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RISE FIRST INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 824407314 · Form 990EZ · FY2020 · NTEE B80 · Education · Micro (<$100K) · risefirst.org
revenue
$24K
expenses
$12K
net assets
$35K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

Rise First empowers first-generation, low-income college students to achieve their full potential by providing a free online platform with website and tools on life and career advice, list of support resources/networks and mentor ship opportunities. As an organization, we operate in an extremely frugal fashion, and rely largely on individual crowdfunding donations to cover operating costs.

profile · synthesized from sources

Rise First empowers first-generation, low-income (FGLI) college students and professionals by providing a free online platform with curated resources, career advice, mentorship opportunities, and community tools. The organization builds its platform through the work of FGLI student volunteers, offering real-world professional experience while addressing gaps in support. It operates nationally with a focus on increasing graduation rates and closing the achievement gap for FGLI individuals.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Conferences + Events
Consolidated calendar of first-generation, low-income focused conferences and events for students, administrators, and professionals
Resource Directory
Curated collection of 1,200+ scholarships, programs, and tools to support first-generation, low-income student success
Scholarships
Subset of the resource directory featuring 400+ scholarships for first-generation, low-income students
Success Roadmap
Guide to help first-generation, low-income high school seniors and college students navigate college and support their undergraduate journey
Webinars
Video content from students and professionals offering tips and advice on navigating academic, personal, and professional journeys
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • College Access and Success Support 3 activities
    • Produces educational and developmental content including webinars and success guides
      Develops and shares a college success roadmap guide and produces webinars featuring students and professionals offering guidance on academic, personal, and professional development topics to support FGLI students through high school and college transitions.
    • Provides an online platform with mentorship, career support, and resources for first-generation, low-income students
      Offers a free online platform that provides life and career advice, mentorship opportunities, support resources, and networks for first-generation, low-income (FGLI) college students and professionals. The platform includes curated content, forums, and guidance to support academic and professional development.
    • Shares stories of first-generation college graduates to inspire and support others
      Collects and shares personal stories of first-generation college graduates to inspire and provide relatable role models for current and prospective FGLI students.
  • Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
    • Curates and maintains a centralized directory of scholarships, programs, and tools for FGLI students
      Operates and maintains a comprehensive, curated directory of over 1,200 scholarships, programs, and tools specifically for first-generation, low-income students and professionals, including a dedicated list of over 400 scholarships to support access and success in higher education.
  • Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
    • Engages FGLI students in leadership and organizational development
      Recruits and involves first-generation, low-income student volunteers in leadership and operational roles such as Vice-President, Chief Operations Officer, Treasurer, and heads of Design and Content, contributing to the organization’s platform and leadership structure.
  • Professional Networking Events 1 activity
    • Organizes and promotes access to conferences and events for FGLI students and professionals
      Provides access to and promotes a centralized calendar of conferences and events tailored to first-generation, low-income students and professionals, supporting networking, resource sharing, and professional development opportunities.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2020
revenue
Total revenue$24K
Contributions & grants$24K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$12K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$35K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$35K
1 years on record · 2020–2020
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2020

Who runs it

board members · 4
  • Cindy Rentala — Board Chair, Founder & Chief Executive Officer
  • David Thai — Board Member, Vice President & Chief Content Officer
  • Kamilla Yunusova — Board Member & Chief Operating Officer
  • Ramune Bartuskaite — Chief Creative Director
relationships · 3

Who they work with

  • Cindy Rentala Partner — Founder and team member leading the development of the Rise First platform.
  • First-Generation College Students, Graduates, and Supporters Network — RISE FIRST INC connects and supports a growing network of first-generation individuals and allies.
  • University of Pennsylvania Partner — Hosted the 1vyG Conference where the founder recruited initial team members.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Centralized Digital Resource Hub
    methodology: centralized_resource_hub
    By centralizing access to curated programs and resources through an online platform, the organization improves information equity and reduces barriers for first-generation, low-income students, because fragmentation is a key obstacle to support and success.
  • Digital Peer Community Engagement
    methodology: digital_peer_community
    By leveraging digital platforms to build an online community, the organization fosters peer connection, information sharing, and career development, because sustained peer networks increase resilience and reduce isolation among first-generation students.
  • Peer Inspiration Through Graduate Stories
    methodology: peer_inspiration
    By sharing inspirational stories of first-generation graduates, the organization motivates and guides current students, because relatable role models increase self-efficacy and persistence in college.
  • Peer-Led Platform Development
    methodology: peer_led_development
    By developing and managing a technology platform through FGLI students, the organization increases relevance and accessibility of resources while providing real-world professional experience, because peer stewardship strengthens trust and engagement within the community.
  • Peer-and-Educator-Informed Resource Curation
    methodology: peer_informed_curation
    By curating college success resources based on input from first-generation students, recent graduates, and educators, the organization ensures relevance and effectiveness, because lived experience and frontline insight improve the quality and usability of support materials.