What kinds of organizations does Come to Believe Foundation fund?

It funds higher education institutions and nonprofit partners connected to college access, student retention, affordability, and model replication. Recent awards went to colleges such as College of Mount Saint Vincent, Butler University, and University of St Thomas, as well as Homeboy Industries for feasibility and operations work tied to the foundation’s college model.

What is the typical grant size?

The recent grant record centers on mid-sized awards: the 25th percentile is $17,500, the median is $30,000, and the 75th percentile is $30,000. Larger commitments appear as seed funding, including $539,000 and $500,000 awards in 2024.

Does the foundation fund the same organizations more than once?

Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including College of Mount Saint Vincent, Butler University, University of St Thomas, Loyola University Chicago, Homeboy Industries, and University of San Diego. That pattern suggests follow-on support as projects move from planning to implementation.

Which program accepts unsolicited applications?

The Design Grant accepts unsolicited applications. It is an annual design grant initiative for colleges and universities to explore the Come to Believe Network model over nine months, with $40,000 and customized support for feasibility assessment.

What are the main focus areas in the recent grants?

The recent record centers on higher education, college access, transfer pathways, student supports, affordability, and debt-free completion. Specific grant purposes include feasibility studies, innovation grants for measurable student outcomes, Santander Scholars support, pilot development, and general operations or event support.

Come to Believe Foundation

Name: Come to Believe Foundation — grants, 990 financials & funding data
Creator: Kindora

ActiveReligion-Related

NEW YORK, NYWebsite2129403832

About Come to Believe Foundation

We provide higher education institutions with an innovative, results-oriented two-year college model that is inclusive and accessible to students who are often underrepresented at selective universities.

Focus Areas

higher educationcollege accesstransfer pathwaysstudent supports (mental health, advising, basic needs)affordability and debt-free completionprogram design and replication

Who They Fund

college/university students (scholars)nonprofit organizations and institutional granteesprogram participants / event attendees

Funding Style

seed fundingfeasibility study grants

About Come to Believe Foundation

Come to Believe Foundation backs colleges and universities that are testing an inclusive, accessible two-year college model for students often underrepresented at selective universities. That strategy shows up in its largest recent commitments: $539,000 to College of Mount Saint Vincent in 2024 as seed funding, followed by $500,000 to Butler University for the same purpose. The foundation also returns to institutions with follow-on support, including a $100,000 Santander Scholars grant to College of Mount Saint Vincent in 2025 and a $50,000 innovation grant to Butler University in 2025. Its grantmaking is tied to program development, feasibility work, and student supports rather than broad unrestricted philanthropy. Recent awards include feasibility study grants for colleges exploring the Come to Believe Network model, plus funding for scholarship support, pilot programming, and organizational operations. The recipient list features a mix of Catholic and private universities, along with nonprofit partners such as Homeboy Industries, indicating that the foundation works across institutional and community settings when they align with its college-access and completion goals. Across the recent record, the pattern is not one-off experimentation alone: several grantees receive multiple awards across years as ideas move from planning to implementation.

What Come to Believe Foundation Funds

Higher education access is the clearest thread in the recent grants. Come to Believe Foundation gave $35,000 to The Catholic University for a feasibility study and $35,000 to Hollins University for the same purpose, both aimed at assessing whether the model can work on those campuses. Student outcomes also appear in the innovation portfolio. In 2025, the foundation gave $50,000 each to University of St Thomas, Loyola University Chicago, and Butler University for innovation grants tied to measurable improvement work. The foundation also supports scholarship and affordability efforts. It awarded $100,000 to College of Mount Saint Vincent for Santander Scholars, a grant category that fits its emphasis on student access and completion. In addition, several feasibility and operations grants went to institutions and nonprofits in California, including University of San Diego and Homeboy Industries, showing that the model extends beyond one kind of campus partner.

How Come to Believe Foundation Gives

Financial Snapshot

Annual Giving

$403K

Total Assets

$3.5M

Total Revenue

$2.2M

Total Expenses

$1.8M

Typical Grant Size

Most grants fall between $18K and $30K, with a median of $30K.

25th Percentile

$18K

Median

$30K

75th Percentile

$30K

Geographic Reach

National10 states funded

About 14% of grants go to recipients in CA.

Funding intensity

Low

High

Headquarters

Leadership

REV STEPHEN KATSOUROS SJ

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Recipient	Location	Amount	Year	Purpose
COLLEGE OF MOUNT SAINT VINCENT	BRONX, NY	$100,000	2025	SANTANDER SCHOLARS
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO	CHICAGO, IL	$50,000	2025	INNOVATION
BUTLER UNIVERSITY	INDIANAPOLIS, IN	$50,000	2025	INNOVATION
UNIVERSITY OF ST THOMAS	ST PAUL, MN	$50,000	2025	INNOVATION
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY	WASHINGTON, DC	$35,000	2025	FEASIBILITY STUDY
HOLLINS UNIVERSITY	ROANOKE, VA	$35,000	2025	FEASIBILITY STUDY
ST MARY'S COLLEGE	NOTRE DAME, IN	$17,500	2025	FEASIBILITY STUDY
UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT MERCY	DETROIT, MI	$17,500	2025	FEASIBILITY STUDY
UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO	SAN DIEGO, CA	$15,000	2025	FEASIBILITY STUDY
HOMEBOY INDUSTRIES	LOS ANGELES, CA	$12,000	2025	GENERAL OPS/EVENTS
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO	CHICAGO, IL	$11,000	2025	GENERAL OPERATIONS
UNIVERSITY OF ST THOMAS	ST PAUL, MN	$10,000	2025	GENERAL OPERATIONS
COLLEGE OF MOUNT SAINT VINCENT	BRONX, NY	$539,000	2024	SEED FUNDING
BUTLER UNIVERSITY	INDIANAPOLIS, IN	$500,000	2024	SEED FUNDING
MERCY COLLEGE	DOBBS FERRY, NY	$30,000	2024	FEASIBILITY STUDY
MOUNT SAINT MARY'S UNIVERITY	LOS ANGELES, CA	$30,000	2024	FEASIBILITY STUDY
COLLEGE OF MOUNT SAINT VINCENT	BRONX, NY	$30,000	2024	FEASIBILITY STUDY
BUTLER UNIVERSITY	INDIANAPOLIS, IN	$30,000	2024	FEASIBILITY STUDY
ST AMBROSE UNIVERSITY	DAVENPORT, IA	$30,000	2024	FEASIBILITY STUDY
CANISIUS UNIVERSITY	BUFFALO, NY	$30,000	2024	FEASIBILITY STUDY
HOMEBOY INDUSTRIES	LOS ANGELES, CA	$30,000	2024	FEASIBILITY STUDY
UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO	SAN DIEGO, CA	$30,000	2024	FEASIBILITY STUDY
THE UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND	PORTLAND, OR	$17,500	2024	FEASIBILITY STUDY
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC	STOCKTON, CA	$17,500	2024	FEASIBILITY STUDY
HOLY CROSS COLLEGE	NOTRE DAME, IN	$17,500	2024	FEASIBILITY STUDY
XAVIER UNIVERSITY	CINCINNATI, OH	$17,500	2024	FEASIBILITY STUDY

Come to Believe Foundation

About Come to Believe Foundation

Focus Areas

Who They Fund

Funding Style

About Come to Believe Foundation

What Come to Believe Foundation Funds

How Come to Believe Foundation Gives

Financial Snapshot

Typical Grant Size

Geographic Reach

Leadership

Deep Analysis

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Topics

Where Come to Believe Foundation Makes Grants

Frequently Asked Questions About Come to Believe Foundation

What kinds of organizations does Come to Believe Foundation fund?

What is the typical grant size?

Does the foundation fund the same organizations more than once?

Which program accepts unsolicited applications?

What are the main focus areas in the recent grants?

Open Grant Opportunities

Design Grant Opportunity for Colleges and Universities

Recent Grants

Come to Believe Foundation

About Come to Believe Foundation

Focus Areas

Who They Fund

Funding Style

About Come to Believe Foundation

What Come to Believe Foundation Funds

How Come to Believe Foundation Gives

Financial Snapshot

Typical Grant Size

Geographic Reach

Leadership

Unlock Deep Analysis

See Similar Funders

Explore related grant guides

Want a Personalized Pitch for Come to Believe Foundation?

The Grant Brief

Topics

Where Come to Believe Foundation Makes Grants

Frequently Asked Questions About Come to Believe Foundation

What kinds of organizations does Come to Believe Foundation fund?

What is the typical grant size?

Does the foundation fund the same organizations more than once?

Which program accepts unsolicited applications?

What are the main focus areas in the recent grants?

Open Grant Opportunities

Design Grant Opportunity for Colleges and Universities

Recent Grants