Our one-year anniversary is a celebration of what we can accomplish as a community
These are the event's highlights for quick reference and important links. We thank Jardin Secreto, Baja Wines, Fish Out of Water Tours, and Abel Aquirre Music for their generous support of the event.
Monarch students are not only highly motivated but also focus on fields like business, marketing, and communications. This allows us to lean on them for marketing and social media content. About 80% of what you see on our website, Instagram, and our presentations is student-generated. We don’t use a marketing agency—our funds are invested in the students. This hands-on experience gives students valuable skills and a strong addition to their resumes. It also ensures our content is authentic. It comes from the heart and from the students.
we asked our students how they measure success?
Students in Los Cabos face a tough reality after high school. Being motivated and successful graduates, they must leave home for university—and without student loans in Mexico, banks or charities to assist, many families simply can’t afford it. Sacrifices are made, and choices can be heartbreaking when there’s more than one student.
The Monarch Effect Foundation bridges this gap. We help cover living expenses beyond tuition, provide mentorship, and build a support community—ensuring students not only get to university but thrive while they’re there and when they return.
We’re thrilled to announce an incredible grand prize: a luxury 4-hour boat cruise on a 52ft catamaran with Fish Out of Water Tours, valued at over $5,000! This unforgettable experience includes gourmet food, drinks, and all the amenities. Check out their website here: Fish Out of Water Tours
We can’t thank Fish Out of Water Tours enough for their generosity—it truly means so much to the foundation.
Here’s how you can enter: For every $500 donation or multiple thereof, you’ll receive one entry for the cruise draw and five entries for the $100 prize draws. Don’t miss this opportunity! It's closing soon!
Draw date: Saturday November 30 at 4pm Cabo time.
Lisbon
London
los angeles
Paris
Querétaro
Living in an education desert
5 students attending university in 5 countries
Our first 3 students Mariano, Dani and Nico have completed a full year of school abroad with the foundation and the mentoring program. In September, we added two new Los Cabos students. Kendra is in pre-med at UCLA with a partial tuition scholarship. and Maria is taking her Masters in Astrophysics at the Observatoire in Paris with a full tuition scholarship. The challenge for both these young ladies was covering their living expenses. That’s where the foundation came in.
Students reflect on their lives away at school and are captured in their blogs. Check them out!
guiding success with two student mentoring programs
The Monarch Circle of Impact mentoring program, now in its second semester, is a peer-to-peer initiative for university students. Guided by Mariano, they meet every Sunday to focus on self-discovery, personal growth, leadership skills, accountability, and navigating the challenges of university life away from home.
We have 7 students involved in MCI mentoring.
Launched in October 2024, this program supports 14 students in grades 11 and 12, representing five local schools. The series of 28 workshops took 9 months of dedicated effort and 5 amazing volunteers to bring this program to life. This program helps to prepare them for the realities of leaving home with goal setting, financial literacy, practicing "atomic habits", basic life skills such as laundry, shopping and cooking, as well as study skills, problem-solving and stepping out and embracing discomfort.
sustainability program
We’ve introduced a sustainability program where all graduating students commit to financially supporting the foundation as partial repayment for the assistance they received. This ensures that every student has "skin in the game" and a vested interest in the foundation’s success. Parents and students sign a contract committing to volunteer during their studies and, upon graduation, to give back through monthly donations.
bilingual website!
Bilingual newsletters
monarch's mug around the world
3 graduations
2 masters programs
next semester
Designed and built by Samy, our work experience intern, this project was her first attempt—and as she would tell you, it was "scary as hell." But she persevered, and the experience gave her the confidence to take on challenging tasks. This is exactly what our mentorship programs are all about: empowering students to overcome obstacles and grow.
We launched a bilingual newsletter to keep everyone updated on the progress of our students. Featuring student-generated content, it highlights what’s top of mind for them—their experiences, thoughts, and feelings as they navigate each semester. Every student shares their journey through a monthly blog. A special shoutout to Dani, the student who organizes the team, curates the content, and publishes the newsletter every two months!
This is the rare white Monarch Yeti who starts out in Los Cabos and travels the world with our students and sponsors, promoting educational opportunities for our students and inspiring learning and exploration. The goal with our Monarch’s Mug is to draw enough attention that Yeti will want to sponsor us. So please follow Monarch’s Mug on Instagram and help us gain an important sponsorship!
We’re thrilled to share that we now have two students pursuing master’s degrees, marking an exciting new chapter for the foundation. Mariano is continuing his studies in Business Operations Management in Portugal. Meanwhile, Maria is following her passion for the stars, pursuing a master’s degree in Astrophysics in Paris.
These achievements highlight the incredible potential of our students and the life-changing impact of your support. By investing in their education, you’re helping create a ripple effect of opportunity and success that extends far beyond the classroom.
This year, we celebrated a major milestone—our first graduation! Mariano, one of our sponsored students since the start of his university journey, earned his Bachelor of Science in Business from Riga University. We also celebrated Fernanda and Kendra, graduates of grade 12 from McGregor in San José. Both are now actively participating in our mentoring program as they take their next steps forward.
We currently have two Cabo students applying for foundation assistance for the January semester. Both are already enrolled in Mexican universities but are struggling to cover their living expenses.
Looking ahead, six students in our mentoring program are preparing to begin university next September. Two of them have already been accepted with partial scholarships, but as always, the biggest challenge lies in covering living expenses. Tuition is only part of the equation—ensuring students can afford basic living costs is critical to their success
goals!
financial cost
no student left behind
We’ve successfully submitted our application for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in the U.S. and are now awaiting confirmation from the IRS. It also opens new opportunities for support from U.S.-based foundations focused on education, expanding our ability to make an even greater impact. All donations to the US Friends of Monarch Effect Foundation account will be issued a tax receipt with the good-faith expectation of being tax deductible and the nonprofit being exempt. USA EIN 99-3542890.
We have talented, motivated, and high-achieving students. But talent alone isn’t enough—they need opportunity. Opportunity comes from teachers, coaches, schools, mentors and businesses. And opportunity creates HOPE.
These students are hungry for a chance to succeed. They’re motivated, determined, and ready to put in the work. With the right support, every single one of them can achieve incredible success. Hope and opportunity are the keys to unlocking their potential.
Our financial support ranges from $12,000 to $30,000 USD per student per year, depending on their program and how much their families can contribute. It’s important to note that all of our students receive some form of scholarship, but these funds rarely cover the full cost of tuition, let alone living expenses. Your contributions help bridge the gap, ensuring these students can stay in school and focus on their education.
Launch an Intern Program
Partner with local businesses to provide students with valuable work experience and mentorship, aligning their skills with real-world opportunities.Introduce College Prep Mentoring 2.0
Expand our mentoring to reach more students beyond the top achievers. Many students feel lost without guidance, and this program will offer them the support they need to navigate their futures.Grow Mexican Sponsorships
Last week, we welcomed our 4th Mexican donor—an inspiring and meaningful milestone for the foundation. step forward. We are excited and committed to connecting with more individuals and businesses here in Los Cabo and elsewhere in Mexico who share our belief that education is the key to progress and creating a brighter future for our communities.Build a University Support Network
Create resources and connections with universities and volunteers to help guide students through the complex application and scholarship process, making higher education more accessible.Leverage Our 501(c)(3) Status
With our U.S. tax-exempt status, we can now connect with additional funding programs and expand our reach to donors in the U.S.Support More Students
We already know of 8 students applying for assistance next year. Without advertising, word of mouth has shown us the immense need for this program. We don’t want to leave any student behind, but the ability to help depends entirely on funding.Commit to Long-Term Support
Our funding commitment goes beyond a single year. Supporting a student means seeing them through the entirety of their education program, ensuring they have the resources to succeed.
