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Dreamscape Scholars Program

Kipp Foundation

Funding Amount

$50,000

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

Dreamscape Scholars Program

Overview: A scholarship program dedicated to ensuring Black representation within the most important tech startups and companies. Dreamscape Scholars are changemakers who receive mentorship, financial support, and networking opportunities.

Geographic Scope: Northern California, Southern California, and New York City

Funding Partner: Daversa Partners (technology's premier executive search firm)

Award Details:

  • Number of Scholars: 3 scholars selected

  • Financial Support:

  • - $12,500/year in stipends for critical expenses and/or last dollar tuition and room & board support
    - Total: $50,000 over four years ($8,333.33/year critical expenses + $4,166.67/year approximate summer internship earnings)

    Support Provided:

  • Annual paid summer internship with Dreamscape Team or partners every summer during college

  • One-on-one mentor from Dreamscape team supporting educational and professional pathways

  • Invitation to KIPP's Alumni Summit (registration and travel expenses covered)

  • Professional development and networking
  • Focus Areas:

  • Black representation in technology

  • Diversity in tech leadership

  • Community development and social impact
  • Ideal Candidate Qualities:

  • Academic Perseverance: Demonstrated growth in academic progress and investment in own learning

  • Personal Resilience: Ability to tell "victory" story and persevere despite odds

  • Leading Through Inspiration: School and extracurricular involvement showing compassion and service to communities

  • Bold Thinking & Innovative Problem-solving: Demonstrated through application exercises

  • Changemaker: Consistent desire to see their communities thrive
  • Status: Currently paused for 2022-23 school year

    Background: Daversa Partners launched Dreamscape in 2020 to address the lack of Black representation on boards and executive teams in technology. The program is built on the premise that the tech community has an access problem, not a pipeline problem, with a commitment to creating industry-wide equity and transformation.

    Eligibility:

  • Current KIPP High School seniors from Northern California, Southern California, or New York City

  • KIPP Middle School alumni in their high school senior year from the specified regions

  • Must be able to demonstrate the five ideal candidate qualities above
  • How to Apply

    Application Process

    Two-Part Application:

    Part 1: Initial Application

  • Required essay (150-200 words max): "Tell us about a time you experienced a personal win. What is your story of personal resilience and perseverance?"

  • Resume

  • Transcript

  • Recommendation letters (required)

  • Accepted file types: doc, docx, pdf
  • Part 2: Semi-Finalist Stage (if selected)

  • Virtual pitch presentation and presentation

  • Scholars present how they would use $150,000 to solve a current problem in their own communities

  • Semi-finalists notified via email during the week of March 14 (2022 timeline)

  • Pitch presentations held virtually
  • Selection Timeline:

  • Semi-finalist notification: Week of March 14 (2022)

  • Final selection following pitch presentations
  • Application Status: Currently paused (2022-23 school year)

    Note: The 2022 application is closed. Contact Jose Mazariegos at jmazariegos@kipp.org for questions about future application cycles.

    What Kipp Foundation actually gave

    Source: IRS Form 990-PF, 2024

    Grants in 2024
    29
    Total given
    $35.58M
    Median grant
    $775K
    Range
    $30K–$4.54M
    • By dollars: California 22%, New York 18%, Texas 9%. Top recipient cities: Newark, NJ; Los Angeles, CA; New York, NY.
    • 0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
    • 3% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.

    Example grants

    • Kipp Southern California Public Schools · Los Angeles, CA

      Academic one kipp initiatives, advocacy and community outreach, postsecondary nudge…

      $4.54M

    • Kipp Nyc Public Schools · New York, NY

      Academic one kipp initiatives, postsecondary collaborative, postsecondary career…

      $3.62M

    • Kipp Northern California Public Schools · Oakland, CA

      Academic one kipp initiatives, principal pipeline & development, executive director…

      $3.24M

    • Kipp Texas Public Schools · Houston, TX

      Academic one kipp initiatives, postsecondary career pathways, student recruitment…

      $3.03M

    • Kipp Capital Region Public Schools (Fka Albany) · Albany, NY

      Academic one kipp initiatives, principal pipeline & development, student recruitment…

      $2.62M

    IRS Form 990-PF, 2024. Amounts as reported by the funder. Full 990 history →

    Focus Areas & Funding Uses

    Fields of Work

    college-prepbipoc

    Categories

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