Marin nonprofit lands $100K grant to help FAFSA filers

A Marin nonprofit that works to level the playing field for college-bound students will share in a $1 million grant to help ease the federal financial aid crisis.

San Rafael-based 10,000 Degrees is among 10 organizations splitting the anonymous grant. The nonprofit will use the $100,000 award to increase support for an expanded field of Free Application for Federal Student Aid applicants, as well as those filling out the California Dream Act Application, or CADAA.

In addition, the organization has received new funding from the Educational Credit Management Corp., a nonprofit that helps students with college access and financial literacy programs. With this funding, 10,000 Degrees is expanding its online financial aid application assistance services to all Bay Area students.

The delays and other problems with the Better FAFSA program for 2024-25 have been ongoing since the beginning of the year.

A 2020 law directed the Education Department to simplify the FAFSA form, which had been criticized for being tedious and difficult, especially for families without college experience. But the launch of the simplified form in 2023 ran into error upon error — it launched months overdue in December, and students encountered glitches and hours-long waits for helpline assistance.

Since January, the delayed launch of the Better FAFSA has created challenges for thousands of students across the nation in both determining and accessing financial resources for college.

As of April, the graduating high school class of 2024 has a 35% completion rate nationally, down 25% compared to the previous academic year.

The U.S. Department of Education is scheduled to release the 2025-26 FAFSA on Dec. 1, said Gus Nodal, a spokesperson for 10,000 Degrees.

“In anticipation of the Dec. 1 launch, 10,000 Degrees is working with partner high schools, colleges and universities throughout the Bay Area, and other community organizations to expand programs and services designed to address student needs,” Nodal said.

“They’re also determining what additional training they can provide their staff and partner schools to aid in increasing FAFSA and CADAA completion rates,” Nodel said.

Jose Jimenez, a 10,000 Degrees director for San Francisco and Silicon Valley, said the nonprofit hopes to improve the situation for 2025-26.

“Last year’s FAFSA rollout created widespread confusion and frustration for many students, even more so among students coming from families with mixed immigration status,” Jimenez said. “Recognizing the urgent and continued need for support, 10,000 Degrees is stepping up by providing resources to help more students navigate the complexities of the new FAFSA system.”

Jimenez said the nonprofit’s “increased support services and programs will be essential as we prepare students for the new school year and the upcoming launch of the 2025-26 FAFSA application.”

The nonprofit offered 4,915 high school and college students support on financial aid issues over the last two years, Nodal said. The support included workshops, drop-in hours and one-on-one advice.

The application period for four-year colleges for the 2025-26 school year will open from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30 for California State University and Nov. 1 to 30 for the University of California. Private universities vary.

For community colleges, students graduating this fall semester may apply now to community colleges for spring 2025. Students graduating next spring may apply to community colleges starting in December for the 2025-26 school year.

How much the FAFSA problems will effect the number of students attending college remains to be seen, counselors and advisers say. But the delays have changed where students enrolled, with many students forced to pick a college with limited information about their financial picture.

The plunge in FAFSA completion rates was especially sharp for students who already face hurdles to enrolling in postsecondary education, including low-income students and students of color. For students who cannot pay their entire tuition and fees out of pocket, nearly all forms of financial support — institutional, state and federal, including eligibility for federal loans — require completion of the FAFSA.

Advocates worry the delays — on top of a Supreme Court ruling that struck down affirmative action in higher education — will affect where and whether many go to college.

Theoretically, said Katharine Meyer, a fellow at the Brookings Institution think tank, “We’re going to see a less racially diverse college enrollment cohort, a less socioeconomically diverse college enrollment cohort.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.