An independent philanthropic foundation offering scholarships to Bermudians has seen an increase in first-generation scholars “breaking new ground” for their families.

The Centennial Bermuda Foundation said 30.5 per cent of eligible applicants this year were first-generation tertiary students.

The trend is one of several it has observed in its community of scholarship applicants and recipients who continue to “evolve in meaningful ways”.

The organisation said the trends reflected a community “where more students feel seen, welcomed and confident naming their identities”.

The observations were made in the foundation’s 2024-25 Year End Report, which the entity said “marked an important milestone in understanding Bermuda's non-profit sector through data”.

It said the report showed both the strong impact of Bermuda’s non-profit organisations in meeting community needs and the reality of the financial pressures they faced.

This year, the CBF disbursed $1.21 million in funding on scholarships to 13 applicants from diverse backgrounds.

For eligible applicants, it said $70,151 was the average household income for a family of three.

It said gender representation remained well balanced and this year a student openly identified as non-binary, which the CBF called an “important marker of growing trust and belonging in our process”.

It added: “We are also seeing deeper diversity across lived experiences.”

The organisation said more students are self-identifying within the LGBTQ+ community, “signalling that our programme is creating space where they feel safe and affirmed”.

It said representation among Black students continued to be strong.

The group is also observing a shift toward greater socio-economic diversity, with more applicants coming from lower-income households.

This was an indication that its outreach and supports are reaching “students who have historically faced barriers to opportunity”.

“Together, these shifts show an ecosystem becoming more inclusive, more reflective of Bermuda’s talent, and more aligned with our commitment to opening doors for all students,” it added.

The organisation said the report documented its journey towards transformative philanthropy, an approach that tackled root causes of problems while providing immediate support.

“This evolution, shaped by extensive work with community partners and a commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity and access, has led to more intentional funding,” it said.

"This 2024-25 report reflects the work we've done together as a sector, and it tells us where we need to go," said Vivien Carter, director of philanthropy at the CBF.

“We see a sector doing extraordinary work under real constraints.

“Our role is to stand alongside our community partners, encouraging and resourcing sustainability, supporting collaboration and providing flexibility that allows meaningful work to continue and thrive.

“Every data point represents real conversations with real partners about real challenges, and those conversations will continue to shape how we invest in Bermuda's future.”

• To view the organisation’s year-end report, visitcentennial.bm/work/