We are City Scholars® Foundation.
We believe every child deserves a quality education regardless of their zip code or family income.
Our passion for equity in education drives everything we do.
Our MISSION
We help education nonprofits thrive to give thousands of low-income youth a better chance to learn and achieve against the odds.
Raise Your Hand for Education
Partnering with leaders who share time, talent and treasure, we sponsor the City Scholars® Fellowship for Education, a collaborative, tuition-free leadership institute and impact network that provides ongoing, transformative
Executive Education, Leadership Coaching, Networking, Resource-Sharing + Accountability
to help highly-motivated nonprofit CEOs, who are distinguished as City Scholars® Foundation Fellows, grow critical education nonprofits from survival to success to significance serving thousands of low-income youth.
The City Scholars® Fellowship for Education has transformed my leadership and the impact of Young Storytellers, the nonprofit I led for over twelve years until December 2025. Since my first year as a Foundation Fellow (2014), Young Storytellers doubled the size of its staff, expanded board engagement, increased revenues from $350,000 to over $1.7 million and educated 2,500 more youth each year. I’m excited to carry this same commitment to impact into my new leadership role with City Year LA.
Bill Thompson, Executive Director
City Year Los Angeles
City Scholars® Foundation Fellow (Since 2014)
Mentorship & Academic Assistance for 28,000 youth/year (99% low-income)
Los Angeles
Our STRATEGY works.
Because leadership matters.
Within 3 years with our Fellowship for Education, more than 80% of Foundation Fellows report increased revenues and reach, more engaged boards and staff, greater financial sustainability and/or more impactful programs for the education nonprofits they lead.
By investing in and partnering with our Foundation Fellows, as nonprofit CEOs, we’re helping 23 critical education nonprofits thrive and over 40,000 low-income, high-potential youth each year throughout Southern California achieve against the odds.