Deloitte Foundation Grants

The Deloitte Foundation continues to drive education initiatives that help build pathways to opportunity for the workforce of tomorrow. In spring 2025, the Foundation awarded a $2,100,000 grant to the Cristo Rey Network to provide college scholarships across its network to graduating Class of 2025 seniors to help economically disadvantaged students attend college and pursue accounting and STEM careers.

The 2025 recipients selected by each local Cristo Rey school will be named Deloitte Foundation Scholars, and each will be awarded $2,000-$10,000 towards their interest in pursuing business, engineering, or technology careers through a four-year degree at a postsecondary institution of their choice. Furthermore, each Deloitte Foundation Scholar needs to demonstrate academic, leadership excellence, and financial need.

As a tribute to honor the legacy of the late John R. McConnell, Jr., Founding President of Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School and a Principal with Deloitte Consulting LLP, all scholarship recipients of Cristo Rey Philadelphia will be named John McConnell/Deloitte Foundation Scholars.

For the past four years, the Deloitte Foundation has made grants to fund college scholarships across the Cristo Rey Network. Impact has increased each year to support a total of 815 Cristo Rey students, with an additional class of scholars to be awarded in 2025.

Students from across the Cristo Rey Network share the impact these scholarships have made on their education and career journeys:

"Thanks to this scholarship, I am a full-time student at a four-year university -- that would not be possible without this scholarship's support. My family and I are so grateful, especially since I will be the first in my family to attend college, and I have now paved the way for my younger sibling."

"The scholarship will deeply impact my college experience, and the future that lies before me. Thanks to this scholarship, I will be able to attend my first year of college without having to take on any loans or pay out of pocket. This is a blessing, especially for someone like me, a first-generation low-income student who couldn’t even dream of attending college without taking on any loans. Thank you again for the opportunity."

"Because of this scholarship, I will be able to pursue a degree in cybersecurity. It will allow me to continue my education without having to worry about the significant financial burden. I am grateful for the chance to obtain my college degree and make my parents proud as they have sacrificed so much to get me where I am today. The significance of this scholarship is not lost on me, and I am incredibly grateful for being granted this opportunity."

Each local Cristo Rey school’s college counseling team, along with school leaders, are selecting recipients, who have been admitted to college and intend to pursue majors in the academic disciplines listed above. In addition to demonstrating financial need, Deloitte Foundation Scholars must demonstrate academic and leadership excellence.

Beyond the scholarships

The grants to fund these scholarships are only one piece of the critical support offered to students to help them persist along education and career pathways.

Deloitte Foundation Scholars, along with any student enrolled in college, will receive individualized guidance from an alumni advisor employed at a local Cristo Rey school as students navigate their postsecondary trajectory.

In cases where Deloitte Foundation Scholars matriculate to a Cristo Rey Network University Partner, the students have access to additional on-campus support systems for lower-income and first-generation students to help propel them along education pathways and their career preparation journeys.