Key Takeaways
- The Marymount Education Foundation committed $5.57 million to Loyola Marymount University to establish the Marymount Scholars Program for Catholic high school students in Los Angeles.
- The gift supports up to 18 new students each year and more than 70 students in total, paying for mentorship, study abroad stipends, laptops, books and ongoing progress monitoring.
- The $5.57 million commitment equals about 11% of the Marymount Education Foundation's $49.18 million in net assets reported for the year ending December 2024.
- It is the largest gift to date for the LMU Catholic High School Promise Program, a partnership with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles that began in 2025.
The Marymount Education Foundation committed $5.57 million to Loyola Marymount University on October 1, 2026, establishing the Marymount Scholars Program to help local Catholic high school students attend LMU.
Inside the Marymount Scholars Program and the Catholic High School Promise Partnership
Loyola Marymount University announced the $5.57 million gift on Thursday, October 1, 2026. The Marymount Scholars Program is a partnership among LMU, the Marymount Education Foundation and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles that aims to expand access to higher education for students who face socio-economic and other barriers to a four-year college. The program gives students faculty mentorship, career and professional development, stipends toward study abroad, funding for technology, laptops and books, and ongoing support that monitors progress through graduation.
The gift will support up to 18 new students each year who are part of the LMU Catholic High School Promise Program, an academic partnership established in 2025 between LMU and the archdiocese's Department of Catholic Schools. The first cohort entered LMU at the start of the 2026-27 academic year as members of the Class of 2030. The participating schools are Bishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto High School, Bishop Mora Salesian, Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary College Prep, Junipero Serra High School, St. Bernard College Prep and St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy. LMU President Thomas Poon said, "This program will transform the lives of more than 70 ambitious and talented Catholic high school students considering LMU as their college home."
Marymount Education Foundation Finances: Net Assets Grew to $49.18 Million in 2024
Marymount Education Foundation is a California nonprofit grantmaker that funds programs expanding access to Catholic education. Its most recent Form 990, for the year ending December 2024, reported revenue of $48.3 million, contributions of $45.97 million, and net assets of $49.18 million, against expenses of $599,887. Those figures mark a sharp expansion. For the year ending December 2023 the foundation reported revenue of $1.38 million and net assets of $1.03 million. The $5.57 million commitment to LMU equals about 11% of the foundation's $49.18 million in net assets. Robyn Jones, the foundation's founding executive director, received $165,000 in reported compensation in 2024. Jones said, in comments reported by The Downey Patriot, "MEF is gratified that its support will remove barriers for dozens of local high school students who select LMU as their college of choice."
Why the $5.57 Million Gift Expands College Access at Loyola Marymount University
Spread across more than 70 students, the $5.57 million works out to about $79,571 per student. Loyola Marymount University is a private Catholic university in Los Angeles. For the fiscal year ending May 2025 it reported revenue of $778.7 million, contributions of $77.0 million, and net assets of $1.57 billion. The Marymount Education Foundation gift equals roughly 7% of the contributions LMU recorded that year. The money is directed at a defined group of students from six high schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles who enter through the Promise Program. Archbishop José H. Gomez said the partnership will "make Catholic education more affordable and more available to young people in our archdiocese." The commitment stands as the largest to date for the Promise Program, which admitted its first class in 2026.
People Also Ask
How much did the Marymount Education Foundation give Loyola Marymount University?
The Marymount Education Foundation committed $5.57 million to Loyola Marymount University on October 1, 2026. The gift establishes the Marymount Scholars Program and is the largest to date for the LMU Catholic High School Promise Program.
What is the Marymount Scholars Program at LMU?
The Marymount Scholars Program is a Loyola Marymount University initiative funded by the Marymount Education Foundation's $5.57 million gift. It provides mentorship, study abroad stipends, laptops, books and progress monitoring for Catholic high school students who enroll at LMU.
Which schools take part in the LMU Catholic High School Promise Program?
Six high schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles take part in the LMU Catholic High School Promise Program that the Marymount Education Foundation's $5.57 million gift supports: Bishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto, Bishop Mora Salesian, Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary, Junipero Serra, St. Bernard and St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy.
Who leads the Marymount Education Foundation?
Robyn Jones is the founding executive director of the Marymount Education Foundation, which committed $5.57 million to Loyola Marymount University. Jones received $165,000 in reported compensation for the year ending December 2024.
Sources: Loyola Marymount University, The Downey Patriot.