Helping students become the first in their family with a degree
Case Studies
Spotlight on the work of First Graduate, a San Francisco-based organization chosen for the 2025 Youth Skills and Employment Accelerator. First Graduate gives college and career coaching to young people as part of a 12-year commitment from middle school.
First Graduate does exactly what the name suggests – the nonprofit supports students to become the first in their family to earn a college degree.
The organization aims to level the playing field in San Francisco for low-income students of color and others who might miss out because of their background or economic status. That not only changes the life prospects of the young people involved but also their families and communities.
This year, more than 700 students will receive free college and career coaching through First Graduate. The organization makes a 12-year commitment to each student, starting in middle school and running through college graduation and into their early careers.
Founded in 2000, First Graduate celebrates the success of former students like Steven Chen, who went through the program and is now a user experience designer at Google. He said: “My parents moved from China to the United States before I was born. They wanted their children to have more opportunities than they did.
“”Knowing that going to college opens up a lot of doors allows us to decide a multitude of different career paths. It’s incredibly important to support an organisation like First Graduate. It takes the efforts of a tremendous organisation to help students like myself.”
First Graduate has been chosen by the Global Business Coalition for Education to take part in the 2025 Youth Skills and Employment Accelerator. With employers across all sectors in the United States struggling to find young talent with the expertise they need, the Accelerator is part of a nationwide drive to ensure that by 2030 all young Americans will have the skills needed to find work in a rapidly-changing job market.
The Accelerator equips nonprofits with the tools and support they need to make a real difference in the lives of young people from underserved communities.
Mubeenah Shaikh, Senior Manager, College & Career Program at First Graduate, said: “We’re working on expanding internship opportunities and corporate partnerships to provide our first-generation college students with meaningful career pathways. By being part of the Accelerator, we hope to build strong partnerships with corporations and organizations that will offer hands-on experience, mentorship, and job readiness for our students.”
First Graduate hopes to eliminate the predictive power of race, gender, ethnicity, and income among San Francisco students. Most of the students it works with are immigrants or children of immigrants facing economic and cultural challenges.
Participating in the Youth Skills and Employment Accelerator will help us increase our impact and reach more first-generation students
Mubeenah Shaikh, Senior Manager, College & Career Program at First Graduate
Families face significant financial barriers when it comes to paying for education, and many parents – often working multiple low-income jobs – lack the time, resources, and knowledge needed to help their children navigate the complex college application and financial aid processes. First Graduate provides comprehensive support for students and their families along the paths to college and career success, in fields such as engineering, financial management, and biomedical technology.
They receive one-on-one coaching, workshops, and special support to learn about resumes, cover letters, networking skills, and mentoring for career readiness. They also get assistance with accessing resources, maintaining high-level academic performance, and exploring potential career pathways.
Other benefits include paid internships through an extensive network of Bay Area corporate partners and career fairs at which students network with recruiters and employers.
As a result:
- 99% of First Graduate seniors graduate from high school, compared to a 79% average in San Francisco County.
- 99% of students enroll in college immediately after high school, more than double the national average of 46%.
- 78% of students enroll in four-year colleges graduate within six years, vastly outperforming the 32% national average.
Student Jazmine said: “My mentor helped me get back on my feet whenever I was feeling down. She’s helped me with time management, studying strategies, and improving my mental health. She has allowed me to express my needs and work together to come up with solutions. I am grateful for this experience because it helped me finish my first year as a college student strong.”
First Graduate aims to expand its reach by partnering with additional schools in San Francisco, with the goal to serve more than 700 young people annually.
Shaikh said: “Participating in the Youth Skills and Employment Accelerator will help us increase our impact and reach more first-generation students by helping First Graduate connect with additional organizations, businesses, and funders so that together we can ensure more youth are prepared for entering the workforce.”
First Graduate and the other organizations chosen for the 2025 Accelerator will join the alumni network of 28 previous participants which collectively have positively impacted more than 250,000 young people. When they complete the program, nonprofits and their leaders stay in the growing network – helping them to work with others and get peer support.
Businesses that support the Accelerator have opportunities to enhance brand recognition and strengthen community ties. They can also provide pro-bono products and services to support participating organizations.
Next resource