Investing in Futures: Launch of the Houston Opportunity Scholarship 

We have big news! We’re expanding our commitment to helping philanthropists create pathways to academic success in Houston with the Community Foundation’s Houston Opportunity Scholarship. For many families, especially those who are the first to go to college in their family, the cost of higher education can feel like an insurmountable barrier—but scholarships can be life-changing.  

The Houston Opportunity Scholarship will deepen the Community Foundation’s relationships with generous donors, enabling them to reach even more aspiring scholars. Supporting the Houston Opportunity Scholarship is a streamlined path to making a meaningful difference. Continue reading to learn how this initiative will unlock opportunities and transform lives.  

Why Scholarships Matter: Fueling Dreams 

Higher education isn’t just a personal milestone; it’s a powerful engine for economic mobility and generational change. For many students, scholarships make education not only accessible but attainable. 

In today’s workplace, a degree beyond high school is more than a credential—it is often a necessity for achieving financial stability and long-term success. College graduates enjoy higher earning potential, lower unemployment rates, and healthier life outcomes. But the benefits don’t stop there. When one person earns a degree, the impact ripples outward, strengthening families, uplifting communities, and fueling local economies. 

Communities with a highly educated workforce attract employers who offer good jobs, which, in turn, draws more talent and investment. It’s a cycle of growth powered by opportunity. And the data speaks volumes: children whose parents hold a bachelor’s degree are 44 percentage points more likely to earn one themselves. That’s not just progress—it’s legacy. 

Read more about scholarships and economic mobility.

What is the Houston Opportunity Scholarship? 

Houston is home to an incredible higher-education system full of talented, hard-working, diverse, and ambitious students. The Houston Opportunity Scholarship is a way to invest in Houston’s homegrown talent and bridge gaps by removing one of the most significant barriers to postsecondary attainment: cost.  

The Houston Opportunity Scholarship gives you a chance to join a collaborative scholarship program at the Community Foundation, where donors come together to amplify the impact of education. A scholarship for Houstonians funded by Houstonians. By pooling resources, we provide broad-based scholarship support that opens doors for high-potential students ready to succeed in higher education and build meaningful careers in Houston. 

Whether you give personally or through your business or foundation, your investment directly empowers students to take charge of their futures—while the Community Foundation handles the administration, making it easy for you to make a difference. 

Why Support the Houston Opportunity Scholarship? 

There are numerous benefits that donors can enjoy when they support the Houston Opportunity Scholarship. Investing in this scholarship program will help you: 

• Partner with a team of philanthropic advisors at the Community Foundation to ignite impact with ease. 
• Join a collaborative fund alongside other generous individuals, families, and businesses that share a passion for education in Houston. 
• Gain access to a variety of exclusive programs hosted by the Community Foundation designed to help you deepen your community engagement and foster your generosity. 
• Create long-term impact that aligns with your philanthropic vision. 
• Gain insight into how scholarship funds work. 
• Participate meaningfully through a high-impact, community-driven solution. 

Flexible Giving, Lasting Impact 

No matter the amount, every gift to the Houston Opportunity Scholarship makes a meaningful difference—helping students achieve their dreams and, in turn, strengthening the greater Houston community. Every increase in giving unlocks additional benefits while keeping all previous ones. Below are the giving levels:  

Gifts Under $99,999 | General Support 

At this giving level, donors will have the opportunity to: 

• Be a part of a collaborative fund administered by the Community Foundation that pools resources from multiple donors to provide broad-based scholarship support. 

$100,000 – $499,999 | Name Your Own Award 

At this level of giving, donors will have the opportunity to: 

• Includes all opportunities open to general supporters. 
• Establish a named scholarship award to create a personal legacy and connection with recipients. For example: The Martinez Family Legacy Award or the Leadership Educational Award. 
• Receive thank-you notes from the student(s) your gift supports and see firsthand the difference you’re making.   

$500,000+ | Deepen Your Involvement 

At this level of giving, donors will have the opportunity to: 

• Includes all opportunities available to donors who give $499,999 or less. 
• Join an annual meeting with program leaders about the impact of your contributions. 
• Customize your scholarship preferences by prioritizing students in a particular field of study that aligns with your values or interests. 

Who Can Apply: Empowering First-Generation Trailblazers 

The Houston Opportunity Scholarship is designed for bold, driven, and community-minded graduating seniors from public high schools across Greater Houston, including Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. 

This Scholarship is focused on helping students who plan to continue their education in Houston. Students who are ready to pursue higher education at a two- or four-year public college, vocational school, or university in Houston are eligible to apply. If you’re a first-generation college student—meaning neither of your parents has earned a college degree in the United States or abroad—with a minimum GPA of 2.5, you’re exactly who this Scholarship was created for. 

Applicants should demonstrate financial need, a strong commitment to community service, and a passion for building a brighter future. The Houston Opportunity Scholarship aims to be a launchpad for those who are ready to break barriers and become the first in their families to earn a postsecondary degree.  

In 2026, the Houston Opportunity Scholarship awards will be renewable, meaning that as long as students continue to meet eligibility requirements, the awards will be renewed each year. This Scholarship aims to provide funding throughout a student’s postsecondary journey, empowering them to focus on what matters most: learning, growing, and preparing to give back to our community.   

• Students enrolled in a four-year program will receive up to $15,000 a year, for a total of up to $60,000 over four years.  

• Students enrolled in a 2-year associate degree program will receive up to $5,000 per year for a total of up to $10,000 over two years. 

Click here to learn more about the specific eligibility requirements for the Houston Opportunity Scholarship.

Volunteers at the Core 

Each year, we recruit volunteers to serve on our Scholarship Review Committee and help review scholarships. The Committee is vital because the IRS requires that scholarship donors cannot represent a majority when reviewing scholarship applications. After the Committee reviews applications, the Community Foundation’s Scholarships Team scores and ranks applications to select winners based on the established scoring rubrics for each scholarship fund. In the spring of 2025, we had 240 volunteers dedicated to supporting education and empowering students to review applications! 

Fueling Futures: Sarah & J.C. Howell 

This exciting launch of the Houston Opportunity Scholarship would not have been possible without the extraordinary generosity of Sarah and J.C. Howell. Their steadfast belief in the power of education has been the driving force behind this new avenue for collaborative giving. Thanks to their visionary support, the Scholarship now rests on a solid foundation for long-term sustainability.  

In 2026, the Howells’ funding will give special consideration to students pursuing careers in education or medicine—including nursing, pre-med, and two-year programs in fields such as phlebotomy or radiography—helping to equip the next generation of professionals who will serve and uplift our communities. 

When we asked them why they give preference to students pursuing careers in education or medicine, J.C. shared, “Lack of education can be a huge social barrier, and these professions can often be overlooked. Therefore, getting younger students who are studying education or medicine, getting those younger people interested in these fields, is important.” Sarah added, “Whether it is a four-year degree or an associate degree, education is a door opener. If you teach people a trade, then they have the opportunity to have a sustainable livelihood. Hopefully, these students can all do well and will prosper.” 

We asked the Howells where their motivation for supporting the Houston Opportunity Scholarship came from. Sarah shared, “We were thinking about setting up our own scholarship fund. The Community Foundation team recommended that we fund the Houston Opportunity Scholarship at a level where we would have a say in which fields of study we consider critical. In this way, we can test and refine what our personal scholarship funding goals are, gain an understanding of the scholarship landscape, and put all the big ideas out on the table before we pen them down and figure out the focus of our own potential scholarship fund.” 

J.C. continued by saying, “The timing was right. Sarah and I have spent several years working to understand how we can best impact our community and where to focus our philanthropic efforts. Supporting the Houston Opportunity Scholarship enables us to learn more about what our long-term plans could be. Additionally, we are not experts; we have no previous experience or knowledge of implementing a scholarship program, so this process has been incredibly educational for us.”  

When you speak with the Howells about their philanthropic journey, one thing becomes clear: their giving is rooted in humility, not a desire for recognition. Sarah closed our conversation with, “You can’t take it with you, but think about what greatness you can leave behind.”  While their generosity may be quiet, its ripple effect is profound. 

Giving That Reflects Values: What Donors Need to Know 

At the Community Foundation, we believe philanthropy is deeply personal. As a supporter of the Houston Opportunity Scholarship, you can give in a way that works best for you—we welcome gifts of any size, including a variety of noncash assets.  

As a supporter of the Houston Opportunity Scholarship, you have the freedom to choose how your gift makes an impact: 

• Endowed gifts provide long-term, sustainable support by preserving the principal and distributing a portion annually, ensuring your legacy endures for generations. 

• Non-endowed gifts offer immediate flexibility, allowing the full amount to be used right away to support students in need. 

Whether you choose an endowed, non-endowed, or blended approach, your gift reflects your unique values and vision. Both options offer meaningful benefits—for the students in our region whose lives you’ll change and for you as a philanthropist. 

Support the Houston Opportunity Scholarship 

Supporting the Houston Opportunity Scholarship is a powerful, streamlined way to invest in the next generation of leaders. As we launch this initiative, we invite you to join us—whether by donating or spreading the word. Together, we can open doors to education, expand opportunity, and create lasting change in our community. 

While scholarships are an incredible way to make an impact, they are just the tip of the iceberg in philanthropy. Whether you’re looking to support education through scholarships, contribute to a donor advised fund, or further integrate your charitable giving and financial planning, the Community Foundation is here for you. Contact one of our philanthropic advisors at 713-333-2210 or reach out directly to our Scholarships Manager, Courtney Grymonprez, to get started. 

More Helpful Articles by Greater Houston Community Foundation 

• Supporting Education: A Guide to Scholarships for Donors
• Aunt E’s Radical Generosity
• Building Futures: Harris County’s Historic Investment in Early Childhood

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