Championing Prosperity Through Higher Education & Philanthropy
South Texans Hector and Gloria López believed in the transformative power of higher education. They understood that access to a higher education correlates to greater economic mobility, increased employment options, and often better health and wellness.
The Hector and Gloria López Foundation (HGLF) is committed to advancing higher education, fostering leadership and cultivating a culture of Latino philanthropy that promotes high-impact giving from other Latino donors.
The mission of HGLF has never been more critical.
Texas faces an urgent crossroads: by 2031, six in ten job openings will call for postsecondary credentials, with two requiring a bachelor’s degree and another demanding advanced study. That’s over 4.6 million new roles needing qualified degree-holders. Yet, as of the most recent Census estimates (2023), only one-third of Texans hold a bachelor’s or higher.
To bridge this growing opportunity gap, HGLF is committed to increasing bachelor’s degree attainment and ensuring pathways exist for Texas’ students to meet and fill the leadership roles of Texas now and in the future.
Meeting the Needs of Tomorrow’s Texas
Investing in Scholars, Changing the Landscape
Since 2022, HGLF has invested over $36 million in grants to support López Scholars across Texas universities. Grant funding helps Scholars graduate debt-free, and also grants them access to wraparound services, including housing, tutoring, mentorship. Additionally, HGLF supports Scholars career aspirations by funding internships, study abroad, leadership development, career counseling, and more. From El Paso to Austin and deep into South Texas, each López Scholar is supported to succeed in high-demand fields like healthcare, business, tech, education, and more.
HGLF’s work goes beyond education alone. For our nation to thrive, we need Texas leaders across industries that will shape the future, from technology and healthcare to the arts, culture, and government. We need pathways for young people to not only graduate but to connect graduates to meaningful and prosperous careers, with the potential for impact and change.
Texans for Tomorrow’s Economy
Strengthening Latino Philanthropy for Lasting Impact
Rooted in the story and legacy of our founders, we’re dedicated to cultivating a robust community of philanthropists who can share learnings and ideas, as well as collaborate on solutions for the future.
Through our work, we aim to inspire more innovative models of giving that provide sustainable and lasting impact for the well-being of individuals, communities, and the nation as a whole.
That’s why HGLF remains committed to increasing bachelor’s degree and ultimately professional degree completion rates to put Texans on a path to achieve success as our founders achieved.
Over the next ten years, HGLF’s goal is to invest in over 700 López Scholars on their path to a bachelor’s degree. In 1965, Hector shared in a speech that “our youth are our future.” That phrase is as relevant today as it was 60 years ago. HGLF knows that with support, López Scholars have an increased opportunity to graduate, debt free and on a path to building economic prosperity for themselves and for their families. HGLF’s investment in López Scholars is an investment in their future and in the future of Texas.
“Our youth are our future.”
— Hector S. López, 1965