Eric Waldo

NEWS: Historic $30M investment in DC scholarships! Made possible le by the incredible leadership of @TedLeonsis @MSE and the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation. 🎉🎉🎉

Some closing thoughts from our President & CEO, @ewwaldo, following our SXSW EDU panel: the model we’re building works. Students want more access to debt-free scholarship programs. Funders want to fund programs that work. We must continue advocating for these types of programs!

That’s a wrap on our panel at #SXSWEDU! Our conversation on college completion reinforced one thing we've found to be true: access is only the first step. Students succeed when support is coordinated. A huge thank you to all of our panelists for their voices and expertise 🎓

Thrilled to host the @dccapscholars Board at our offices @MSE to advance the mission of expanding college access for DC students. From applications to financial aid and ongoing family support, DC-CAP ensures students don’t just get to college – they’re set up for success. When we invest in students, we invest in DC’s future.

Expanding access to higher education is critical to DC’s long-term prosperity. When more students can afford to attend and complete college, we strengthen economic mobility and build the next generation of leaders. @washingtonpost recently highlighted the expansion of DCTAG – a meaningful investment that helps remove cost as a barrier for DC students. This work is core to what I’m proud to help champion with @ewwaldo and @dccapscholars. Programs like DCTAG send a clear message: DC believes in its students and is investing in their success. washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2026/…

Great news for DC students and their families! A 50% increase in funding for the DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) is officially in place through @dccapscholars. Increasing the annual award will help more students manage rising tuition costs, stay on track to complete their degrees and build stronger futures for themselves – and for DC. When we invest in students, we invest in the future of our city.

Special thank you to former Rep. Tom Davis, Pat Butler, and @TedLeonsis for advocating for this support for DC students for many, many years to achieve this increase. And thank you to Don Graham and Argelia Rodriguez, who were key architects of this work @dccapscholars

BIG NEWS: Yesterday the President signed the FY26 appropriation bill, which includes a 50% increase in the DC Tuition Assitance Grant Program (was $10K a year and now will be $15K per year)!!!!!!!! This is the first increase since the original bill passed in 1999!!!! 1/

Located just minutes from Washington, D.C., Marymount connects students to internships, applied learning, and early career opportunities across government, nonprofit, tech, and corporate sectors. Read more about our partnership here: dccap.org/blog/dc-cap-ex…

.@marymountu is now a DC CAP University Partner! D.C. students applying through DC CAP can now select Marymount as a four-year option — opening doors to career-ready programs, hands-on learning, and opportunities just minutes from Washington, D.C.

The reimagined @CapitalOneArena will be more than a sports and entertainment venue – it will be a true gathering place for our community, reflecting the creativity, history and spirit of the DMV. The District Arts Collection @MSE plays a central role in our vision to make the arena a welcoming front door to the nation’s capital. 🙌   Proud to support incredible local artists and to continue building a platform that celebrates the culture of our region and legacy of our teams.

Great to speak at the @UERUAssociation National Conference today about the power and importance of first-gen student success. Proud to share some lessons learned from my time at the White House and my time leading @dccapscholars.

Merry Christmas! ¡Feliz Navidad!

Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott published her yearly announcement of philanthropic gifts. Her donations totaled $7.2 billion, the largest yearly amount since she began publicizing her giving in 2019. Read more: forbes.com/sites/phoebeli…

🎓Big news: @TrinityDC is now a DC CAP University Partner! Beginning in January 2026, D.C. students through DC CAP will be able to select Trinity on their applications.

.@mackenziescott’s gift to @dccapscholars is a meaningful recognition of an organization that’s expanded opportunity for DC students for more than 2 decades. Eric Waldo and the extraordinary team at DC-CAP are doing incredible work. Very proud to serve as Board Chair and grateful for this support, which strengthens the pathways that help students get to and through college. yieldgiving.com/essays/we-are-…

We are deeply grateful for MacKenzie Scott’s investment in DC CAP and the students we serve. And wins like this don’t happen without a great team. From our coaches to our Board, eveyone bleeds DC CAP and our mission. Humbled and grateful for this moment. @TedLeonsis

Rosie on her own picked out a Brown University shirt for me today. I’m just heartbroken for our community

@ZacharyLeonsis @dccapscholars Thank you for your incredible support!

The @dccapscholars 2025 Impact Report shows how access to higher education is transforming futures across D.C.: 📈 1,200+ students supported 💪 90% first-to-second-year retention 🎯 75% on-time graduation Proud to support DC-CAP’s work empowering the next generation of D.C. leaders. See some highlights from the report below ⬇️

The Cleveland Orchestra mourns the passing of Music Director Laureate Christoph von Dohnányi, who led the Orchestra with distinction from September 1984 to August 2002. Dohnányi passed away on September 6 at the age of 95.