Programs & Services

The Black Student Fund offers an array of services to ensure that a student’s academic and social experience at an independent school is a positive one. These programs and services target not only the scholars, but also includes families, educators and academic institutions.

BSF Institute for Equity, Race & Education

The Institute for Equity, Race and Education (ERE) was created in 1994 to broaden the cross-racial communication skills of independent school educators and enhance their ability to become role models for their Black scholars. Specifically, the goal of the ERE is to help participants to develop the ability to interact comfortably with scholars and their families whose backgrounds vary from their own.

Essential Support Services and Crisis Intervention Program

Academic achievement for Black scholars in independent school environments is the core of the BSF value system. For the purpose of diverting distractions that can impede academic achievement, the BSF established the Essential Support Services program in 1982. This program provides for such services as individual and family counseling, professional tutors and ongoing academic and personal mentoring for the student and his or her family. Additionally, in times of crisis, the BSF provides gift cards to families in need of food, clothing, and school supplies. Direct payments are made to providers when necessary for rent, utilities, medical care and other critical needs.

The Art of Choosing the Right School: Independent School Recruitment and Referral Program

The BSF Independent School Recruitment and Referral Program focuses on increasing the enrollment of Black scholars at independent schools. To this end, we provide educational recommendations and assistance with applications procedures through a series of workshops and individual counseling.

Summer Programs

BSF Summer Enrichment Programs offer scholars academic and recreational opportunities by sponsoring enrollment to residential and day camps in the Washington DC metropolitan area and nearby states.

Scholarship Program

The Black Student Fund awards tuition scholarships, in conjunction with our Member Schools, to black children of modest financial means attending academically challenging institutions, grades pre-kindergarten through 12. Scholarship decisions are based on the family’s financial need, the academic promise of the student and our available funds.

To protect the privacy of our students, Black Student Fund scholarships are not available to students who receive grants from organizations that do not have a written non-disclosure policy. The Black Student Fund values the privilege of helping, and maintains certain practices and policies to insure the integrity of the giving process. Disclosure of one’s financial need undermines any chance of attaining equitable status. It worsens the already unleveled playing field, hampers self-esteem development, violates confidentiality and serves no useful purpose for the students.

The Black Student Fund and the Member Schools maintain the confidentiality of BSF Scholars and their grant amounts. The Fund does not support the use of student grant recipients for fundraising purposes or as research subjects.