The Vernon CommUNITY Fund (VCF) and Vernon City Council are dedicated to enriching the local community. The VCF provides grants to charitable and governmental entities for projects and programs that benefit those residing and working in Vernon and surrounding cities - the Vernon Area (which is comprised of Vernon, Maywood, Commerce, Bell, Huntington Park, the area within the City of Los Angeles known as Boyle Heights, and the unincorporated area known as East Los Angeles). These grants contribute to the health, well-being, and quality of life in local communities and support regional programs and services that address workforce development, youth advocacy, sports, the arts, violence prevention, homelessness, mental health, and more.

The VCF also provides scholarships for senior high school students residing in the Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) area. The VCF Scholarship Program offers financial assistance for students pursuing post-secondary education at trade school, community college, or university. The Program is a great opportunity for the VCF to establish a personal, viable connection with youth in the Vernon Area while supporting their pursuits of higher education and, in turn, elevating the region as a whole by ensuring that the career goals of students in the community are more attainable. Promoting higher education is aligned with the City’s overall mission to contribute to the betterment of SELA and Vernon leaders are excited to offer the VCF Scholarship to students who are committed to investing in their education for a brighter future.

VCF Scholarship applications for 2025 are being accepted through Thursday, March, 26, 2026. Vernon Area high school seniors, download the VCF Scholarship Application today to learn more about eligibility criteria and application requirements. We are eager to support you in your educational pursuits, whether you are aiming for trade school, community college, or university credentials!

The City also accepts monetary contributions for the VCF Scholarship Program. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation, please see details on how you may contribute, or contact CityAdmin@CityofVernon.org for more information.

VCF grants and scholarships are awarded by the Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee, a formal City board comprised of a Vernon Council Member, a local legislative representative, Vernon residents and business representatives. Grant and scholarship recommendations are presented to the committee after a comprehensive review of application materials by a third-party consultant, a firm that specializes in ethical grantmaking, grants management best practices, and charitable funds administration.

1. Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors
2. Alzheimer’s Greater LA
3. Big Citizen Hub
4. Boyle Heights Youth Football
5. Boys & Girls Club of West San Gabriel Valley
6. CA Children’s Academy
7. CA Derby Dolls
8. CA Latino Leadership Institute
9. Cal State LA University Auxiliary Services
10. Camp TLC at East LA Rising
11. Casa 0101
12. Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters
13. Center for Nonviolent Education & Parenting
14. Centinela Youth Services
15. Chicxs Rockerxs
16. City of Bell
17. Clinica Oscar Romero
18. Coalicion de Latinos Americanos
19. Dolores Mission School
20. East LA Community Corporation
21. East LA Women’s Center
22. Eastmont Community Center
23. Family Health Care Centers of Greater LA
24. Future Scholars of Bell High Program
25. Girl Scouts of Greater LA
26. Girls on the Run of LA County
27. Helping Hands Society of LA
28. Helpline Youth Counseling
29. Hispanas Organized for Political Equality
30. Holy Angels Church of the Deaf
31. Human Services Association
32. Huntington Park Youth Football & Cheer
33. Immigrant Youth Coalition
34. Inclusive Action for the City
35. InnerCity Struggle
36. Jovenes
37. LA Area Council Boy Scouts of America
38. LA Center for Law and Justice
39. LA Community Garden Council
40. LA County Bicycle Coalition
41. LA Family Housing Corporation
42. LA Music and Art School
43. Las Fotos Project
44. Latino Equality Alliance
45. Libros Schmibros Lending Library
46. Mark Taper Foundation Shelter
47. Muscular Dystrophy Association
48. Neighborhood Music School
49. Opportunity Fund
50. Plaza Community Services
51. Project Return Peer Support Network
52. PUENTE Learning Center
53. Rio Hondo-Vernon Rotary Club Foundation
54. SCGA Junior Golf Foundation
55. SELA Collaborative
56. Self-Help Graphics and Art
57. So’oh-Shinali Sister Project
58. South Central Family Health Center
59. South Central LA Regional Center
60. Southeast Churches Service Center
61. Southeast Community Development Corp
62. Southeast Community Foundation
63. Toque Foundation
64. TreePeople
65. Variety Boys & Girls Club
66. Vernon City Elementary
67. Vision to Learn
68. Woodcraft Rangers
69. YMCA of Metro LA-Southeast Rio Vista
70. YMCA of Metro LA-Weingart East LA
71. Youth Champions
72. YWCA Greater LA

Past VCF Scholarship recipients have attended the following SELA area high schools:

1. Maywood Center for Enriched Studies
2. Huntington Park High School
3. Bell High School
4. Mendez High School
5. Bell Senior High Magnet
6. Marquez School of Social Justice
7. Garfield High School
8. Boyle Heights STEM Magnet High School
9. MSTMA at Roosevelt HS
10. East LA Renaissance Academy
11. Huntington Park Institute of Applied Medicine - Marquez
12. Libra Academy Marquez