About Morgan Stanley Foundation
The Morgan Stanley Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on post-secondary access, career attainment, and diversity/equity initiatives for low-income and first-generation college students, often funding programmatic scholarship pipelines and career-development partnerships. Grants are directed to national intermediaries and university-affiliated replication efforts that build college completion and workforce placement capacity, with a clear emphasis on supporting students of color, immigrant and Indigenous scholars, and career-readiness programs. The foundation favors organizations that combine mentoring, near-peer coaching, and employer connections to close employment gaps for underrepresented graduates.
Focus Areas
College access and completion programs for first-generation and low-income students (e.g., CUNY ASAP replication)Career-readiness and employment pipelines for undergraduates and recent graduates (e.g., Sponsorships for Employment, internship-to-job conversion)Diversity-focused scholarship and leadership programs for students of color and immigrant communities (e.g., Hispanic Federation scholarships, Prep for Prep)Near-peer mentoring and coaching organizations that scale college-to-career outcomes (e.g., iMentor, Braven)Tribal scholarship support and targeted funding for Indigenous college students
About Morgan Stanley Foundation
Morgan Stanley Foundation’s largest recent grant in the file is a $1,096,000 award to Sponsors for Educational Opportunity, tied to diversity scholarships. That grant fits a broader pattern of funding college access, completion, and career attainment for low-income and first-generation students, especially students of color and immigrant communities. The foundation’s recent awards also show repeated support for organizations that connect academic support with workforce outcomes, including mentoring, coaching, internship-to-job transitions, and employer-linked preparation. Several grants point to a strong preference for intermediaries and university-affiliated models that can be replicated or expanded. The Research Foundation of the City University of New York received multiple awards tied to CUNY ASAP, including a $448,500 grant for career development enhancements and national replication capacity building. Braven Incorporated received $500,000 for the Morgan Stanley Institute for Inclusion – Braven Growth Project, and iMentor Incorporated received $360,000 for the Institute for Inclusion Education and Career Attainment Initiative. Across the recent record, the foundation backs organizations that serve underrepresented students through structured pathways rather than one-time aid alone.
What Morgan Stanley Foundation Funds
College access and completion is central to the foundation’s giving. It awarded $908,500 to College Possible National for expanding community college success, and $841,000 to The Research Foundation of the City University of New York for CUNY ASAP under diversity scholarships. Career pathways are another clear focus. Sponsors for Educational Opportunity received $492,000 for closing the employment gap for low-income college graduates, while A Better Chance Inc. received $300,000 for the Morgan Stanley Career Preparation Program. The foundation also supports scholarship and leadership pipelines for underrepresented students. Hispanic Federation Inc. received $500,000 for the Hispanic Federation Career Pathways Initiative, and Prep for Prep received $75,000 for undergraduate affairs supporting students of color pursuing higher education.
How Morgan Stanley Foundation Gives
Typical grant size is mid-six figures: the 25th percentile is $118,750, the median is $355,000, and the 75th percentile is $500,000. The recent record also includes smaller awards, including $25,000 grants to The New York Women’s Foundation and New York Womens Foundation. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Hispanic Federation Inc., Braven Incorporated, iMentor Incorporated, A Better Chance Inc., America Needs You, Prep for Prep, Sponsors for Educational Opportunity, and College Possible, which suggests recurring relationships rather than one-off gifts. The foundation is a regular corporate funder and does not fund individuals.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$120K
Total Assets
$15.8M
Total Revenue
$610K
Total Expenses
$130K
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $119K and $500K, with a median of $355K.
25th Percentile
$119K
Median
$355K
75th Percentile
$500K
Geographic Reach
Regional4 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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