First Gen Scholars

What they do

Founded by first-generation college graduate Jonathan Burgos in 2019, First Gen Scholars (1GS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a “GPS for college access for first-generation low-income students.”

According to Jonathan, in San Diego County each year, 6,000 graduating seniors from low-income households will become the first in their families to attend a four-year university.

Jonathan’s own journey may resonate among many first-generation college students: Growing up, he earned straight A’s in high school. Arriving at college, he struggled with adjusting to a new culture and environment while living on campus, ending up with failing grades and being placed on academic probation. Feeling like he couldn’t tell his parents, Jonathan relied on his friends for support.

Now he wants to connect first-generation college students with mentors so they don’t have to go through this process on their own. Jonathan comes with 13 years of experience working as a youth coordinator in the City Heights neighborhood for Price Philanthropies.

In addition to connecting college students with mentors—who themselves are alums of 1GS—the organization helps high school students navigate the college admissions process, with an emphasis on graduating college without any debt. According to the 1GS website, as of this writing, 527 scholars are now attending a top college of their choice, having collectively earned more than $26 million in scholarships.

1GS’s flagship program is a 4- to 6-week summer college access program. Within the program are affinity cohorts so that individuals with shared lived experiences and/or aspirations can build connections amongst each other.

The idea is to create communities within a community, says Jonathan. Further encouraging students to be authentic with themselves and be proud of sharing their stories.

1GS’ student-run First Gen Clubs are found at 20 San Diego area high schools. “It’s a brave space to talk about their experiences—growing up in a refugee camp, learning English while translating for their parents, or working full-time to support their families—all while combating the model minority myth,” says Jonathan. “The magic happens when it’s student-driven and led.”

Of the students who complete the 1GS summer program, 96% end up being accepted at a UC school. But Jonathan is even more proud of another stat: “Over 80% of participants are on track to graduate with no debt,” he says. “Being able to have a degree without student loans speaks volumes.”

Why we invested

Because the San Diego Unified School District grant covers expenses incurred over the summer, 1GS needs capital to cover its overhead expenses during the school year. Capital from the Advance Strategy acts as a bridge to three grants that the organization is receiving this year. The loan will be used for general working capital and credit card refinancing.

“The loan will help First Gen Scholars do things more intentionally—like allowing part-time staff to work full-time,” says Jonathan. “With this funding, we can strengthen the summer program—offering more robust support to current students.”

United Way of San Diego County participated in this loan, which aligns with its work to ensure that children, young adults, individuals, and families have the support they need to achieve educational success and financial security.

“We support capacity building for organizations to further important work in the community,” said Nancy L. Sasaki, President and CEO of United Way of San Diego County. “Through creative partnerships like this co-investment with Mission Driven Finance, we can ensure young adults and their families have the resources they need for greater educational and financial advancement.”