MISSION STATEMENT

The Monroe Foundation empowers qualified individuals by awarding scholarships to support their pursuit of an undergraduate degree at accredited higher education institutions across the United States.

With a focus on underserved and first-generation students, the Foundation is dedicated to removing financial barriers that might otherwise prevent these individuals from accessing or completing their education. Through this commitment, we strive to create meaningful opportunities for academic and professional advancement, helping students achieve their full potential and shape a brighter future.
 

HISTORY

The Monroe Foundation was founded in 1993, primarily as a vehicle to assist Monroe College students in the pursuit of their educational goals.  Very often, the grant funded the entire cost of a semester’s tuition.

In time, educational research studies began to highlight that many students were unable to complete their degrees for lack of smaller amounts of balances that remained after all other sources of funding were exhausted.

When Stephen Jerome assumed the Presidency of the Foundation in 2017, a shift in philosophy took place, and ‘gap funding’ was initiated.  Rather than funding the entire cost of a student’s tuition, the Foundation now looks to close the gap that may prevent a student from continuing his or her studies and graduating. Awarding grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per semester allows the Foundation to increase the number of students that can be assisted and, ultimately, the number that can graduate.