Our Mission
The Chao Family Foundation believes every person has a right to reach their full potential. We aim to lift the roadblocks and give them a fighting chance to work toward improving life for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Breaking Barriers to Higher Education
At the Chao Family Foundation, we believe higher education should be within reach for every student, not limited by income, family background, or life circumstance.
Through our scholarship programs and partnerships, we support young people who face systemic barriers across different ages and demographics, many of whom are low-income and first in their families to attend college. By opening doors to education, we help students pursue their goals and create lasting change for themselves, their families, and their communities.
To date, we’ve supported 600+ students, awarding over $1M in scholarships, each investment a step toward greater equity and opportunity.
600+ students supported.
$1M+ in scholarships awarded.
37% first in their family to attend college.
18+ years of scholarships across all programs.
“Receiving the Chao Family Foundation scholarship has been an incredible blessing in my college journey. It gave me the freedom to fully immerse myself in learning, and most importantly, this support reminded me that someone believed in my potential from day one.
As I graduate, I carry that encouragement with me into the next chapter, hoping to create tools that empower others, just as your generosity empowered me.”
—Andy H., UCLA Class of 2025
Chao Family Foundation Scholarship Program
The Chao Family Foundation Scholarship supports graduating seniors from Los Angeles and Orange County who plan to begin full-time undergraduate studies at a UC or CSU campus.
Each year, five students receive renewable awards of $4,000 (up to $16,000 total), helping to ease the financial burden so they can focus on their education and personal growth.
At its core, this scholarship exists to remove obstacles, open doors, and provide students with the support they need to step confidently into the next chapter of their lives.
“The Chao Family Foundation Scholarship is a huge help as I prepare to attend UC Riverside this fall. It’s not just financial support, it’s encouragement and a reminder that people believe in me and what I’m working toward. That means more than I can put into words.
Thank you for the work you do to support students and families like mine. Your mission to remove roadblocks and uplift communities truly makes a difference. I’m so proud and thankful to be part of that impact.”
—Sama A., UC Riverside
Beyond Scholarships: Supporting the Whole Journey
Scholarships open doors, but students often face systemic barriers beyond financial need. Across ages and demographics, they may need guidance, stability, and practical support to navigate complex educational landscapes.
That’s why we fund and collaborate with organizations that provide long-term, holistic support. Together with our scholarship and program partners, students have access to mentorship, academic guidance, college access support, life skills, and other resources, giving them the tools to succeed at every stage of their education.
Scholarship and Program Partners
The R&J Chao Scholarship/Fellowship Fund, established in 2007, is our longest-running scholarship and has supported over 150 engineering students to date. Alumni have gone on to build careers at companies such as Caterpillar, Honeywell, and General Motors, contributing to innovation across energy, manufacturing, and technology.
Through the Pearl Class program, we have partnered with Renewal Foundation to support more than 200 high school students in China since 2007. Support includes tuition, boarding, clothing, and basic necessities to reduce financial barriers to education.
In partnership with the Department of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering Education Foundation at NTUT, we established a scholarship fund in 2020. To date, nearly 200 students have received financial support to pursue engineering education.
Serving Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI), APCF has partnered with us since 2020 to deliver annual scholarship programs. Together, we provide direct financial assistance to students pursuing higher education.
A pioneer in adoption awareness and advocacy in Korea, MPAK supports family placement and long-term care for homeless children. Since 2018, we have provided general support that helps fund programs such as 1:1 tutoring for students from elementary through high school.
CARS is a cohort-based college pathway program for low income, underserved students in the Los Angeles area, most of whom are first-in-family college attendees. First funded in 2018, the program provides academic enrichment and college literacy across a five-year journey through students’ first year of college.
First Star supports youth impacted by the foster care system, addressing barriers such as disrupted schooling, housing instability, and limited adult support. Since 2024, we have supported their UCLA Bruin Guardian Scholars Academy (BGSA), alumni programming, and general operations to help students access and thrive in higher education.
A newer partner, Determined to Succeed provides individualized academic support, wellness services, family engagement, and college counseling for first-generation, low-income students. Their work centers on Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, a diverse school representing over 100 zip codes.
“Chao Family Foundation has played a critical role in enabling us to fulfill our mission of creating a college pathway for underserved students from low performing high schools. Whether it is seeing 94% of students from our inaugural cohort enroll in college or witness the number of students enrolled in our program scale to more than double in less than two years, we attribute our current foundational standing and comprehensive programming to support and guidance from CFF. You truly help make college possible for our students.”
— Arif Haji, Executive Director, CARS (College Access, Readiness & Success)
“My greatest hope is not only to achieve something for myself, but to give back to society. That is why I work hard to make myself better.”