A Case Study in Developing and Managing New Programs 
In Support of a Client’s Unique Philanthropic Interests

The mission of the Brewster West Foundation is to empower girls and women to achieve their full potential.  The visionary client who established the foundation asked Kramer, Blum and Associates, Inc. (KBA) to launch a college scholarship program to support girls from middle class families.  What’s more, this client expressed an interest in supporting girls who are high-integrity individuals who demonstrate potential but whose GPAs exclude them from merit-based scholarships.  

In 2018, KBA approached the superintendent of Marin County schools and asked the Marin County Office of Education (MCOE) to partner with the Brewster West Foundation in piloting this unique scholarship program.  In conjunction with MCOE, four high schools were identified to participate in the pilot program, and a steering committee comprised of a teacher and guidance counselor from each high school was assembled.  

Facilitated by KBA, the steering committee met several times and provided invaluable insight into shaping the eligibility criteria for the scholarship.  The Foundation would use the same income criteria that the California Student Aid Commission uses in administering the Middle Class Scholarship for students who attend University of California and California State University campuses.  To identify students who work hard and demonstrate potential, students would be nominated by a teacher, coach, counselor, or school administrator.  Finally, eligible students would have a weighted GPA for 9th – 11th grades between 2.5 and 3.75 (to be confirmed by counselors).

In 2019 KBA worked in concert with members of the steering committee to implement the program.  Steering committee members informed their colleagues of the new scholarship and solicited nominations.  Counselors confirmed the GPAs of nominated students while KBA confirmed the nominated students’ income eligibility.  Candidates meeting both criteria completed applications that were reviewed by committee members, who selected two students from each of the four schools as finalists.  The steering committee interviewed 8 finalists over two days and selected four scholarship winners in spring of 2020.

Scholarship winners each received $7,500 scholarships, renewable up to three years pending demonstrated progress toward their undergraduate degrees.  All four initial awardees completed their first year of college with flying colors and were awarded continued support.  New scholarships were not awarded in 2021 due to the pandemic, but the Brewster West Foundation awarded four new scholarships in 2022 and four more in 2023, and the foundation plans to continue the program in perpetuity.

The Brewster West Foundation provides much needed support to students who would otherwise not be eligible for federal grant programs or competitive merit-based scholarships.  With college debt averaging nearly $30,000, the girls’ scholarship program meets an important need and carries out the Foundation’s mission of helping girls and women to achieve their full potential.  As the Foundation supports additional students each year, its impact will only grow over time.