programs including textbooks, scholarships, and youth development. Closely comparable geographic focus and donor-supported scholarship delivery model.

Regional players

• Long Way Home: Nonprofit building self-sustaining schools in rural Guatemala through construction and education programs. Comparable geographic and beneficiary focus on rural Guatemalan youth.

Emerging players

• buildOn: International nonprofit partnering with low-income communities to build schools and deliver adult literacy programs. Overlaps with MEF's education-access mission but emphasizes infrastructure and adult programs rather than scholarships.
• Pencils of Promise: International education nonprofit focused on building schools and supporting students in developing countries. Overlaps with MEF on education access mission but emphasizes school infrastructure over individual scholarships.

Broad incumbents

• Room to Read: Global education nonprofit operating across multiple countries with literacy and girls' education programming. Comparable as an international scholarship-adjacent education nonprofit, though much larger and broader in scope.
• Scholarship America: Largest U.S.-based scholarship-granting nonprofit, administering donor-designated scholarship funds at scale. Comparable as a scholarship-administration model, though serving U.S. students rather than international.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Maya-Educational-Foundation-MEF-204213384643
• Instagraminstagram.com/mef4mayas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maya-educational-foundation

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about maya educational foundation