Donate now to fund critical support for learners in crisis

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Every dollar makes a difference in a learner’s life

Donate now to fund critical, direct support to a learner experiencing an emergency situation. A small monetary grant at the right time can change the trajectory of a student's life, at a time when they may feel hopeless and unsure of where to turn.

Equity in education means all learners have access to the resources they need to succeed — exactly when they need them. From the 200,000+ learners we work with each year, we see that there are gaps in resources that need immediate attention — and our Crisis Support Services team works daily to bridge these gaps for learners. Without help, these individuals won’t have the resources they need to support themselves, let alone keep their education on track.

Everyday challenges can devastate the path to opportunity

A medical bill that makes other costs - like school - unaffordable

A broken down car that impacts transportation to school and work

A basic need for food, shelter or safety

How to give

Make a tax-deductible donation to our Emergency Support Fund today and directly help a learner in crisis. A microgrant can not only be the difference between stopping out and persevering on a learning pathway — it can show learners that we are here to support them through the obstacles life puts in their way, exactly when they need that support. There are two ways you can make a difference — by funding Emergency Support Microgrants or by funding general coaching support. Either way, all donations are:

  • Tax deductible

  • 100% secure

  • Used to directly benefit learners

Emergency support in action

Tapping into the power to persevere
Tanya is a nursing student determined to provide her six children with a better life. Her InsideTrack coach brought in the Crisis Support Services (CSS) team when he learned that her electricity was about to be shut off — which would not only shut off the heat, lights and refrigerator, but also her internet connection to her coursework. Everything she’d been working so hard for was about to be lost because of a bill she couldn’t pay. With support from the CSS team, a microgrant paid the $599 bill, so Tanya was able to continue to provide her family a safe living space, as well as continue on with her education.
Staying safe among the stress
Katherine was taking a required community college course when she experienced a domestic violence situation and needed support that would keep her safe. As a result, she was forced to uproot herself and her three kids into a new housing situation. Due to the financial strain of her relocation, she received shut-off notices for her utilities. And amid all this stress, Katherine was trying to complete her final assignment — a six-page paper — on her phone. With two microgrants — $181.54 for her energy bill and $393.19 for her internet bill — Katherine was able to keep her electricity on for herself and her kids. She was also able to more easily complete her final project, finish her college course and stay on her educational track.
Unlocking an account hold to start a new journey
Maya was working toward her associate’s degree. She had already applied and was accepted to a four-year university to continue on her desired career pathway. However, throughout the acceptance process, Maya was experiencing houselessness, and needed to accelerate the housing decision process at her new institution. Unfortunately, a $582 credit transfer fee with her community college left a hold on her account — one which she was unable to pay, and therefore unable to apply for housing options at her new university. The microgrant Maya received paid the account hold and allowed her to move forward with housing options — putting her closer to beginning her education at her new school.
A helping hand for the walk of a lifetime
Lucia had shown resilience through many challenges, and now, as she was completing her final term and standing on the cusp of graduating, one more hurdle stood in her way. In order to attend the ceremony, walk across the stage and receive her diploma, she was required to purchase a cap and gown, as well as pay a graduation fee of $190 — and that was money she just didn’t have. Knowing that $190 was the only thing keeping Lucia from the graduation stage, her InsideTrack coach connected her with the InsideTrack Crisis Support Services team. They were able to provide a microgrant to cover the expense, leaving Lucia free to fully soak in that monumental achievement of official graduation.
Putting your best foot forward
Jayce is a neurodivergent young man with a Bachelor of Arts, working on getting into a master’s program. As a foster youth, he was connected with an InsideTrack coach while he was experiencing housing insecurity and searching for a job that could help him gain stability. But how could he present his best self to potential future employers when he didn’t have a single pair of shoes appropriate for job interviews? His coach connected him with the Crisis Support Services team, who used a microgrant for $83.99 to buy him that pair of shoes. With new footwear and new confidence, Jayce is able to continue his search for employment and hopes to land a job soon.

As external resources dry up, it has been so helpful to have the microgrant available to the Crisis Support Services team. I have been able to assist learners with various needs — from gas money to drive to a crucial final exam, to groceries for a house-bound elderly woman who hadn’t had any vegetables in a year, to handling the DACA renewal fees of a learner who just lost her grandmother and had to pay funeral expenses. The relief and gratitude each learner felt was palpable.

Sarah Hassouneh

Crisis Support Specialist, InsideTrack

The microgrant has been such an amazing tool the team can fall back on. As supporters, we sometimes carry the stress of bringing resources to learners when they need it most but aren’t always able to find these resources in the community. Having the microgrant as a reliable resource has been a relief, especially as resources are dwindling and in situations where we’ve exhausted all other options.

Jesenia Cortez

Crisis Support Specialist, InsideTrack

The microgrant allows us the opportunity to redistribute funds and material resources directly to folks in need. The Crisis Support Specialist role is often a sort of short-term liaison to long-term support and care. With the many people we serve and the diverse circumstances we encounter, it becomes easy to pinpoint barriers or roadblocks. The microgrant encourages us to pinpoint a barrier and potentially offer a solution to someone in need. This allows us to support parents, folks that are undocumented, and those who would otherwise not qualify for many financial relief programs.

Angelica Ortiz

Former Crisis Support Specialist, InsideTrack