Fundraising Tips for Undocumented Students: Developing Your Fundraising Portfolio

One of the ways that many undocumented students fundraise for college is by developing a Fundraising Portfolio.  What is a Fundraising Portfolio, you may ask?  Well, I'm here to tell you everything you need to know about what to include in your Portfolio and how to use it to fundraise for college.  I also encourage any undocumented students who have developed their own Fundraising Portfolio to share their tips for students here!

What do I include?          Click here for: Sample Fundraising Portfolio

1. Cover Letter - Your cover letter is a lot like a personal statement or biographical essay.  It tells the reader about you and your personal story.  It also lets the reader know that you will be attending college, what your costs to attend are, and that you have limited access to financial support due to your residency status.  You do not need to state anywhere in your cover letter that you are "undocumented."  Instead, you may simply say, "I am ineligible for financial aid due to my residency status."
2. Letter of Admission - You should include a copy of your Letter of Admission or some other formal documentation to let the reader know that you have been admitted to college and/or are currently attending.
3. Unofficial Transcripts - Whether you are a high school or college student, you should include a copy of your Unofficial Transcripts in your Portfolio.  If you are a strong student academically (i.e., you have good grades) then this will help the reader feel more confident about investing in you and your educational future.  However, even if you have struggled academically, you can still include your transcript to let the reader know where you are in school (i.e., high school senior, college student, graduate student).  You can also include an explanation for your academic struggles in your Cover Letter, if you wish to. 
4. Resume - Developing a strong resume is something that will benefit you in many ways as you fundraise for college.  It tells the reader everything that your Cover Letter and transcripts do not.  It lets the reader know about your educational background, work experience, volunteer work, community service, honors & awards, etc.  Please see the link to the Sample Fundraising Portfolio for the proper formatting and content of your resume.
5. Letters of Recommendation - You should include at least 2-3 letters of recommendation with your Fundraising Portfolio.  These letters should come from teachers, professors, counselors, advisors, community members, or others who can speak to your motivation to succeed in college and help the reader to understand why their investment in you and your education is important. 

Please see the Sample Fundraising Portfolio for an example of the items above.

Who do I give my Fundraising Portfolio to?

This will differ from student to student.  The reason is because each student has different relationships with different people.  You should think about who is part of your personal network.  Members of your personal network include teachers, professors, counselors, advisors, community members, family members, peers, or others who you have personal relationships with.  You should start by making 10-20 copies and sharing your Fundraising Portfolio with individuals in your own personal network.  When you do, you will also want to ask these individuals if they would be willing to share your Fundraising Portfolio with their friends or colleagues. 

You should not expect any one person to provide you with all of the funding you need for college.  More often, students are able to raise hundreds or even thousands of dollars by giving their Fundraising Portfolio to many people who each make small donations.  However, there are students with strong personal networks who have raised much of the money they need for college this way.  It really depends on the relationships you have with the people around you and the strength of your personal network and your Portfolio.

For more information about how to build a strong network, please check out my next blog: Tips for Undocumented Students: Networking for College & Career Success! 

If you are undocumented & unsure about what the future holds, why should you go to college?

The question below is a common one asked by a lot of undocumented students, so I wanted to take a few moments to respond.  Check out the question below posted by an undocumented student and then my response.  If you are an undocumented college student who is reading this post, please feel free to provide your own response to this question.

"i know you guys are trying to get us all to go to college and i appreciate that. but i can't help to wonder what's the sense of doing that? my parents are illegal and so am i and my two brothers. i work since 8th grade and now i'm in 11th and going to college seems ridiculous given that i won't be able to pay for it or get a job after i graduate. My question is why bother? i thought for sure by now the dream act would've passed but it seems impossible for it to be approved."

I realize that the question above is a common one among undocumented students, particularly at a time in our country when the issue of immigration and undocumented immigrants is so controversial.  However, there are many undocumented students in the U.S. who have been here for most of their lives and worked very hard to do well in school and get to college.  Many of the undocumented students I work with have asked themselves this same question and here is their answer. 

While the DREAM Act has still not been passed, we get closer every year.  One day it will pass and when it does, I will have my college education and be able to reach my professional goals.  Why waste time now, when I could be continuing my education?  There was a time in our country's history when we didn't have state policies to make college more affordable for undocumented students and now in some states we do, so change is possible.

I know many undocumented students who have earned a Bachelors degree, Masters degree, and some are even in law school or pursuing a Ph.D.  I don't think that any of these students believe they are wasting their time.  In fact, many of them have significantly broadened their support networks by continuing their education.  These support networks have assisted the students in raising the funds they need to pay for their education and in some cases have even helped these students find paid internships and other work opportunities.

If you have questions or would like more information on this topic, please let me know!

Undocumented? You can attend and pay for college!

Are you beginning to despair because you think you won’t be able to afford college? Think again! There are thousands of undocumented students around the country who have been very successful raising the funds necessary to pursue higher education, even to attend elite colleges!  Their common denominator? They are great networkers.

What is “networking” you may ask?  Networking is the way in which individuals make mutually beneficial connections with others.  For example, many successful undocumented college students participate in clubs, community service, and other on-campus programs where they build relationships with peers, staff, faculty, and community members who can help them when it comes time to fundraise for college. 

This blog will walk you through the various activities that can help you raise the money you need to fulfill your college dreams. I will hold your hand until you have figured out the way. I will help connect you with useful organizations. I will point you in the direction of resources available to you.

If you are undocumented and want to know more about how to network and fundraise for college, post your questions here.  If you are an undocumented student who has been successful networking or raising money in your state, please share your tips and advice so other students can benefit from your experience!

Let’s meet back here next week.