Throughout their lives, Tom and Jean Yawkey valued the importance of education and understood its ability to alter the course of young lives. They often provided anonymous tuition support for individuals in Georgetown, South Carolina and in Massachusetts. The Yawkey Foundation continues this commitment to education through programs designed to support the learning needs of the most disadvantaged members of our community through scholarship programs, youth academic development programs, and adult and immigrant literacy programs.

The Yawkey Foundation is currently closed to major capital campaigns for education institutions.

The Yawkey Foundation has a number of scholarship programs and does not accept applications for new scholarship programs outside of the following: The Yawkey Scholars Program, Adult Education Program (currently closed), and Middle and Secondary School Education Program. (currently closed)