The White House's first National First Gen Day Celebration (Nov 8, 2023)

The White House's first National First Gen Day Celebration (Nov 8, 2023)

You are not alone.

Although it can feel that way sometimes, the reality is that first gen students make up more than half (54%) of all undergraduates in the US.*

We're a big vibrant community of trailblazers, cycle breakers, and dreamers, yet we know that first gen students often face financial hardship that goes well beyond the cost of tuition.

That's where the First Gen Fund comes in.

You've already gotten yourself in the door. We're here to help give you the support you need to stay there…and thrive.

*source: NASPA

Animated Counters with Descriptions
41%
of first gen college students have to work full or part time jobs to make ends meet*
17%
of first gen college students say financial insecurity is their most difficult mental/emotional health challenge*
3%
of first gen students report difficulty accessing or paying for food**

Almost three quarters (73%) of Latino undergraduate students are first gen, as are two-thirds of Black students (65%) and 64% of American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/or other Pacific Islander students.**

*source: FGCSNS, Bendixen & Amandi **source: NASPA

Static Text Section 1
82%
of first gen college students have to work full or part time jobs to make ends meet*
Static Text Section 2
50%
of first gen college students say financial insecurity is their most difficult mental/emotional health challenge*
Static Text Section 3
12%
of first gen students report difficulty accessing or paying for food**

Almost three quarters (73%) of Latino undergraduate students are first gen, as are two-thirds of Black students (65%) and 64% of American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/or other Pacific Islander students.**

*FGCSNS, Bendixen & Amandi
**NASPA

Letter from our Founder

I never set out to start a nonprofit when I wrote and published my memoir First Gen back in 2023. Back then, motivated by conversations I was having with thousands of first gen students across the country, I simply wanted to do something – anything - to help address the crippling financial burden these young people were facing.

And I wanted to do it fast. No red tape, no GPA threshold, no citizenship requirement - just direct support to students who needed it.

Our Founding Partners

Meet Our Fellows

Our Advisory Board

Kimberly Jones

President
Council for Opportunity in Education

Mike de la Rocha

Founder
Revolve Impact & Tepito Coffee

Helen Torres

Chief Executive Officer
Hispanas Organized for Political Equality

Giovanna Gonzalez

Financial Educator and Author
Cultura & Cash

Karim Webb

Principal
Webb Investments

Deana Waintraub Stafford

Vice President for Field Development and Engagement, FirstGen Forward

Theresa Reno-Weber

Chief Executive Officer
GoodMaps

Carlos Mark Vera

Co-Founder, Pay Our Interns 

Jose Antonio Vargas

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author