irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2025
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $51KTHE FIRST-YEAR GRADUATE PROGRAM ENROLLED 40 STUDENTS INTO THE 10-MONTH MENTORSHIP PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES THEM MENTORSHIP, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT THEM IN THE FIRST YEAR OF GRADUATE SCHOOL. IN 2025, WE AWARDED 25 FIRST-YEAR GRADUATE STUDENTS WITH 25,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO COVER EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES IN THEIR FIRST YEAR OF GRADUATE SCHOOL. IN 2025, WE PROVIDED 10 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, SCIENTIFIC TRAINING, OR CAREER EXPLORATION WEBINARS ON NAVIGATING THE FIRST-YEAR OF GRADUATE SCHOOL, LEARNING HOW TO READ SCIENTIFIC PAPERS, OR CHOOSING A RESEARCH ADVISOR. IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE PROGRAM IN 2025, THERE WERE 7 VIRTUAL COMMUNITY SOCIALS ON BUILDING COMMUNITY WITH SCIENTISTS AND CREATING A SPACE TO DISCUSS CHALLENGES IN THE FIRST YEAR OF GRADUATE SCHOOL.
named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Fellowship Database
Database containing over 250 fellowships to support students and professionals in STEM fields
Graduate School Mentorship Initiative (GSMI)
National mentorship program supporting 100 students annually with graduate school applications in STEM through mentorship, resources, and financial support for application costs
High School Opportunities Database
Open-access database listing over 180 internships and research opportunities for high school students in STEM fields
Post-baccalaureate Programs Database
Resource listing post-baccalaureate programs to help recent graduates transition into professional or graduate schools in STEM
REU Database
Comprehensive database of over 500 paid summer research programs for undergraduates (REUs, SURPs, SURFs) in STEM disciplines
Writing Center
Open-access repository of example CVs, personal statements, and fellowship applications for graduate school and research programs in various STEM disciplines
activities · 4 groups
What they do
-
Mentorship and Professional Development Programs 3 activities
- Hosts blog series featuring personal experiences and career advice in STEMProduces and maintains a blog series that highlights personal experiences, reflections, and career guidance from students, faculty, and professionals in STEM fields, aimed at supporting early-career individuals. The content includes interviews and advice on mentorship, graduate school applications, and professional development.
- Prepares scientists for consulting careers through targeted mentorship and webinarsOffers professional development programming focused on consulting careers, including two webinars that reached 84 scientists and individualized mentorship for 10 students applying to consulting positions.
- Runs mentorship and professional development programs for first-year graduate studentsEnrolls first-year graduate students in a 10-month mentorship program that includes individualized support, professional development webinars, and community-building activities. In recent years, enrolled 40 to 93 students annually, providing structured guidance on navigating graduate school, lab selection, fellowship applications, and time management.
-
-
Local High School Scholarship Programs 2 activities
- Awards scholarships to first-year graduate studentsFunds educational expenses for first-year graduate students through scholarship awards. In one year, awarded $25,000 to 25 students; in a subsequent year, awarded $42,500 to 34 students.
- Supports graduate school enrollment and application costs through scholarships and partnershipsProvides financial support and facilitates university fee waiver partnerships to cover graduate school application costs for scholars. In 2024 and 2025, supported 91 and 89 scholars respectively, covering over $64,000 and $54,000 in costs, and has supported 634 students in enrolling in graduate school since 2019.
-
-
Research and Scholarly Fellowship Support 1 activity
- Maintains comprehensive databases of STEM opportunitiesOperates and updates multiple publicly accessible databases including over 500 undergraduate summer research programs, more than 250 fellowships, over 180 high school research opportunities, and post-baccalaureate and NIH-funded PREP programs. These resources are regularly updated through community submissions and volunteer support.
-
-
College Access and Success Support 1 activity
- Provides application resources and guidance for STEM fellowships and graduate schoolOffers educational resources including sample personal statements, CVs, and webinars to support applicants in STEM fields. These materials are designed to assist individuals at various stages, from high school through professional levels, in preparing competitive applications for graduate school and fellowships.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$464K
Contributions & grants$459K99%
Program service revenue$5K1%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$189K
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$94K
Grants paid out$53K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$298K
Cash$154K
Investments$0
Liabilities$1K
Net assets$297K
Liquid reserves9.8 mo
2 years on record · 2024–2025 · YoY revenue +101.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT FERNANDEZ | EXECUTIVE DI | 40 | $49K |
board members · 2
- CATHERINE AMAYA — BOARD CHAIR
- OLIVIA GOLDMAN — BOARD SECRET
relationships · 13
Who they work with
- American Physician Scientists Association Partner — References APSA's list of programs for prospective Physician-Scientists.
- Illinois Office of Undergraduate Research Partner — Collaborates by cross-referencing databases of undergraduate research programs.
- Johns Hopkins University Partner — Collaborates by referencing fellowship databases maintained by Johns Hopkins University.
- Kenyon College Partner — Source of contributed application materials from undergraduate students.
- National Institutes of Health Government — Compiles and shares information about NIH-funded PREP programs.
- UCLA Health BioFund Partner — References non-NIH funding opportunities from UCLA Health BioFund for life sciences research.
- University of Georgia Partner — Source of contributed application materials from undergraduate students.
- University of Nevada-Reno Partner — Source of contributed application materials from undergraduate students.
- Women of Aeronautics and Astronautics Partner — Collaborated in compiling the high school opportunities database.
- Yale University Partner — Source of contributed application materials from undergraduate students.
- contact@cientificolatino.com Partner — Point of contact for questions and suggestions regarding organizational activities.
- linktr.ee Partner — Uses linktr.ee as a platform to manage and share social media links.
- university fee waiver partners Partner — Collaborates with universities to secure fee waivers that reduce graduate school application costs for GSMI scholars.
strategies · 2
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.
- Peer Mentorship Through Lived Experiencemethodology: peer-mentorship_through_experienceBy connecting underrepresented students with established STEM professionals who share similar backgrounds and career paths, we increase persistence and professional growth in STEM, because relatable role models reduce feelings of isolation and make career pathways more tangible.
- Storytelling to Humanize and Represent STEM Careersmethodology: storytelling_and_representationBy sharing personal narratives and career reflections of underrepresented STEM professionals, we increase identification with and accessibility of scientific careers, because authentic stories reduce stereotype threat and model possible selves for aspiring scientists.