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Who We Are

About Loakan Charity Foundation

Our Roots and Vision

Loakan, in the mountains of Baguio City, Philippines, is home to the Philippine Military Academy, where generations of cadets have been shaped by courage, integrity, and loyalty. Loakan Charity Foundation, Inc. was born from that legacy. Founded in the United States by people bound to the Academy and to the families who live around it, the foundation exists to give back to the community that helped form them.

Our advocacy is the LEAP Scholarship: helping bright, deserving young people from Loakan and its neighboring barangays fulfill their dream of a college education. We fund tuition and walk alongside each scholar until graduation day and beyond, powered by donors and volunteers across the United States.

Our Purpose

Vision & Mission

“Dreamers, Doers… Together!”

Our Vision

A community where every young person has the chance to earn an excellent college education, and where every member of our foundation family gets the support they need.

Our Mission

  • Opening Doors to College

    We give academically qualified but financially challenged high school graduates the means to pursue and complete their college education.

  • Standing With Our Members

    We provide financial assistance to our members when they need it most.

Our Journey

Major Milestones

From a circle of five to a foundation of lasting impact.

  1. 1999–2004

    DJLF begins as a fun club and becomes a committed organization.

    • Founded by five: conceived at the turn of the century by five friends.
    • Grown by 55: turned into a serious organization, embraced by 55 founding members.
    • Driven by one cause: supporting the education of young people in the Philippines.
    • Built for what came next: the groundwork was laid for LEAP to launch in 2005 and beyond.

    The Formative Years

  2. The Youth Scholarship Program Launches

    2005

    A watershed year for the Foundation.

    • LEAP comes to life: its core component, the Youth Scholarship Program (YSP), formally launches.
    • The first scholars: the LEAP Scholars Batch of 2005 receive their awards.

  3. 2006–2008

    The program takes root in Loakan and the City of Baguio.

    • Serving the community: scholars join community development activities.
    • Growing leaders: leadership seminars start them on community involvement.
    • Lasting impact: each scholar builds the skills to become a good leader in their own community.

    Deep Roots, Growing Hope

  4. DJLF Consolidates and Expands

    2009–Present

    Carrying out the Strategic Plan set at the founding in 1999.

    • Stage III (2006–2010): Construction Consolidation.
    • Stage IV (2011–2015): Expansion, followed by Stage V (2016–2020): Expansion Consolidation.

  5. 2018

    DJLF becomes Loakan Charity Foundation, Inc., a tax-exempt nonprofit.

    • A new name, a new status: DJLF was transformed into Loakan Charity Foundation, Inc. (LCFI) on October 17, 2017.
    • Why the change: members, donors, and patrons wanted their donations to be tax-exempt, and 501(c)(3) status was expected to help giving grow.
    • Officially authorized: on February 2, 2018, the Virginia State Corporation Commission authorized LCFI to operate as a non-stock, nonprofit corporation.
    • A two-fold objective: LCFI's Articles of Incorporation commit it to promote youth education and development, and to promote the well-being of needy members who meet its criteria for financial assistance.

    DJLF Is Now LCFI

Our Five-Stage Development Strategy

The Plan Behind the Milestones

The long-range plan DJLF set at its founding in 1999 to build a lasting foundation, carried out stage by stage from 1999 to 2020.

  1. 1999–2000

    Initiation

    Where it all began.

    • DJLF is conceived and started, founded as an informal club of friends.
    • The Loakan Fund is built from members' quarterly contributions.

  2. 2001–2005

    Construction

    Building the base and launching LEAP.

    • Membership and contributions grow.
    • DJLF Foundation, Ltd. is incorporated.
    • The Loakan Educational Assistance Project (LEAP) is conceptualized.
    • Revenue begins to come from beyond membership.
    • The Youth Scholarship Program is inaugurated, and LEAP's other programs start up.

  3. 2006–2010

    Construction Consolidation

    Strengthening what was built.

    • The gains of Stages I and II, especially Stage II, are consolidated.
    • The foundation is set up for expansion in Stage IV.

  4. 2011–2015

    Expansion

    Growing to the right size.

    • Determine the size at which the foundation can be sustained.
    • Bring or expand the foundation to that point.

  5. 2016–PRESENT

    Expansion Consolidation

    Built to last.

    • Consolidate the foundation and the gains made during Expansion.
    • The final major stage, leaving the foundation on "cruise control": sustained and sustainable for years to come.

New Name, Same Vision

In 2017, during the final stage of the plan, DJLF became Loakan Charity Foundation, Inc., a tax-exempt nonprofit, carrying the mission forward under a new name.

How We Operate

Our Five Operating Principles

Principles carried from DJLF to LCFI, guiding every gift we receive.

  1. Account for Every Dollar

    Every dime, every nickel, every penny.

    • Every contribution is tracked: each gift is accounted for, down to the last penny.
    • No doubt where the money goes: we owe this to ourselves and to every donor.
    • Integrity first: all financial matters are handled honestly and honorably, as expected of a foundation whose members trace their roots to the Philippine Military Academy.

  2. Let Every Dollar Count

    Accounted for, and used wisely.

    • Spent with care: every dollar is used wisely and judiciously.
    • Built to last: our endowment programs are designed for the greatest benefit and welfare of our beneficiaries.

  3. Keep Our Eye on the Ball

    No one dilutes our goal.

    • One clear purpose: we are a nonprofit, charitable organization that raises funds for our chosen beneficiaries.
    • Staying focused: every member keeps distractions to a minimum, or none at all.
    • No other agenda: the foundation is never used for personal gain or for political, business or economic purposes.

  4. Do Things Well and Do Them Right

    Excellence, the ethical way.

    • Excellence and efficiency: we pursue the foundation's goals effectively and efficiently.
    • The right way: things must be done ethically and morally.
    • When in doubt, do what's right: if doing things well ever conflicts with doing them right, the ethical path takes precedence.

  5. Build for the Long Haul

    Built to stand long after us.

    • Here to stay: Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is this foundation.
    • Maintain and grow: we build, develop and strengthen for the long term.
    • A lasting legacy: what we do today should live on long after we are gone.

Financial Transparency & Accountability

Every dollar entrusted to us is a promise. As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we track each donor contribution from receipt to scholar, keep operating costs lean, and submit our books to independent review every year. Our annual reports, audited statements, and IRS filings are published here so that every supporter can see exactly how their generosity is changing lives.