Education & Scholarships
Supporting students through scholarship opportunities, with special attention to high-achieving students preparing for careers in engineering, technology, and public-impact fields.
Education • Community • Stewardship
Building a lasting family tradition of giving.
A private family foundation created to support education, community opportunity, and thoughtful giving rooted in gratitude, immigrant experience, and service.
About the Foundation
Pham Foundation is a California-based private family foundation founded by Scott H. Pham and Tammy T. Duong to support charitable giving, education, and community impact in a thoughtful and organized way.
The Foundation reflects a Vietnamese-American family story shaped by immigration, education, hard work, and gratitude. Its purpose is to turn those values into practical support for students, families, schools, and community institutions.
Our approach is steady and practical: invest carefully, give thoughtfully, document responsibly, and build charitable habits our family can continue over time.
Why We Give
The Foundation’s charitable philosophy began long before the organization itself was formed.
Scott Pham grew up watching both of his parents dedicate their lives to serving others. His father spent most of his life as an educator, helping young people pursue education and opportunity. Even when resources were limited, he worked tirelessly to support poor relatives in Vietnam, students he had never met, and families who needed help continuing their education. He continued this work throughout his life until his passing.
His mother was deeply involved in community leadership and youth development, helping organize youth groups and continuing charitable and community-focused work throughout her adult life. Together, they demonstrated that generosity is not measured only by wealth, but by consistency, sacrifice, and a willingness to help others over a lifetime.
These family examples helped shape Scott and Tammy’s shared commitment to philanthropy, education, mentorship, and community support. His early experiences with giving began through the Boy Scouts, later serving as an Assistant Scoutmaster, volunteering through church communities, and eventually mentoring young engineers during his professional career at San José State University.
In business, the same philosophy continues. Through long-term property ownership and management, efforts have been made to support veterans, working families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities by maintaining stable housing opportunities and community-oriented operations.
Giving back is a choice. Our family has chosen this path for ourselves and for our children. The Foundation exists not only to provide charitable support today, but also to carry forward a family tradition of service, responsibility, gratitude, and care for others.
Current Focus Areas
Developing tactical giving channels where focused support makes an enduring difference.
Engineering & STEM
Encouraging students who show academic strength, leadership, initiative, and professional promise in engineering and related disciplines.
Community Support
Supporting charitable work that strengthens families, expands opportunity, and helps communities build stability over time.
Family Stewardship
Building a charitable structure that teaches responsible giving, careful governance, and service-minded leadership across generations.
Recent Initiatives
Active foundation development focused on education execution, administrative clarity, and structural frameworks.
2026 — Pham Foundation Engineering Scholarship
Funded an inaugural $5,000 scholarship grant through San José State University to support a promising engineering student selected through the university scholarship process.
2026 — Public Financial Transparency
Began preparing public financial summary materials based on IRS Form 990-PF filings so visitors can more easily understand the Foundation’s finances, grants, and charitable activity.
2026 — Foundation Website Development
Continued development of this website as a public-facing information resource for students, community partners, institutions, and the general public.
2021–Present — Long-Term Charitable Platform
Established the Foundation as a family vehicle for philanthropy, educational giving, and community support.
Founders
Scott H. Pham and Tammy T. Duong established the Foundation to build a lasting family tradition of philanthropy centered on education, community support, and responsible giving.
Scott H. Pham
Scott H. Pham was born in Quang Ngai, Viet Nam in 1971 and immigrated to the United States in 1981. He later graduated from San José State University with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. His life and work reflect the belief that education, family responsibility, and opportunity can transform not only one person’s future, but the future of many generations.
Tammy T. Duong, Ph.D.
Tammy T. Duong was born in Quang Ngai, Viet Nam. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and pursued advanced studies in biotechnology and fermentation sciences, completing her Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia in 2023.
Her professional experience in pharmaceutical and biotechnology research helps inform the Foundation’s interest in science education, innovation, environmental care, and organizations that promote public understanding of science and technology.
Science & Technology Education Support
Supporting institutions that promote scientific literacy, environmental care, innovation, and hands-on discovery learning.
California Academy of Sciences
Combines natural history, planetarium science, and public education. The Foundation values its role in inspiring curiosity and conservation awareness.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Internationally recognized for marine education and ocean conservation. Supports efforts that help future generations protect the natural world.
The Gardens of Golden Gate Park
Preserves spaces for botanical education and public access to nature, encouraging peaceful reflection and lifelong environmental learning.
The Exploratorium
One of California's most innovative science museums, encouraging hands-on experimentation, engineering curiosity, and interactive family learning.
Public Information & Transparency
Providing clear, readable financial summaries based on regulatory filings to ensure compliance clarity.
IRS Form 990-PF Summaries
Public financial summaries outlining foundation revenue, assets, and regulatory metrics.
View 2025 Public Financial Summary (PDF)View 2024 Public Financial Summary (PDF)
Grantmaking Summary
A direct review of all specific charitable allocations, grant counts, and program summaries across operational years.
View Grant SchedulesGovernance
The Foundation emphasizes careful governance, structural documentation, reasonableness, and responsible multi-generational fiduciary oversight.
Note: Pham Foundation is a private family foundation. The Foundation currently supports selected organizations and institutional partnerships and does not operate a general open grant application process at this time.
Contact
For general inquiries, institutional coordination, or public information requests.
Email: info@phamfoundation.org
Mail: PO BOX 68, San Ramon, CA 94583
For Students & Partners
Scholarship opportunities administered through partner institutions follow that respective institution’s internal application and selection workflows.