Giving Tuesday

Support Rise First

this Giving Tuesday!


Donate now to support First-Gen, Low-Income individuals in addressing unique challenges, creating a strong network, and empowering achievement.


Empowering first-generation, low-income (FGLI)
students and professionals nationwide


Curated resources to enable your success

People Pyramid Icon

About 4.2MM students in the U.S. may be considered first-generation, low-income college students. (Source)

Graduate Icon

Only 9% of them will earn a bachelor’s degree by age 24, compared to 77% from high-income families. (Source)

Gap Graph Icon

The achievement gap often stems from lacking professional and social capital in their academic and professional journeys.

Community Icon

We need to work together as a community to close the achievement gap and support our future leaders.

At Rise First, we are a committed team of first-generation students and professionals working with our founder, Cindy Rentala, to develop a comprehensive online platform that empowers first-generation, low-income (FGLI) students and professionals. We aim to consolidate nationwide programs and resources that meet the needs of FGLI students. We hope that our curated resource center can serve as the first place students look when they need help and support to succeed in higher education and beyond.

Our goal is not only to democratize information but also to improve access for all FGLI students nationwide. Using web/mobile technologies, we plan to build a robust online community with a focus on first-generation news, events, blogs, forums, and more importantly career-related topics including job search, networking and mentorship.

We invite you to join us in this movement. Together, we will ensure that every FGLI student is able to achieve their fullest potential.



collaboration

We're in this together.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

- NELSON MANDELA