What’s Next?
The Foundation currently funds scholarships at Columbia University and Cornell University, with plans for an endowment with Temple University. As of 2026 we have also partnered with the Rockland Negro Scholarship Fund to create an endowment for them to distribute. We are open to new real estate program partnerships!
Partnering with Columbia University
Aequo Foundation recently partnered with Columbia University to create a scholarship fund for graduate student "Aequo Scholars" at CU's Master’s of Real Estate Development (MSRED) Program. But the story didn’t end there.
Today, the “Aequo Scholars” scholarship commemorates Ernst Valery, who graduated from MSRED in 2004 at Columbia University.
As recently as 2019, Ernst realized that there were no black students enrolled in the program.
The goal of the scholarship is to promote diversity, inclusion and equity by breaking down barriers to access for graduate study and the real estate development world.
In March of 2022, the University hosted a gala raising over $100K funds for scholarships pending the Aequo Foundation match.
Aequo Foundation is currently raising funds to match and anticipates launching an annual scholarship with Columbia by the end of 2022. This permanent endowment fund will be used to advance the community-driven goals of the Aequo Foundation.