The Founding Story
Our why
“I worked four jobs through school. Some weeks I had ten dollars for groceries. I made it to graduation, but I missed most of what campus life was supposed to be. I want students like me to have what I did not: room to actually be students.”
Monique Phillips, President, Board of Directors
That experience is not rare. It is the ordinary story of the student stuck in the middle, working too many hours to join a club, skipping meals to buy books, turning down an internship because it does not pay. BEST was founded by five women who lived versions of that story and chose to change it for the students coming behind them.
The scholarship they built reflects what they learned firsthand. Tuition help alone does not solve the problem. A student also needs to eat, keep a roof, and say yes to the opportunities that shape a career. So the award covers all of it.
Leadership
Board of Directors
The board governs the organization, reviews applications, and stewards every donated dollar.
Monique Phillips
President
Shantia Cage
Treasurer
Wyelondria Jefferson
Secretary
Shanara Baskerville
Board Member
Our Scholars
The people behind the numbers
Scholar profiles are being prepared with the consent of our award recipients and will be published here. Each profile will follow a scholar from award through graduation, because outcomes are the truest measure of this work.
Governance & Transparency
Accountable by design
Donors and grantmakers deserve to verify the organization before they give. These are the records that make that possible.
- 01
501(c)(3) Status
Building Excellent Scholars for Tomorrow is a registered public charity. Federal Tax ID 87-4045150. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
- 02
Direct Disbursement
Award funds are paid to educational institutions and approved providers, never as unrestricted cash to individuals.
- 03
Annual Filings
Our IRS Form 990 filings will be posted here and are available through the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.
- 04
Candid Profile
Our GuideStar by Candid profile is in progress. The link and transparency seal will appear here once published.
- 05
Board Oversight
The volunteer board reviews applications, approves disbursements, and meets on a regular cadence. Governance documents are available on request through the contact page.
Join the work
Fund a scholar, refer a student, or bring your company in as an event sponsor.