Formation Notice: The Foundation is currently in formation and pending recognition of federal tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3). We are not accepting tax-deductible donations or ECCA/FSTC qualified contributions at this time. Our current work focuses on governance, compliance, school-readiness, and scholarship-program preparation.
Independent nonprofit organization in formation
Expanding Educational Opportunity for Eligible K–12 Students
Empowering families, realizing educational choice. Empower Access & Cultural Heritage Scholarship Foundation is preparing a transparent, need-based pathway to K-12 educational opportunity.
About Us
Dedicated to Educational Equity and Choice
Every child possesses unique potential, and the right educational resources are the key to unlocking it. The Foundation is preparing to apply for recognition as an eligible Scholarship Granting Organization if and when New York participates in the federal scholarship tax credit program and releases its SGO application process. We believe that educational opportunities should never be limited by a child's background. To ensure careful governance, operational integrity, and financial transparency, Empower Access & Cultural Heritage Scholarship Foundation is currently pending recognition of federal tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) and is building a trusted platform before accepting contributions or launching scholarship awards.
Our Mission
A Focused, Need-Based K-12 Scholarship Platform
Our mission is to expand access to K–12 educational opportunities by preparing a transparent, independent, need-based scholarship platform that can serve eligible students across multiple participating schools.
Cultural Heritage is part of the Foundation's educational philosophy: it reflects respect for students' identity, families, and communities. It is not a selection standard for scholarship awards.
Educational Resources
Resources for Families, Schools, and Supporters
What Is a Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO)?
A guide to understanding how SGOs support K-12 educational choice.
What Families Can Prepare Before Future Applications Open
Key steps and preparation requirements for future need-based scholarship applicants.
Formation Notice: Donation & Launch Timeline
Transparency report on our legal status and when we expect to begin operations.
Conflict of Interest & Governance
Leadership
Board of Directors
Jim Zhang — President
President of Hudson Valley Asian American Chamber of Commerce (HVAACC) and President of Matlin Hotels LLC. Leads overall strategic direction and organizational governance.
Athena — Secretary
Attorney at Law. Responsible for compliance oversight and legal governance.
Michael Huang, CPA — Treasurer
Certified Public Accountant responsible for financial oversight and stewardship policies.
Amy Xue — Experienced Educator
Academic advisor helping shape student-readiness standards and educational goals.
Galen Chen — Founder & Outreach Director
Financial professional and community organizer. Serves in an unpaid capacity; does not provide tax, investment, insurance, or legal advice through the Foundation.
Advisory Board
Community and Education Advisors
Advisory Board members serve in a non-voting advisory capacity. They do not approve scholarships, determine award amounts, control Foundation funds, or participate in decisions involving any school or institution with which they are affiliated.
Liam O'Neill — Advisory Board Member
VP of Government Relations.
Tim Sun — Advisory Board Member
Principal of Northern Academy of the Arts. Serves in a non-voting advisory capacity and will not participate in scholarship or school-participation decisions involving his school.
Sean Lin, Ph.D. — Advisory Board Member
Executive Vice President and Executive Director, Consilium Institute; Director of Strategic Development, Fei Tian College. Serves in a non-voting advisory capacity and will not participate in scholarship or school-participation decisions involving any affiliated institution.
Sophie Liu — Advisory Board Member
Principal of Little Lotus Academy. Serves in a non-voting advisory capacity and does not participate in scholarship or school-participation decisions involving her school.
Timeline & Progress
Transparent Formation Roadmap
The Foundation is intentionally using conservative status language while formation, governance, and scholarship-readiness systems are being prepared.
| Milestone | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Board formation | Completed / In progress | Initial leadership structure is in place while governance practices continue to mature. |
| NY nonprofit incorporation | Preparing | Formation filings are being prepared and reviewed. |
| EIN | Pending | Employer identification setup remains pending. |
| IRS 501(c)(3) application | Preparing | Federal tax-exempt recognition materials are being prepared. |
| Conflict of Interest Policy | Drafting | Governance safeguards and disclosure standards are in draft form. |
| Scholarship Policy | Drafting | Need-based scholarship policies are not yet final. |
| New York SGO application | Not yet available | New York has not released an application process for this pathway. |
| Donations | Not currently accepted | No tax-deductible donations or ECCA/FSTC qualified contributions are accepted at this time. |
| Scholarship awards | Not yet launched | No scholarship awards are currently available. |