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Scholarships and Economic Mobility  

May 22, 2025

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Greater Houston Community Foundation hosted a group of partners and fundholders at an Advancing Impact Breakfast discussing best practices for scholarships and how they can be a critical tool in helping students achieve economic mobility. Why does economic mobility matter and how do scholarships boost economic mobility? Continue reading to learn more.  

Table of Contents 

What Do We Mean by Economic Mobility? 

Chelsea Cheung, Senior Manager of Data Analytics at Greater Houston Community Foundation (Foundation) kicked off the session, sharing data from Understanding Houston. Thisstrategic initiative, led by the Foundation, is a regional data indicators initiative that provides county-level data for the three most populous counties in our region. Launched in partnership with Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, the website provides data analysis and visualizations for hundreds of quality-of-life indicators for Houston, allowing us all to measure what matters to do what matters—building a more vibrant Houston region with opportunity for all. 

Higher education can be a powerful driver of economic mobility, and scholarships play a key role in making higher education accessible and attainable for many. Cheung started by grounding everyone in a shared definition of economic mobility. At its core, economic mobility is whether one moves up the income ladder over their lifetime and across generations, and is a cornerstone of the American Dream—the opportunity to achieve more based on your merit alone and independent of your circumstances. But for too many, that dream is slipping out of reach. Rates of absolute economic mobility, if a child is earning a higher income compared to their parents while adjusting for inflation, have seen a sharp decline in the last few decades. Today, only 50% of America’s children will earn more than their parents.  

Opportunity in Houston 

Groundbreaking research from Opportunity Insights reveals how economic mobility is shifting across the country—and how Houston compares. So, are kids from low-income families in our region earning more as adults?  The good news, Cheung shared, is that among the 50 largest metro areas, Houston ranks 11th in improvement for children from low-income families. Nationally, mobility rates for low-income children decreased by 4.2%, but in Houston, we saw a 1.1% improvement! However, there is a catch—that 1.1% improvement occurred over 15 years and amounts to just a $350 increase in annual income. While that progress is worth celebrating, it’s far from transformational. So, how can we more meaningfully improve economic mobility?  

Economic mobility

What is higher education’s role in a more economically mobile Houston region? 

Some type of education beyond high school is becoming more and more necessary for financial security and economic mobility. It is estimated that by 2036, more than 70% of jobs in Texas will require a postsecondary credential. Looking at the top 20 occupations that employ individuals in the Houston area, it shows that only 25% of these jobs required a higher education in 2022. By 2030, that number is expected to double to 50%, showing a major shift in the region’s job market. Cheung reiterated that this changing landscape is not unique to Houston, but is apparent across America.1

Along with securing employment, some other personal benefits of higher education include: 

  • Increased earning potential 
  • Lower rates of unemployment 
  • Improved economic mobility 
  • Healthier life outcomes 

Many benefits of higher education expand beyond the individual to the collective well-being of their families and our community. Cheung shared that research has shown adults with stable, well-paying jobs are less likely to rely on public assistance and interact with the criminal legal system and tend to be healthier and more civically engaged. Regions that are home to highly skilled and educated workers attract and keep employers that provide good jobs, which attracts additional skilled workers, fueling the cycle. Earning a college degree not only changes one’s life, it can change the trajectory of an entire family for generations as children whose parents obtain a Bachelor’s degree are 44 percentage points more likely to obtain one themselves compared to children whose parents do not have a four-year postsecondary degree.  

Barriers to Post-Secondary Attainment 

Although more people now believe that further education beyond high school is important, and most high school students plan to go to college, the reality is different. If we follow a group of eighth-grade students in our area, only half enrolled in college later on. Even fewer—less than a quarter—earned a college degree or credential by age 25. Why do we see such a large aspiration-attainment gap for higher education? Why are so few students going to college and even fewer completing?   

Cost

Cost can be a major deterrent for many people to enroll in and persist through college, and scholarships can play a role in removing this barrier. Cheung shared a 2025 survey that found that for adults without a college degree, better financial support is the top reason they’d consider enrolling. An increase in their personal income was the most cited reason, followed by receiving financial aid or scholarships. 

However, about $100 million in scholarships go unclaimed each year, largely because many students don’t know what is available or believe they do not qualify. Also, many believe that scholarships are only for top students with exceptional grades or abilities. Amongst the students surveyed who left college, cost was cited as the top reason for unenrolling followed by emotional stress and mental health, with three out of five saying their emotional distress was caused by school-related finances. The thought of student debt can be overwhelming, especially without a degree to show for it, and the fear of taking on that burden keeps many from enrolling in the first place.  

Need for Guidance Through Uncertainty

However, it’s not just about money. A study by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation found that many students who delay or leave college are also grappling with uncertainty. They’re unsure of their options, best next steps, and how to navigate the system. In fact, nearly half of Gen Z youth say they don’t have enough information to make informed plans for their postsecondary education. Beyond financial help, students need social support and capital—mentors, family, or friends who can help them navigate choices and systems. This kind of guidance, often based on personal experience, can make all the difference. And without it, many students are left trying to figure it out alone.  

Cheung shared that a 2023 survey found that over half of students said completing a college application was the most stressful thing they had done in their academic careers up to that point. The top challenges students reported facing were deciding where to apply and managing the application process. Most turned to parents or guardians for help, followed by counselors and teachers. Cheung also highlighted that in our region, there simply aren’t enough counselors to support every student through this critical step. Experts recommend one counselor for every 250 students, but no county in our region meets that. In Fort Bend County, the ratio is nearly double the recommended ratio, with just one counselor for every 484 students.2

Undermatching

Undermatching in higher education occurs when academically qualified students, often from low-income or underrepresented backgrounds, enroll in colleges that are less selective than those to which they are academically eligible. Undermatching can lead to wasted potential for these students, as they may become disengaged and underperform if they are unable to fully utilize their abilities or benefit from the resources and support offered at these more rigorous and well-resourced institutions. A recent study found that undermatched students are half as likely to graduate on time from a four-year degree program as non-undermatched students.  

Undermatching typically happens due to:  

  • Information gaps about college options, financial aid, and application processes. Without proper guidance, students may not apply to selective institutions that match their abilities.  
  • A lack of social capital can make it harder for students without mentors or family members who understand the college process to apply to and attend more selective schools.  
  • Geographical constraints can make it so that students, especially those from underserved areas, have limited exposure to select colleges and lack the resources to explore distant institutions.  
  • Psychological barriers can leave students with a sense of impostor syndrome or fear of not fitting in, deterring them from applying to selective colleges, even when they are academically qualified.  
  • Students can misunderstand the true cost of attending selective colleges, especially if they are unaware of all the financial aid available to them  

When low- and high-income students go to the same university, they tend to earn similar incomes after graduation. In other words, the college you attend can level the playing field—and dramatically boost economic mobility.  

How can scholarships help?  

Barriers like a lack of financial resources and social capital hit low-income and first-generation students the hardest. But imagine the potential we could unlock by removing those barriers!  Scholarships can significantly make college more accessible for many students and help alleviate the financial stress associated with higher education. Federal Pell Grant Recipients, most from households earning under $50,000 a year, face an average $10,000 gap each year between college costs and available aid. Filling that gap can change a student’s path.  

Additionally, offering mentorship and guidance can help students fully understand their options, navigate the college admissions process, and provide them with invaluable support in college to help them succeed. It can also help build confidence, reinforcing their sense of belonging at the nation’s most esteemed and well-supported universities. With both the financial backing and the social support, we can help ensure students not only get in but thrive, unlocking talent that too often goes untapped simply because of cost or lack of connections.  

Scholarships at Greater Houston Community Foundation 

The Foundation’s Scholarship Manager, Courtney Grymonprez, emphasized the vital role of the Scholarships Team in partnering with donors to design and administer impactful scholarship programs that empower students to pursue higher education. This dedicated team works with our scholarship fundholders through every step of the process, ensuring that the scholarship program adheres to IRS Guidelines. From building the applications, scoring rubrics, to promoting the scholarships and providing updates to the donors, the Scholarships team administers the process from start to finish, bringing ‘big ideas’ into reality.  

In 2024, the Foundation’s scholarship donors awarded $5.9 million to over 1,000 students. This brings the total amount awarded through the Foundation’s scholarship program since its inception in 1997 to over $38 million! In recent years, the Foundation has consistently seen about six new scholarship funds launched each year, achieving record-breaking milestones in dollars distributed and, most importantly, the number of students positively impacted. 

Here is an overview of the types of scholarships we administer at the Foundation:  

  • Scholarships for students at all educational levels, including trade schools, undergraduate, graduate, and private high schools. 
  • Awards are available for corporate or country club employees and their dependents. 
  • Corporate community scholarships that serve students graduating from high schools in the communities where companies operate. 
  • National corporate scholarships are offered by large companies to students from across the country. 
  • Scholarships are established by individuals, families, non-profit organizations, and professional associations. 
  • Programs focused on students from specific high schools or districts. 
  • Scholarships are targeted at students pursuing particular college programs or majors. 

How to Make a Scholarship More Impactful 

At the Foundation, we are implementing best scholarship practices to ensure our donors create programs that are truly impactful. Drawing from our work with scholarship fundholders, we have identified several key best practices that contribute to their success: 

  • Understand your applicant pool. Make sure your ‘big idea’ is applicable or makes sense for the students that you aim to serve.  
  • Consider increasing your scholarship award amount. Tuition and other expenses increase on an annual basis, so small, incremental increases annually can go a long way! Scholarship awards can be increased in the award amounts, increased in the number of years the award is offered, or by increasing the number of awards given—even if it’s just one more student! 
  • Make your scholarships renewable. A renewable scholarship guarantees students multiple years of funding as long as they maintain their GPA and enrollment. This can be life-changing, allowing students to focus on their academic goals, rather than searching for funding annually.  
  • Allow students to reapply. If making your scholarship renewable is not an option, allowing students to reapply each year can still provide students with the opportunity for multiple years of funding.  
  • Offer scholarship applications in multiple languages. At the Foundation, all scholarship fundholders have the option to offer their applications in Spanish to make it more accessible for scholarship applicants. This also allows parents to be able to read and understand the application.  
  • Update your scoring rubric often. Consider combining the resume section or reworking the extracurricular questions to let students share more about family responsibilities. 

Click here to continue reading more about scholarships at Greater Houston Community Foundation.

Re-Launch of the Greater Houston Community Foundation Community Scholarship 

The Foundation is delighted to announce that this scholarship will be relaunched in 2026! The scholarship has already received $800,000 from several generous donors, including $500,000 allocated to support the 2026 scholarship recipients. The Foundation’s scholarship criteria are designed to support students who demonstrate dedication, need, and community involvement. The scholarship will be available to graduating high school seniors from public high schools in the Greater Houston area, specifically in Fort Bend, Montgomery, or Harris County. To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria: 

  • Be a first-generation college student (neither parent holds a college degree) 
  • Demonstrate financial need 
  • Have a history of community service 
  • Plan to attend a public college, vocational school, or university in Houston  

For more information on how to get involved with the Foundation’s Community Scholarship, contact Courtney Grymonprez, Scholarships Manager. 

Greater Houston Community Foundation Scholarships and economic mobility event

Jay Sears: Always Do Good Scholarship 

Following the exciting announcement, Grymonprez introduced our two panelists, both equally passionate about helping students achieve their higher education. Jay Sears is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of NewQuest as well as a scholarship fundholder at the Foundation. His scholarship program, the Always Do Good Scholarship, initially started when his partner, Chau Nguyen, was invited to give the class of 2022 commencement speech at Liberty High School. Before her speech, Jay and Chau were asking each other, “what could we do to really impact these kids?” Knowing that Liberty High School is one of the only schools in Texas that offers high school programming for newly arrived immigrant students—many of whom balance full-time work and family responsibilities—Jay wanted to do something that could transform their post-high school trajectories and open educational opportunities they otherwise would not have had.  

At the end of Chau’s speech, she announced that an anonymous donor pledged to cover college tuition and textbooks for Liberty High School’s most recent graduates as they pursue their higher education goals. Simultaneously, Jay also learned about Eight Million Stories, a local nonprofit that works to transform the lives of disconnected and vulnerable youth through education, skills training, employment, and authentic relationships. Students of Eight Million Stories’ program also become eligible for the Always Do Good Scholarship.  

Sears shared how the development of their ‘big idea’ all happened quickly, and after Chau made her announcement to the Liberty High School graduates, his first call was to Greater Houston Community Foundation. Sears stated, “I called the Foundation to see how we could make this happen. I knew the Foundation would figure out how to put it all together to honor this commitment.”  

Jay talked about how the class of 2022 was kind of a pilot, and it was set up as a promise scholarship, which guarantees that all students who qualify for the scholarship will receive funding. Promise scholarships can be partnerships between a philanthropist or businesses that fund in-state public college tuition for local high school graduates, with a unique focus on early awareness so students understand eligibility and benefits well before applying for a higher education degree.  

After going through one scholarship cycle, Sears quickly learned about the “summer melt.” In 2023, they had about 66 recipients for their scholarship, but only 28 of the recipients took advantage of this opportunity, leaving a lot of funds on the table. He highlighted that when something is free and has no cost, sometimes it is not valued as much. Since the scholarship was a promise scholarship guaranteed to all eligible applicants who applied, the schools encouraged all students to apply. However, for many these students, college was a far-off dream, even with tuition covered. These students chose to work to take care of their families and were not able to utilize the scholarship. Today, the Always Do Good Scholarship has restructured to be a more competitive scholarship program, awarding the funds only to recipients who are most likely to benefit from them. 

Sears emphasized that, as a philanthropist, it can often feel overwhelming to confront the magnitude of the challenges facing our community. However, he expressed gratitude for the vital support of the Foundation, which has been instrumental in enabling meaningful change. He also highlighted how scholarships serve as a highly effective tool—being ‘dummy-proof’—since they significantly increase the likelihood of student success, demonstrating that targeted interventions can lead to tangible, positive outcomes.  

Today, the Always Do Good Scholarship awards up to $12,000 per year for a 4-year degree and up to $4,000 per year for a 2-year degree, which is close to full tuition. Graduating seniors and previous recipients can apply for a competitive 1-year scholarship, and recipients can reapply for additional years of funding. To date, the Always Do Good Scholarship has awarded 84 scholarships to Liberty High School graduates and 16 scholarships to students from Eight Million Stories. Soon, the 2025 scholarship winners will be announced! 

Sears encouraged others to “Just get started. The Foundation has the platform to apply your resources and ideas and bring them to life. The Foundation does all the hard work; we just get to give the money away and see the results.” 

Click here to learn more about how the Always Do Good Fund started.

Raj Salhotra: Momentum Education 

Raj Salhotra, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Momentum Education, founded the nonprofit in 2020, chasing the question: Why is it that only 18% of low-income students go on to earn a living wage—defined as $42,000 a year?

The answer, as he discovered, lay in postsecondary education. Salhotra shared, “If you earn a postsecondary education, you are four times more likely to earn a living wage as compared to folks who only have a high school degree.” He also went on to say that less than half of high school graduates enroll in postsecondary education, and even fewer finish. That’s where Momentum Education steps in. 

Momentum Education’s vision is clear: To provide academic, career, and financial support to help first-generation, low-income students earn a post-secondary degree or certification and enter the workforce. Their ‘secret sauce’? Mentorship.  

Salhotra says it all starts in high school. Momentum Education places full-time advisors on partner campuses who support students with career exploration, college preparedness, and SAT readiness. After high school graduation, they stay connected to these students, helping to prevent the ‘summer melt,’ when over 30% of students drop off before starting college, according to Salhotra. 

Salhotra’s motivation comes from his personal experience working at Yes Prep Public Schools here in Houston. He loved teaching, but was eager to make a larger impact.  After completing law school, Salhotra founded Momentum Education, driven by his dedication to increase the current 18% of low-income students who go on to earn a living wage. 

Salhotra acknowledged that financial barriers remain the primary reason that students do not enroll in postsecondary education or drop out. However, he reiterated how money is only a part of the story, sharing that other factors that include trouble with navigating the campus, having a sense of belonging, understanding the resources available on campus, and re-taking high school courses if they did not get a college-ready score leading them to question why they are enrolled. To combat the non-financial barriers, Momentum Education pairs its students with three types of mentors:  

  1. Upper Classmen Mentors: For Freshmen and Sophomores, these mentors are the on-campus connection to help students connect to the on-campus resources they may need.  
  1. Career Success Mentors: For Juniors and Seniors, these mentors are young professionals who help students learn about internship and job opportunities and help with that process, like giving feedback on resumes.  
  1. Alumni Support Mentors: For postsecondary graduates, these mentors have quarterly coaching calls with recent graduates to ensure they are succeeding.  

Over the last five years, Momentum Education has supported over 1,000 students, with 88% of those students going on to earn a living wage. Their 2030 goal? To support 12,000 students in graduating and going on to earn a living wage. 

Watch this video to learn more about Valentina Silva, a student in the Momentum Education program.

Momentum Education relies on individuals, corporate partners, and foundations to fund their work, as well as partners in HISD and other school districts in Texas. Salhotra’s closing thoughts were, “If we can do this in Houston, we can scale to other regions. But it’ll take collaboration. That’s the key to helping every student earn a living wage.” Encouraging our partners and fundholders in the room to please try to encourage collaboration amongst other organizations, wherever or however they help. 

Greater Houston Community Foundation is Ready 

Ready to make a meaningful difference? At Greater Houston Community Foundation, we believe in the power of education to transform lives. Whether you’re passionate about launching a scholarship fund or contributing to the Greater Houston Community Foundation’s Community Scholarship, your generosity can open doors and create lasting change.

By partnering with us, you’ll receive expert guidance every step of the way—and together, we’ll invest in the potential of future generations. Reach out to Courtney Grymonprez to discuss how you can begin your journey of giving. Join us in building a brighter future through education.  

More Helpful Articles by Greater Houston Community Foundation 

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