About
The Ron Brown Scholar Program is a scholarship and leadership development organization based in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was established in 1996 by Anthony M. Pilaro to honor Ronald H. Brown, the United States Secretary of Commerce, following his death that year. Brown (1941–1996) was the first African American Cabinet Secretary and the first African American Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. The program is operated by the Ron Brown Scholar Fund, a public 501(c)(3) charity.
Mission
The program works to improve the lives of intellectually gifted, service-minded African Americans by accelerating their progress into impactful leadership roles.
What they do
- Ron Brown Scholarship — a 40,000 dollar scholarship awarded to low-income African American high school seniors, paired with mentoring and leadership opportunities throughout college and beyond.
- Leaders Network — a professional development program for the top 2 to 3 percent of scholarship applicants.
- Guided Pathway Support Program (GPS) — a free college access initiative supporting high school juniors and seniors.
Scale and impact
The program has selected more than 500 scholars since its founding, and reports a 99% college graduation rate among its scholars. Now marking 30 years of operation, the organization emphasizes an ongoing community of mentoring and alumni engagement that it describes as functioning very much like a family.
Governance
Michael A. Mallory serves as President and CEO of the Ron Brown Scholar Program. According to the organization's IRS filings on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, board officers include Chair Nicole Bates, Treasurer Andrew Pilaro, and Secretary Brian Siegal.
Financials
According to ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, the Ron Brown Scholar Fund (EIN 54-1832314) reported total revenue of 4,117,367 dollars, total expenses of 5,614,112 dollars, and total assets of 22,795,225 dollars for fiscal year 2024. The organization is classified under educational institutions providing scholarships and student financial aid services.
