A mentor is someone
who allows you to see
the hope inside yourself.
Oprah Winfrey
Our Mission
Mentoring and Funding low-income students from high school through to a 4-year degree by enlisting corporations, their employees and community members.
The Problem
Academically accomplished first-generation low-income students of color lack the access, mentoring, and funding to earn their bachelor's degree.
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First generation students have a 92.2% higher dropout rate than students whose parents have bachelor’s degrees.
Educationdata.org, 2022 Hanson
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Only 12 percent of low-income first gen students of color earn a bachelor’s degree within six years, compared to 58 percent from those in top quarter for income.
pellinstitute.org, 2018 Higher Education Equity in the US
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Under-resourced young adults who have a mentor are 55% more likely to be enrolled in college than those who did not have a mentor.
The Mentoring Effect, 2014
Our Solution
We pair low-income first-gen high school seniors with a volunteer mentor who coaches them through the college application process.
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We pair low-income first-gen high school seniors with a mentor who coaches them through the college application and funding process.
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Weekly from August-May, volunteer mentors walk their high school senior mentee through each part of the application process (Selecting a major, colleges, financial aid forms, scholarships, Equal Opportunity Programs, etc.)
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After all our mentored seniors are accepted to multiple 4-year universities, we select 20% of them to become Reach Fellows. These fellows are mentored and funded through to a bachelor’s degree increasing our college graduation rate to 85% compared with 12% nationally.
Our Ask
Enlist your entire team or department to mentor a student one hour a week.
Introduce us to your company’s diversity and inclusion group or your company’s foundation team.
Check if your company matches your donation and double your impact.
Donate today! We are 100% volunteer based, so all of your dollars go toward student scholarships.
Our Results
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Students Mentored
Since 2019, the Reach Foundation has mentored 360 low-income first gen high school seniors through the complex college application process with the help of 300+ volunteer mentors.
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Admitted to College
On average, each of our first-gen students receives four acceptances from universities.
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Scholarships Awarded
To date, the Reach Foundation has awarded 17 students college scholarships along with a personal mentor. Scholarships are between $1-$6k per year for up to 5 years.
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Graduation Rate
Funding and personal mentoring results in a college graduation rate of 85%, compared to the national average of 12%.
Our Programs
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High School Mentoring
Mentors walk their high school senior “mentee” through the college application/funding process with a focus on “Value College Options”
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Scholarships
Reach Fellow scholarships are renewable for up to 5 years in college. They are need based and allow students to work part-time instead of full-time, increasing our college graduation success rate.
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College Mentoring
In addition to funding, each Reach Fellow receives a personal college mentor who supports them through to a bachelor’s degree.
These mentors provide guidance on transferring to a 4-year university, academics, self advocacy, study habits, finances, mental health, etc.
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Career Launch
Reach Fellows securing a professional job after graduating with their bachelor’s degree is one of the greatest measures of our foundation’s success.
The Career Launch Team increases a student’s post graduation marketability with guidance on resumes, focused volunteering, internships and career planning.