HSF empowers students and parents with the knowledge and resources to successfully complete a higher education, while providing support services and scholarships to as many exceptional students, HSF Scholars, and Alumni as possible.
Hispanic Scholarship Fund centers its grantmaking on scholarships for students at a wide set of colleges and universities. The largest recent award in the data is $902,564 to Howard University in 2025 for scholarships for students, and the foundation also made seven-figure-scale scholarship commitments across institutions such as The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford University, The University of Texas at Austin, President and Fellows of Harvard College, and University of Southern California. The pattern points to a funder that uses institutional grants to move scholarship dollars directly to students rather than through project-based awards. Across the recent grants list, the same purpose text appears repeatedly: “to provide scholarships for students.” That consistency fits the organization’s stated mission of helping students and parents complete higher education and supporting HSF Scholars and alumni. The recipient list includes public and private universities, research institutions, and historically Black colleges, showing that the foundation works through many types of postsecondary partners. Leadership is listed under Fidel A. Vargas, and the foundation’s annual grantmaking is substantial at $45,171,145.
Scholarship support is the clearest theme. In 2025, Hispanic Scholarship Fund gave $774,943 to The University of Texas at Austin for scholarships for students and $720,573 to President and Fellows of Harvard College for the same purpose. Those grants show that the foundation routes student aid through partner institutions rather than making individual awards in the recent-grants record. College access and affordability also run through the grant list. The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford University received $826,307 in 2024 and $693,565 in 2025, both for scholarships for students. New York University received $602,881 in 2025, again for scholarships. The foundation’s support reaches a broad set of campuses, including University of Southern California, University of California Irvine, and Regents of the University of California, Berkeley. The repeated scholarship purpose suggests a focus on postsecondary tuition support rather than restricted program projects.
Typical grants fall in the middle five figures: the p25 size is $13,424, the median is $28,418, and the p75 is $67,569. The recent-grants list also shows much larger institutional awards, but the center of the distribution is modest relative to those outliers. The foundation appears to be a regular grantmaker rather than a DAF or private operating foundation, and it does not make grants to individuals directly. Recipients recur across years: Stanford, Columbia, Harvard, Howard, USC, New York University, Spelman College, and others appear more than once in the recent record. The active HSF Scholar Program is open to unsolicited applications and offers scholarship awards depending on available funds and participation.
$22.3M
$122.6M
$54.5M
$70.1M
Most grants fall between $13K and $68K, with a median of $28K.
25th Percentile
$13K
Median
$28K
75th Percentile
$68K
About 10% of grants go to recipients in IL.
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Grantmaking is national, and every grant in the recipient country distribution goes to the United States. The top state by grant count is Illinois, while California receives 10% of grants. Recent recipients include Washington, DC; Palo Alto and Los Angeles in California; Austin, Texas; New York, New York; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Atlanta, Georgia; and Evanston, Illinois. The pattern shows a broad campus-based network rather than a concentration in the foundation’s headquarters city of El Segundo.
Its recent grants are overwhelmingly for scholarships for students. The recent-grants list repeatedly uses that purpose text, and the active HSF Scholar Program provides scholar support services and scholarship awards tied to higher education, career services, mentorship, leadership development, and conference participation.
No. The foundation’s classification says it funds individuals: False, and the recent record shows institutional grants to universities and colleges rather than direct awards to people.
The typical grant size sits in the middle five figures, with p25 at $13,424, median at $28,418, and p75 at $67,569. The recent-grants list also includes much larger scholarship grants to universities.
Its giving is national across the United States, with Illinois as the top state by grant count and California receiving 10% of grants. Recent recipient cities include Los Angeles, Palo Alto, New York, Cambridge, Austin, Atlanta, and Washington, DC.
Yes. Several institutions appear more than once, including The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford University, Columbia University in the City of New York, President and Fellows of Harvard College, Howard University, University of Southern California, New York University, and Spelman College.
FIDEL A VARGAS
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOWARD UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $902,564 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN | AUSTIN, TX | $774,943 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $720,573 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $720,093 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $710,641 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD UNIVERSITY | PALO ALTO, CA | $693,565 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $667,921 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $602,881 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| SPELMAN COLLEGE | ATTA, GA | $574,436 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | ATLANTA, GA | $453,873 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE | IRVINE, CA | $437,314 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA | BERKELEY, CA | $424,459 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $414,504 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $387,853 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN - ANN ARBOR | ANN ARBOR, MI | $366,636 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| YALE UNIVERSITY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $345,958 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $312,389 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | DURHAM, NC | $302,999 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $286,703 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| BROWN UNIVERSITY | PROVIDENCE, RI | $274,925 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA | NORMAN, OK | $266,467 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| EMORY UNIVERSITY | ATLANTA, GA | $225,547 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY | STILLWATER, OK | $224,711 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $218,169 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY | MALIBU, CA | $213,338 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY INC | DAYTONA BEACH, FL | $203,700 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY | HOUSTON, TX | $193,713 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| CLEMSON UNIVERSITY | CLEMSON, SC | $188,910 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY | UNIVERSITY PARK, PA | $188,032 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA | ATHENS, GA | $186,580 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA | TUCSON, AZ | $165,174 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $157,121 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY | BATON ROUGE, LA | $149,167 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| NC A&T STATE UNIVERSITY | GREENSBORO, NC | $139,445 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY | TALLAHASSEE, FL | $139,236 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO | LA JOLLA, CA | $137,177 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| THE SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN INC | SAVANNAH, GA | $131,184 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $131,084 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA | GAINESVILLE, FL | $124,353 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY | TEMPE, AZ | $123,229 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES | GOLDEN, CO | $119,534 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY | COLUMBUS, OH | $119,471 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS | DAVIS, CA | $118,462 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY | ST LOUIS, MO | $117,519 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY | CORVALLIS, OR | $117,338 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| BAYLOR UNIVERSITY | WACO, TX | $113,893 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| MOREHOUSE COLLEGE | ATLANTA, GA | $109,910 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM | MADISON, WI | $109,269 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI | CORAL GABLES, FL | $108,334 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY | COLLEGE STATION, TX | $107,342 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
HOWARD UNIVERSITY
$902,564TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
$774,943TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
$720,573TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
$720,093TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
$710,641TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$693,565TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
$667,921TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
$602,881TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
SPELMAN COLLEGE
$574,436TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
$453,873TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE
$437,314TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
$424,459TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY
$414,504TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
$387,853TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN - ANN ARBOR
$366,636TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
YALE UNIVERSITY
$345,958TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
$312,389TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
DUKE UNIVERSITY
$302,999TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
$286,703TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
BROWN UNIVERSITY
$274,925TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
$266,467TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
EMORY UNIVERSITY
$225,547TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
$224,711TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
$218,169TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY
$213,338TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY INC
$203,700TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
$193,713TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
$188,910TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
$188,032TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
$186,580TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
$165,174TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
$157,121TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
$149,167TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
NC A&T STATE UNIVERSITY
$139,445TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY
$139,236TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO
$137,177TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
THE SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN INC
$131,184TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
$131,084TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
$124,353TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
$123,229TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES
$119,534TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
$119,471TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS
$118,462TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
$117,519TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
$117,338TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
$113,893TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE
$109,910TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM
$109,269TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
$108,334TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS
TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY
$107,342TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS