The NFGN micro-grant program strives to improve educational equity and promote upward social mobility for prospective first-generation college students by dispersing $2,500,000 million to programs and initiatives throughout the state. NFGN's Micro-Grant program will provide reimbursements for work performed and/or costs incurred by programs or organizations throughout the State of Nevada during the post-pandemic time period of July 1, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2024, up $150,000.
Nevada Needs Assessment
- Met with 84 programs in 14 different counties
- Top 5 challenges for programs: (1) staff shortages, (2) rising program costs, (3) language barriers, (4) lack of office space/workspace, and (5) community engagement.
- Top 5 challenges for students: (1) mental health support, (2) financial struggles, (3) lack of access to technology, (4) lack of college campus exposure/outreach, (5) food insecurities.
- 61 applicants - $7.1 million in requested funding
Eligibility requirements
Micro-Grant applicants must:
- Assist pupils who are in grade 6 through post-secondary education.
- Serve prospective/current first-generation college students.
- Serve students who have been negatively or disparately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the State of Nevada.
As defined in Nevada Senate Bill 461: The disbursement of funds must be used to provide support and services related to one or more of the following:
- Mentoring
- Tutoring
- Access to technology
- Access to food
- Activities/programming to reduce learning loss caused or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic
2023 Application process
- March: grants announced
- April: applications opened and hosted informational sessions
- May: reviewed applications. recipients selected and notified
- June/July: recipient meet & greet
- August: funds disbursed
Congratulations to the 2023 NFGN microgrant subrecipients
- Afterschool All-Stars, Clark, Las Vegas
- Caring For Angels, Washoe, Reno
- Childrens Cabinet, Washoe, Reno
- College of Southern Nevada - TRIO, Clark, Las Vegas
- Great Basin College - Competition Math Clubs, Elko, Elko
- Great Basin College - CTE Fridays, Elko, Elko
- Gutierrez Athletics, Washoe, Reno
- Junior Achievement, Clark, Las Vegas
- Latino Arte and Culture, Washoe, Reno
- Leaders in Training (LIT), Clark, Las Vegas
- Nevada State University - First in the Family, Clark, Henderson
- Nevada State University - Nepantla Program and the Social Justice Collaborative, Clark, Henderson
- UNLV - La Voz - Huellas Mentorship, Clark, Las Vegas
- UNLV - Multicultural Program for STEM & Health Sciences, Clark, Las Vegas
- UNLV - The Intersection, Clark, Las Vegas
- UNR - Clark County Extension, Washoe, Reno
- UNR - College of Science, Golden Scholars Program, Washoe, Reno
- UNR - Extension 4-H - Preparing Youth for Future, Clark, Las Vegas
- UNR - First in the Pack, Washoe, Reno
- UNR - GradFIT, Washoe, Reno
- UNR - HDFS, Washoe, Reno
UNR - Lyon County 4-H, Lyon, Yerington - Uplift Foundation, Clark, Las Vegas
- WCSD - Credit By Exam - Vaughn Middle School Counseling, Washoe, Reno
- WCSD - Hug H.S. Tutoring, Washoe, Reno
- Western Nevada College - First-Gen College Navigator, Carson City
Testimonials from our subrecipients
“Board members of the Uplift Foundation of Nevada are over-the-top thrilled to be selected as an NFGN Micro-grant recipient. Your support of and faith in us will allow us to multiply and maximize the positive impacts we have on the lives of Southern Nevada's youth. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.” - Uplift Foundation, Clark County
“We thank NFGN for taking a chance on our program! We have provided services even without funding, and we are so appreciative to NFGN for recognizing our effort and desire to reach the youth of all ages, circumstances, and challenges. We also thank our BOD members who have continued to support and lead the way toward this opportunity. We recognize that our services are a community effort, and we thank our professional volunteers who have taught Independent Living Classes in our sessions.Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” - Caring for Angels, Washoe County
“The After-Schools All-Stars Las Vegas Board and staff would like to thank NFGN for their generosity in providing this Micro-grant to enable us to serve the students at Jim Bridger Middle School.” - After Schools All Stars, Clark County
“Nevada First-Gen Network has provided such an amazing gift with these funds. With this money, Great Basin College will be able to expand the vision of area youth in not only understanding that learning is fun and exciting, but also that it is key to a successful future.” - Great Basin College, Elko County
“The First-Generation Student Center at the University of Nevada, Reno is extremely grateful to the Nevada First-Gen Network for supporting the First in the Pack program with micro-grant funding. The micro-grant will allow us to serve close to 400 first-generation college students at the University of Nevada, Reno next year. This grant is a game changer for our program and the success of first-generation students in our campus community. Thank you so much, Nevada First-Gen Network!” - First-Generation Student Center, UNR, Washoe County
“Nevada First-Gen Network we Junior Achievement is so honored to be selected to receive this award! Your investment will allow us to reach thousands of students in our community with the important life skills to be successful young adults. Thank You so much!” - Junior Achievement, Clark County
“We would like to thank NFGN for helping us bridge the gap between our students’ current skills and college readiness. With your support and expansion of our tutoring program, we will be able to reach more students and provide the necessary support and guidance our students need to lessen or fully remove the learning gaps at a faster rate. Furthermore, we will be able to provide students with the resources, skills, and mentorship that they need to excel academically in preparation for college.” - Puentes at Procter R. Hug High School, Washoe County
“Thank you to the NV legislators who prioritized our youth's education and allocated this funding to support them. Thanks to the NFGN staff for all your hard work on this project.” - Clark County Extension
“A large-scale investment in first-generation student programming is practically unheard-of; this looks different than anything we’re really seeing right now. I think there is a lack of understanding sometimes at the state government level of who first-generation students are and the challenges institutions have in supporting students…Nevada could really be a national leader in this space.”
In the press
- Kelly Hanlon, NevadaToday, April 2023
- , Jul. 2022
- Sara Weissman, , Nov. 2021
- Sarah Whitney, , Nov. 2020
*First-Generation College Student - Neither parent/guardian has received a 4-year degree from the United States.