The mission of the LCU Fund for Women’s Education is to clear the path for low-income women to complete college by helping them pay their rent.

About

The LCU Fund envisions a future in which women are fully empowered to realize their potential through higher education. We believe deeply in the opportunities that education creates—opening doors to economic mobility, expanding career pathways, and strengthening communities. A college degree not only increases earning power but also provides women with the foundation to build more secure, fulfilling lives for themselves and their families.

Approach
Research
Grantmaking

Our history

  • A graduate wearing a black cap and gown with purple accents in a graduation ceremony, facing a group of other graduates sitting in the background.

    We believe in the transformational power of education for women

  • A crowd of protesters at a rally, holding signs that read "Time for Change" and "Silence is Violence" during the daytime. There are trees and buildings in the background.

    We believe in investing in those driven towards positive social impact

  • Tall city buildings with fire escapes on the exterior of the buildings, viewed from the ground looking up on a cloudy day.

    We believe that housing is a gateway to opportunity for women

A woman in a purple jacket smiling while holding a paint palette in her hand in an art studio. Behind her are paintings on the wall and an easel with a colorful abstract painting. There are art supplies and painted palettes on the table.
A woman standing outside a brick apartment building with a hat and suitcase, holding a bag, in black and white photo.
A young woman with brown hair, smiling, wearing a black blazer, blush pink top, and gold jewelry, standing outdoors with blurred trees and buildings in the background.
Group of six women standing in front of a backdrop with logos, celebrating the 175th anniversary of The City College of New York.
Four women standing together inside a decorated room, smiling at the camera. They are wearing black tops, and one woman has a black and white patterned skirt. The background features floral wallpaper, a wall sconce, balloons, and other people in the
A group of women gathered around a piano, with one woman playing and the others singing.
Two women standing in an art gallery, with abstract paintings and sculptures in the background.
A young woman with shoulder-length reddish-blonde hair, wearing a black t-shirt, layered necklaces, and a sleeveless denim vest, standing in front of an abstract purple and white painting.
Three black and white photographs of homes and rooms, along with a paragraph of text describing residences on Washington Square in New York City.
Group of eight women standing together at a celebration, smiling and holding wine glasses, in an elegant indoor setting with chandeliers and decorated tables.
A young woman with dark hair, wearing a black top and a light blue shirt, standing outdoors on a city street with blurred pedestrians and green trees in the background.

For more than 167 years, the LCU Fund for Women’s Education has extended a steady hand to newcomers and career-seekers striving to build their futures in New York City—a place where opportunity abounds, yet too often sits just out of reach. Since 1858, when the organization first helped women secure safe, affordable housing in the city, LCU’s core belief has remained unchanged: stable housing is a gateway to opportunity.

The organization began when a group of visionary New York women, led by Mrs. Marshall Orme Roberts, recognized the urgent need for secure, affordable housing for young single women working in the city. As the Ladies’ Christian Union (LCU), they raised funds to purchase and convert brownstones into residences that offered stability and community. Through financial crises, depressions, and wartime upheaval, LCU continued to provide vital housing opportunities, ultimately operating six residences across New York City by the mid-twentieth century.

In 2000, the LCU Board of Directors made a transformational decision to sell these properties and establish an endowment, enabling a new grantmaking model. With this fund, LCU began partnering with New York City educational institutions to provide housing grants to women scholars with financial need—alleviating housing costs as a barrier to college completion. Since launching this model, the LCU Fund has awarded more than $17 million to 35 institutions, supporting women pursuing professions that strengthen communities and advance social impact.

The organization evolved along the way: becoming the LCU Foundation in 2003, and a decade later, adopting the name LCU Fund for Women’s Education to more accurately reflect its mission and work.

Today, the LCU Fund remains a 501(c)(3) nonprofit chartered in New York State—steadfast in its historic commitment to safe, affordable housing and dedicated to ensuring that women scholars have the stability they need to achieve their aspirations.