Grants That Make a Difference
Every month, "Grants that Make a Difference" highlights grants given to Washington, DC area organizations that have helped make a difference in people's lives. "Grants That Make a Difference" profiles these important community success stories.
January 1, 2007
Grant amount: $1,570,000
Who got the grant:
Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools
709 12th Street, S.E.
Washington, DC 20003
Phone: 202/547-3975
Fax: 202/547-3449
Web site: http://www.cesarchavezhs.org/
Who gave the grant:
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
P.O. Box 23350
Seattle, WA 98102
Phone: 206/709-3100
Fax: 206/709-3180
E-mail: info@gatesfoundation.org
Web site: http://www.gatesfoundation.org
Impact:
The first César Chávez Public Charter School was founded in 1998 in response to lagging academic performance and exceedingly low high school graduation and college matriculation rates among DC public school students, especially among minority and low-income students. Founder Irasema Salcido wanted to provide inner-city students with a rigorous, high-quality education that would prepare them for college and inspire them to civic engagement.
The founding Chávez school has earned a strong reputation for its rigorous academic curriculum, unique public policy program, top-notch faculty, and comprehensive student support services, which together have ensured that 100% of graduating Chávez seniors have been accepted into at least one college or university. By 2003, the school took the first steps towards expansion, developing a vision of growth that would ultimately have Chávez serving some 3,000 District of Columbia students in grades 6 to 12.
In 2004, Chávez school opened its second campus – a combined middle and high school - and secured permanent, new facilities for both campuses. The new facilities opened their doors to 900 DC students in the fall of 2005. In just three years, Chávez has gone from a single high school serving 250 students in temporary facilities, to two permanent campuses providing a high-quality public education to nearly four times as many students.
Mission:
Chávez schools provide nurturing, safe learning environments where every student is expected to meet rigorous academic and personal behavior standards.
Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools intends to ensure that significantly more DC students have access to a high-quality education that prepares them for success in college and life; develop an ever-growing force of young leaders who have the skills and knowledge to create positive change in their communities and the world around them, and provide a model of replication and school network design for other successful schools to follow.
"Grants that Make a Difference" is a rotating
feature profiling grants awarded to 501(c)3 nonprofit
organizations in the Metropolitan Washington,
DC area ONLY (the grantmaker doesn't necessarily
have to be local). The selection of grants for
"Grants That Make a Difference" is based on criteria
such as programmatic interests, geographic focus,
and size, to ensure the broadest possible representation
of the region's nonprofit sector.
If you'd like to see a grant awarded to your NPO
featured here, e-mail a detailed description of
the grant (following the format below), to dclibrary@foundationcenter.org,
with "Grants Submission" in the subject line.
We welcome press releases in addition to, or as
a substitute for the description.
Here is what you need to include:
- Name of your funded program
- The amount of the grant (indicate if multi-year)
- Who received the grant - Your organization's name, contact person's name (if applicable), address, telephone and Web site (if applicable).
- Who gave the grant - Name of the grantmaker
- Community impact: A brief (250 words maximum) explanation of how this program is making a difference in the community.
- Your organization's mission and how it relates to this funded project.
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