PHOTO CREDIT: Cristo Rey NY High School
Education
We support students who have talent and determination but whose opportunity to excel is limited because of their economic circumstances.
One way we provide this support is through scholarships, which to date have been to attend Catholic schools. In addition to scholarships, we have made grants to organizations that help students to access and graduate from college, and other programs that create opportunities. We also have emergency cash grant programs at colleges to help students stay in school in a time of need. Read more about our emergency cash grant programs.
“Access to a quality education is not automatic for people in our society. Somebody has to help. What I want to do is help young people who have the capacity, have the commitment, and are willing to work hard, but the hurdle is they are consigned to a poor performing school and cannot escape without financial resources their families cannot afford.” - LOUIS V. GERSTNER, JR.
Featured Grantee
Seton Education Partners
In response to the closures of many Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of New York, Seton founded Brilla Public Charter Schools, a network of high-performing charter schools, leveraging innovative instructional practices to expand opportunities for families in underserved communities, and offering an after-school faith formation program. Gerstner Philanthropies provided support to expand the Brilla network through multiple grants to open two elementary schools and a middle school in the Bronx. Despite challenges from the pandemic, Brilla was able to open the two new elementary schools in August 2020 and welcomed 200 kindergartners for in-person learning. Most recently, Gerstner Philanthropies awarded $1,000,000 to support the renovation of the St. Pius building, with improvements aimed at better serving students and promoting a stronger sense of community at Brilla College Preparatory School. To learn more about Seton Education Partners, please visit setonpartners.org, and to learn more about the Brilla Charter Schools network, please visit brillaschools.org.
Our Grantees
Major Education Grants
Grants listed below may be from the Gerstner Family Foundation or another Gerstner family philanthropic vehicle. Amounts may reflect cumulative annual grants or multi-year grants. To see annual amounts, please see listings of grants paid each year.
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Chaminade High School
Mineola, NY | Visit Website
To support the Access-for-All Program.
$ 5,000,000
To support the science, technology, and research center.
$1,000,000
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Diocese of Palm Beach Schools
Palm Beach, FL | Visit Website
To fund the Gerstner High School Scholars program.
$ 4,680,000
To establish the Gerstner Junior Scholarships at St. Luke’s Elementary School.
$250,000
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Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School
Brooklyn, NY | Visit Website
To support the Gerstner Summer Scholars Program.
$ 910,000
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The Partnership for Inner-City Education
New York, NY | Visit Website
To provide scholarships and support programs at New York Partnership Schools.
$ 5,160,000
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Cristo Rey New York High School
New York, NY | Visit Website
To support the Gerstner Summer Scholars Program
$ 1,100,000
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Seton Education Partners
New York, NY | Visit Website
To support the capital needs for Brilla Charter School expansion.
$ 2,000,000
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Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH | Visit Website
To establish the Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Scholars Program.
$ 4,800,000
To establish the Louis V. Gerstner Jr. 1963 Scholarship Fund.
$562,511
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