named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Career Roundtables
National virtual discussions where professionals share insights on topics like "Being Black at Work" and "Bouncing Back After Rejection" with small groups of students.
Fellows Program
Two-year in-person program offering first-generation college students one-on-one mentorship with Mentor Coaches, 15 career development workshops, internship support, and up to $1,000 in annual grant funding. Operates in New York, New Jersey, and Illinois.
FirstGenU
National digital career development program for first-generation college students. Offers self-paced career readiness curriculum, virtual enrichment events, and peer networking opportunities.
Informational Interviews
Virtual speed networking events connecting Fellows with professionals for industry insights, career path exploration, and practice of informational interviewing skills.
Saturday Workshops
Monthly in-person workshops covering career readiness skills such as resume writing, networking, financial literacy, and interviewing. Part of the Fellows Program curriculum.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Student Career Readiness and Internship Placement 3 activities
- Career development workshops and networking eventsDelivers 15 career development workshops per year as part of the Fellows Program, along with national Career Roundtables and 1:1 informational interview sessions that include elevator pitch practice and speed networking with volunteers and professionals.
- Fellows Program: Two-year mentorship and career development for first-generation college studentsOperates a two-year program that provides first-generation college students with one-on-one mentorship from Mentor Coaches, career development workshops, internship support in the first year, and post-graduation planning in the second year. The program is implemented in Chicago, IL; New Jersey; New York City, NY; and California, with Saturday workshops and live virtual events facilitating peer and staff engagement.
- FirstGenU Career Institute: Nationwide digital career development programOffers FirstGenU, a digital, self-paced career development platform available to first-generation college students across the United States, complemented by optional weekly social hours and virtual enrichment events on topics such as job search strategies, LinkedIn optimization, financial planning, and first-generation professional experiences.
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Civil Rights Advocacy & Litigation 1 activity
- Advocacy resource sharing on racial justiceShares advocacy tools with stakeholders, including a template for holding employers accountable for racial justice originally curated by Rachel Cargle, to promote equity and systemic change.
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Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
- Financial and internship support for program participantsProvides up to $1,000 in annual grant funding per Fellow and supports first-generation college students in securing career-relevant internships during the first year of the program, with 85% of Fellows completing such internships.
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Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
- Participant engagement in organizational strategyEngages Fellows in shaping organizational direction through surveys, focus groups, and discussions at program events, fostering participant-led input into program design and strategy.
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Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
- Post-college transition supportProvides career planning and life-after-college support during the second year of the Fellows Program, resulting in 82% of Fellows securing employment or enrolling in graduate school within six months of graduation.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Program participation and academic expectationsRequires Fellows to maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA during program participation as part of its capacity-building framework to support academic persistence and success.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.87M
Contributions & grants$2.78M97%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$87K3%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$4.55M
Program expenses77%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising8%
Salaries & benefits$2.77M
Grants paid out$362K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.88M
Cash$836K
Investments$1.15M
Liabilities$218K
Net assets$2.66M
Liquid reserves5.2 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -14.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 6
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANNA VERDIYAN THRU 123124 | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER | 40 | $256K |
| ADRIENNE BOYKIN THRU 8224 | CHIEF FINANCE AND ADMI. OFFICER | 40 | $126K |
| EMILY ASTON THRU 11124 | CHIEF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS OFFICER | 40 | $123K |
| JOHN CRUZ | NEW JERSEY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $122K |
| ALICIA GUEVARA | CEO - BEGAN 9/24 | 40 | $102K |
| HOSEA HARVEY THRU 63025 | INTERIM CEO/GENERAL COUNCEL | 40 | $91K |
board members · 19
- ADITYA SANGHVI — DIRECTOR
- ALEXANDER SLOANE — DIRECTOR
- CARLA RUIZ — SECETARY
- CINDY HELEN BREA — DIRECTOR
- DANIEL SMITH THRU 123124 — DIRECTOR
- DAVID ZUSSMAN — DIRECTOR
- DEVIN THOMAS — VICE CHAIR
- DINA ARONSON — DIRECTOR
- ERIC ARONSON — DIRECTOR
- JACQULINE GRACE — DIRECTOR
- JAMIE SHOLEM — CHAIR
- JEFFREY GOLDFADEN — DIRECTOR
- JUAN URIBE — DIRECTOR
- LINSEY DAVIS — DIRECTOR
- MARTHA ST JEAN — DIRECTOR
- MATT BLANK — DIRECTOR
- ROBERT REFFKIN — FOUNDER
- ROLAND MERCHANT — DIRECTOR
- SEBNEM GIORGIO — DIRECTOR
relationships · 25
Who they work with
- ACLU Partner — Shares ACLU resources on protestors' rights as part of its know-your-rights materials.
- Black Lives Matter Partner — Shares resources from Black Lives Matter, including know-your-rights guides and allyship materials.
- Chicago Government — Operates the Fellows Program in Chicago with a program deadline of July 8, 2026.
- Crisis Text Line Partner — Shares Crisis Text Line as a resource for free 24/7 crisis counseling.
- Facebook Partner — Social media presence on Facebook platform.
- Humanity in Action Partner — Shares a Humanity in Action resource on the role of privileged allies in social justice.
- Inclusive Therapists Partner — Shares Inclusive Therapists’ mental health resources as part of its wellness offerings.
- Instagram Partner — Social media presence on Instagram platform.
- Linkedin Partner — Social media presence on LinkedIn platform.
- Mind Your Mind Partner — Shares Mind Your Mind resources to build resilience and support wellness.
- National Museum of African American History & Culture Partner — Shares self-care guidance from the National Museum of African American History & Culture.
- New Jersey Government — Operates the Fellows Program in New Jersey with a program deadline of June 19, 2026.
- Pell Institute Partner — Source of national graduation rate data for first-generation college students
- Rachel Cargle Partner — Shared a racial justice accountability template curated by Rachel Cargle.
- Sojourners Partner — Shares an article from Sojourners titled "For our White Friends Desiring to be Allies."
- Take Care 19 Partner — Shares accessible and inclusive mental health resources from Take Care 19 for coping during difficult times.
- The Latch Partner — Shares an article from The Latch on steps to be an anti-racist ally.
- The Management Center Partner — Shares a Management Center resource on managing during times of racial injustice.
- U.S. Dept. of Education Government — Source of national salary data for first-generation college graduates
- Valley Magazine Partner — Shares an article from Valley Magazine on non-optical allyship.
- Volunteers Partner — Volunteers participate in 1:1 informational interviews with Fellows, sharing professional insights and guidance.
- Vulture Partner — Shares a Vulture article on how to be a good white ally according to activists.
- Women of Color for Progress Partner — Shares a guide to allyship from Women of Color for Progress.
- Yasmine Cheyenne Partner — Shares Yasmine Cheyenne’s trauma and grief resource guide to support self-healing and collective trauma processing.
- Youtube Partner — Social media presence on YouTube platform.
strategies · 4
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.
- Asset-Based Career Developmentmethodology: asset_based_career_developmentBy focusing on students' existing strengths and leadership potential, the organization fosters professional growth and self-efficacy, because an asset-based approach increases motivation and counters deficit narratives that hinder first-generation students.
- Holistic, Long-Term Support for Student Successmethodology: holistic_support_modelBy delivering a two-year, integrated model of mentorship, skill-building, and professional network access, the organization improves college graduation and career outcomes, because sustained, non-academic support addresses systemic barriers faced by first-generation students.
- Mentorship and Peer Cohort Modelmethodology: mentorship_and_peer_cohortBy combining one-to-one mentorship with peer cohort learning, the organization builds career readiness and a sense of belonging among first-generation college students, because relational support and shared identity enhance engagement and persistence.
- Scalable Digital and Virtual Engagementmethodology: digital_and_virtual_engagementBy offering virtual enrichment events and self-paced digital learning, the organization expands access to professional development regardless of geography, because flexible modalities increase equity and participation among students with varying logistical constraints.