Century Community Fund
The Century Community Fund (CCF) supports the neighborhoods where we work through impact-driven investments that help residents overcome barriers to securing housing and other opportunities that improve their well-being, including employment and education. Our signature program is the Century Education Opportunity (CEO) Scholarship Program.
Century Education Opportunity (CEO) Scholarship Program
Safe, secure, affordable housing has been shown to improve educational outcomes, giving first-generation, low-income students the opportunity to pursue higher education. To support these high achievers, and to inspire a new generation of housing professionals, CCF established the CEO Scholarship Program supporting students who have lived in affordable housing and/or are pursuing careers in housing or housing-related fields.
Since its inception, CCF has made individual grants of $30,000 to these organizations, which then awarded the scholarships to students in their communities:
- California Coalition for Rural Housing
- California State University Project Rebound
- Coalition for Responsible Community Development
- El Camino College
- Japanese Community Youth Council
- Larkin Street Youth Services
- LifeSTEPS
- Los Angeles Community College District
- Venice Community Housing
Success Stories
South LA Resident Embarks on New Career
Sandra was looking for work when she discovered the Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD), dedicated to empowering South LA residents. Through CRCD Enterprises, a licensed general contracting firm, she found a paid training opportunity in construction. To qualify, Sandra earned her high school diploma through CRCD Academy, graduating in 2023. Today, Sandra is raising her three children and working for a construction engineering company where she feels rewarded. CCF has provided financing for CRCD Enterprises and scholarships for CRCD Academy students like Sandra.
Student Receives Full Scholarship to Stanford University
Daisy is the daughter of farmworkers and the oldest of her siblings. Her family has endured many obstacles, including financial instability. A scholarship through CCF and the California Coalition for Rural Housing enabled Daisy to take financial literacy training and open her first bank account during high school. In 2023, she became the first in her family to attend a four-year college—on a full scholarship to study mathematics at Stanford University: “I can’t wait for the many adventures that [college] will bring and having my family along with me through the journey.”
Inspiring Futures Through Higher Education
Sergio experienced being incarcerated as a teenager in Orange County. Wanting to better his life, he committed himself to positive transformation, beginning with his education. Sergio joined California State University, Fullerton Project Rebound, a community-based program for formerly incarcerated students supported by the Century Community Fund. With a community backing him, Sergio flourished at CSUF and became a student leader. He majored in liberal studies and minored in Chicana/o studies. Later, Sergio earned his master’s degree at CSUF in higher education. According to Sergio, “This program embeds in students the desire to pay it forward and give back to their community.”
