THE ESPERANZA EDUCATION FUND INC

Esperanza was founded in 2009 by two lawyers from immigrant families (Peru and Taiwan) who accessed higher education with the help of scholarships. Since then, Esperanza has awarded nearly $1.5 million in scholarships to 148 deserving scholars. In FY 2024, Esperanza is actively supporting 27 scholars from the DMV region with multi-year aid. Notably, 96% of scholars stay local for college and attend public schools in the area.

Esperanza plays a critical role in fostering economic security and upward mobility-not only for scholars, but also their families and communities. While the capital region is one of the nation’s fastest-growing and most diverse immigrant gateways, educational access has not kept pace. Immigrants here are three times more likely than native-born peers to lack a high school diploma, and 50% more likely to have never attended college.

Esperanza’s scholars often come from low-income households (average income: $40,000), mixed-status families, or face challenges unique to the immigrant experience. Seventy-three percent are first-generation college students. Esperanza is also one of the few organizations providing scholarships regardless of national origin, ethnicity, or immigration status. Many participants do not qualify for federal aid or other scholarships due to documentation barriers-making Esperanza’s support all the more essential.