About the Kappa Scholarship Endowment Fund
A Washington, DC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit awarding scholarships to graduates of DC’s public and public charter high schools since 1984.
Forty years of turning generosity into graduates.
In 1984, the Washington, DC Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.® established the Kappa Scholarship Endowment Fund, Inc.® (KSEF) with a simple mission: to help deserving DC public high school graduates attend college. The initial goal was modest — raise $10,000 over five years. KSEF exceeded that goal in its first year, raising $15,000 and setting the stage for decades of impact.
Over the past 40 years, KSEF has awarded more than $4.23 million in scholarships to over 900 graduates of the District of Columbia's public and public charter high schools. Today, the endowment exceeds $6.5 million, and KSEF is working toward a $10 million endowment goal that will enable it to support even more students with larger scholarship awards.
For more than three decades, KSEF's signature fundraiser was the Celebrity Auction and Soul Food Feast, an annual sold-out event at Howard University's Blackburn Center that attracted more than 700 supporters each year. Through the generosity of donors and sponsors, the event became one of Washington, DC's most successful and enduring charitable traditions, selling out for 34 consecutive years.
Since 2021, KSEF's growth has been driven by direct donations, gifts of appreciated stock, and estate bequests that strengthen the endowment and expand its long-term impact. This evolution reflects KSEF's commitment to building a sustainable source of scholarship support for future generations of DC students.
The journey to a $10 million endowment is made possible by the donors, partners, alumni, and supporters who have invested in DC's students for more than 40 years. Every dollar raised is invested. Every investment creates scholarships. Every scholarship changes a life.
Support Our MissionThe Kappa Scholarship Endowment Fund, Inc.® is committed to acquiring and utilizing resources to provide scholarships to promising DC students, assisting youth in achieving the skills and knowledge required to compete in a rapidly changing world, and enhancing the quality of life in our community through the development of future leaders.
Access
KSEF believes every student deserves the opportunity to succeed, regardless of where they grow up. We provide scholarships to graduating seniors from Washington, DC public and public charter high schools who demonstrate academic achievement, financial need, and a commitment to their communities, helping them pursue a four-year college education.
Achievement
KSEF invests in students who are ready to learn, grow, and lead. Our scholarships provide the financial support they need to pursue degrees in fields such as technology, business, public service, education, and the arts.
Community
KSEF's commitment extends beyond graduation. Our scholars are supported by a community of members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., local businesses, civic leaders, and donors who have invested in Washington, DC students for more than 40 years. Together, we are helping develop the next generation of leaders for Washington, DC and beyond.
Stewardship built over four decades.
KSEF is governed by a volunteer board of community leaders, professionals, and members of the Washington DC Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.® who give their time, expertise, and resources to advancing KSEF’s mission. Their stewardship is the foundation on which 40 years of scholarship service has been built.
- Dr. Carl E. Anderson
- Malachi C. Brown
- Michael R. Butler
- Leroy Clay, Jr.
- Willie E. Evans, Jr.
- Eldon Hayman, Jr.
- Donald E. Humphries
- Joseph F. Lewis
- Eddie Neal
- Presley R. Reed, Jr., Esq.
- Spencer Robertson
- Brian S. Smith, Sr.
- Mark Washington
- Dr. Samuel E. McCoy
- Frederick S. Saunders
A clean audit report for over 30 years.
KSEF is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation committed to the highest standards of financial accountability and transparency. Our annual audited financial statements and IRS filings are available to the public, to our donors, and to any foundation or grant committee conducting due diligence. KSEF has received a clean audit report for over 30 years. We believe that stewardship means showing our work.
Four decades, powered by people who showed up.
For four decades, KSEF’s work has been powered not just by the Washington DC Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.®, but by the businesses, organizations, and individuals who have stood beside us. Their generosity has filled auction rooms, funded scholarships, and helped build an endowment that will serve DC students long into the future.
If your organization is interested in partnering with KSEF, we welcome the conversation.
Become a Partner