Descendant Scholarships

Education remains one of the most powerful tools to disrupt cycles of injustice. For Descendants of Jesuit slaveholding, access to higher education is more than a personal milestone — it is a step toward generational repair.

Through the DTRF Scholarship Program, in partnership with Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the Foundation has awarded more than $579,000 in scholarships to more than 40 students across multiple institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other post-secondary programs.

The program provides students with need-based scholarships of up to $10,000 per year. It supports not only Descendants, but also their spouses and children — recognizing that educational equity must reach across generations and encompass whole families.

Our scholarship program affirms what this Foundation believes at its core: that the Descendants of those once denied opportunity should now be met with support, investment, and belief. Each award is more than financial aid — it is a symbol of progress, a commitment to human dignity, and a pathway to a future where every person is valued for their inherent worth.