For Donors and Foundations

No. Universities teach, and most do not help a first-generation international student sign a Texas lease, open a bank account, work through the Department of Public Safety for a driver license, or have school records translated and evaluated. Exchange agencies and consultants often charge participants fees and may end their involvement when a placement is made. We charge participants nothing, and we stay with them through the first six months of the journey. We work alongside schools and employers and do not replace them.

No. As a charity we take no equity in participants' ventures and no commission or fee from employers, schools or participants. Our policies prohibit it, and it would conflict with the rules against private benefit. We are not a recruiting agency, broker-dealer or investment vehicle. Services are funded by gifts, grants and corporate alliances, and no participant pays a fee.

Every corporate relationship is governed by a written agreement and by our Conflict of Interest Policy. Directors, officers and major donors may not steer funds, contracts or vendor choices to their own businesses, and competitive procurement rules apply. Corporate partners take part as donors, mentors and employers offering genuine, fairly paid internships or jobs. Participants are never required to use a partner's product or service.

Navigators check in regularly, and an early support plan comes first. Where funds are available, Soft Landing emergency support helps with urgent needs. A participant may withdraw at any time. Separation follows a written process with notice, a chance to respond and a right to appeal. Gifts restricted to a cohort or program are used only as the donor agreement allows. If a participant leaves, unused restricted funds stay in the same restricted pool and move to another participant in that program, and if a donor prefers another use we ask for written consent. We apply fund accounting under FASB ASC 958.

It is an invitation, not an obligation. Alumni are invited to mentor a newcomer, to open a door at their workplace, or to contribute to the fund, in the ways they choose. It is not a condition of admission, support or certification, and it is not scored. Participants pay no fees. Our budget does not depend on alumni giving.

Our MEL Framework (monitoring, evaluation and learning) sets a baseline for each participant and tracks English gains, admissions, placements, housing stability and retention. Individual information stays confidential. Funders receive aggregate results in an annual impact report, with methods and limits explained. Targets are set from the first-cohort baseline and are always labeled as targets until they are achieved.

Applications are free. Two reviewers score each application with the same criteria: clarity and feasibility of the goal in Texas, need and equity, steps taken and readiness to commit, and fit with the program. A structured interview follows. English level is used to plan support and does not by itself exclude anyone. Immigration status, religion, accent, family situation and wellbeing are never scored. A committee decides, and candidates may ask for a review.

Our application for tax-exempt status is in progress. Please contact us before making a gift if you need to confirm its tax treatment.

Recognition (for example a named cohort, a Donor Wall listing or reports) is not a payment for goods or services. It never gives control over selection, curriculum, staffing or governance. Restrictions on how a gift is used are set in a written gift agreement, and we do not accept restrictions that conflict with our charitable purposes or with fair selection.

No. We are a nonprofit and not a law firm, school, employer or immigration service. We cannot guarantee admission, a job, a visa or any immigration result. We help people prepare and settle, and we refer them to qualified, licensed professionals for legal questions. Outcomes depend on many factors and are reported honestly.

Texas offers a unique combination of economic leadership, a relatively lower cost of living, a dynamic business ecosystem and historic cultural ties to Latin America. With four complementary major metropolitan areas — technology in Austin, finance in Dallas, energy and healthcare in Houston, and Hispanic heritage in San Antonio — the state has the immediate capacity to absorb technical talent at scale, providing a sustainable path to social mobility without the prohibitive cost of living in other regions.

Lone Star Bridge operates strictly within United States immigration laws. The organization is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. All participants must legally qualify for regular visa categories (such as F-1, J-1 or B-1) or formal work authorizations. Legal compliance matters are referred to licensed, independent immigration attorneys.

Funding is 100% philanthropic and institutional, comprising gifts from private foundations, family offices and individual donors, as well as corporate sponsorships under Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs). As participants complete the programs and enter the formal workforce in Texas, the Alumni Pay It Forward network gives back through recurring gifts and volunteer mentoring hours, strengthening the model's long-term sustainability.