Vietnamese American Scholarship Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $40,000-$150,000 (varies by year)
• Assets: $6.9 million
• Grant Range: Average $20,750 per institutional grant
• Geographic Focus: California, Nevada, and Tennessee
• Founded: 1989
• Status: Private Foundation (no public application process)

Contact Details

Address: 8021 Golfers Oasis Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89149-4616

Phone: 702-250-8181

EIN: 62-1336969

Note: This organization does not maintain a public website.

Overview

The Vietnamese American Scholarship Fund (VASF) is a private foundation established in 1989 and based in Las Vegas, Nevada. With assets totaling approximately $6.9 million, the foundation focuses on supporting education and human services with particular emphasis on Vietnamese American communities. The organization is managed by volunteer trustees Rick N Phung and Betsy Lou, who serve without compensation. VASF has funded projects in multiple states, including California, Nevada, and Tennessee, supporting both K-12 schools and community colleges. The foundation has funded locations including Chau Thanh, Hue City (Vietnam), Las Vegas, and Westminster, California. In 2014, the organization made 25 scholarship awards, demonstrating its commitment to educational advancement within the Vietnamese American community. The foundation operates as a preselected charitable organization model, meaning grants are made to institutions and individuals chosen by the trustees rather than through an open application process.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes grants in two primary categories:

Institutional Grants (Average: $20,750)

• Supplemental grants to educational institutions
• Named endowment funds at community colleges
• School counseling support programs
• Focus on assisting students in need

Individual Scholarships

• Direct scholarships to eligible students
• 25 awards made in 2014
• Amounts vary based on need and program

Priority Areas

Education Support

• K-12 school counseling programs
• Community college scholarships and endowments
• Support for students pursuing higher education
• Programs assisting students in financial need

Geographic Focus

• Primary focus on California and Nevada
• Established programs in Tennessee (Oak Ridge, Knoxville area)
• Some international support in Vietnam (Chau Thanh, Hue City)

Community Served

• People of Vietnamese origin
• People of American origin
• Emphasis on Vietnamese American communities

What They Don't Fund

• Relatives of VASF officials are explicitly not eligible
• The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications
• Organizations or individuals not pre-selected by trustees

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

• Rick N Phung, Trustee
• Betsy Lou, Trustee

Both trustees serve on a volunteer basis without compensation. The foundation operates with a small governance structure focused on strategic grant-making decisions. Trustees maintain discretion over all funding decisions and select beneficiary organizations and individuals without an open application process.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. According to their IRS Form 990-PF filing, the Vietnamese American Scholarship Fund "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and doesn't accept unsolicited applications for funds."

Grants and scholarships are awarded at the discretion of the trustees, who identify and select beneficiaries through their own research and community connections.

Getting on Their Radar

Educational Institutions: The foundation has established relationships with specific schools and community colleges, particularly in Tennessee (Oak Ridge schools, Pellissippi State Community College, Roane State Community College). They create named endowment funds (such as the Jasny-VASF fund and Postma-VASF fund) in partnership with institutions that serve students in need.

Geographic Connection: The foundation has demonstrated commitment to specific geographic areas including Las Vegas, Nevada; Westminster, California; and the Oak Ridge/Knoxville area of Tennessee. Organizations serving Vietnamese American communities in these regions may be more likely to be considered.

Vietnamese American Community Organizations: Given the foundation's specific focus on people of Vietnamese or American origin, established organizations serving this community with strong educational programs may attract the trustees' attention.

Demonstrated Need: The foundation's grant descriptions consistently emphasize assistance for "students of need" and "needy students," suggesting that programs with clear documentation of financial need and impact may align with trustee priorities.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed, as grants are made at trustee discretion rather than through scheduled review cycles. The foundation appears to operate on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Success Rates

Success rates are not applicable, as the foundation does not accept applications from the general public.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept applications, traditional "success factors" do not apply. However, understanding what the foundation has funded provides insight into trustee priorities:

Institutional Partnerships: The foundation favors creating enduring relationships with educational institutions through named scholarship funds. Examples include the Jasny-VASF fund at Pellissippi State Community College and the Postma-VASF fund at Roane State Community College. These suggest the trustees value legacy programs that will continue supporting students over time.

Focus on Access: Grant descriptions consistently emphasize helping students "continue their academic pursuit," indicating the foundation prioritizes removing barriers to educational persistence and completion.

Community College Support: Multiple grants to Tennessee community colleges suggest the trustees recognize the importance of accessible higher education pathways for students in need.

Counseling and Support Services: The supplemental grant to Oak Ridge schools specifically mentions assisting counselors who help needy students, indicating the foundation values comprehensive student support beyond direct financial aid.

Vietnamese American Community: While the foundation's eligibility extends to people of "Vietnamese or American origin," the organization's name and mission suggest particular commitment to Vietnamese American educational advancement.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Direct Application: This foundation cannot be approached through standard grant application processes - they operate exclusively through trustee-selected grants
• Institutional Model: The foundation appears to prefer partnerships with educational institutions rather than individual scholarship administration
• Named Funds: Creating named, enduring scholarship funds at colleges appears to be a preferred grant-making model
• Geographic Pattern: Established presence in Nevada, California, and Tennessee suggests geographic relationships matter to trustees
• Student Need Focus: Consistent emphasis on "students of need" and "needy students" across all grant descriptions
• Long-term Relationships: Multiple grants to the same institutions (Oak Ridge schools, Tennessee community colleges) suggest the foundation values ongoing partnerships
• Community College Emphasis: Strong track record of supporting community college students, who often face significant financial barriers

References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Vietnamese American Scholarship Fund (EIN: 62-1336969) https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/621336969 Accessed: March 4, 2026

2. Candid Foundation Directory - Vietnamese American Scholarship Fund https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?collection=grantmakers&activity=result&key=VIET003 Accessed: March 4, 2026

3. Cause IQ - Vietnamese American Scholarship Fund https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/vietnamese-american-scholarship-fund,621336969/ Accessed: March 4, 2026

4. GuideStar Profile - Vietnamese American Scholarship Fund https://www.guidestar.org/profile/62-1336969 Accessed: March 4, 2026

5. Grantable Foundation Profile - Vietnamese American Scholarship Fund https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/vietnamese-american-scholarship-fund-us-foundation-621336969 Accessed: March 4, 2026

6. Instrumentl 990 Report - Vietnamese American Scholarship Fund https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/vietnamese-american-scholarship-fnd Accessed: March 4, 2026