About the JPD Foundation

The JPD Foundation is a not for profit 501 (c) (3) organization and the first Foundation to focus its energy on the educational needs of the Dominican community--the largest, and one of the poorest, immigrant groups in New York City. Centered in Washington Heights, the Foundation accepts applications for assistance from Dominican and Latino applicants throughout the New York City metropolitan area. JPD Foundation grantees are English Language Learners and former English Language Learners from low-income families. They are usually the first in their family to complete high school and the first to apply to college.

While JPD Foundation’s grantees need financial aid, they also need logistical, guidance, and technical support in applying and getting accepted to college. Once in college, grantees continue to need financial, academic, and mentoring support to overcome the obstacles to graduation, obstacles summarized by the Pew Foundation in its 2002 report, Latinos in Higher Education: Many Enroll, Too Few Graduate.

The JPD Foundation supports high school and college students’ educational success through customized assistance and through the establishment of mutually responsible relationships between the Foundation and grantees.  The Foundation provides academic and test prep support, financial aid, and application assistance. As needed, the Foundation supports participation in international exchange and other high school enhancement programs that are often beyond the reach of low-income students.  The Foundation follows through with individualized guidance and mentoring support throughout students’ college careers.  In turn, students are expected to contribute to the community to the best of their ability through sharing their skills and knowledge with others.

The Foundation’s community origins have contributed to an organizational culture that responds flexibly to students’ individual needs and that seeks to meet financial aid needs and also to provide technical assistance and counseling/mentoring support. This flexibility and focus on customized support help to differentiate the Foundation from other scholarship programs.

The JPD Foundation has deep roots in the Dominican community; these roots help to make it unique. The linkage between the Carnaval/Festival and the scholarship program is a key Foundation strength. Based in a predominantly poor community that lacks a tradition of large-scale individual philanthropy, the Foundation generates funds through the Carnaval/Festival, a 20 block community activity attracting thousands of people. The Foundation has been able to appeal to the marketing departments of large corporations who seek access to the growing Dominican market. Corporations such as Con Ed, Western Union, Washington Mutual, and American Airlines have made cash or in-kind contributions or have purchased participation for parade floats. In this way, the Foundation has the potential to harness the Dominican community’s growing economic importance to the task of strengthening the community’s educational development.