REACH · Esther Funds Foundation
The Survival KitBefore you drop out, REACH.
Everything here is free, private and yours to use alone at 2am. What’s going on? Pick what fits, and we’ll show you where to start.
Need a person right now? Ask EFF privately · In crisis, call or text 988
RReach OutEEngage Your CommunityAAccess ResourcesCCare for Your Mental HealthHHold On
Can I still register?
What’s in the way?
Write my appeal
For a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) appeal, when you’ve lost financial aid because of grades or credits. Be honest, be specific, keep it to one page, and send it before the deadline.
November 14, 2026 Financial Aid Appeals Committee [Your school] Re: Satisfactory Academic Progress appeal, [Your name] Dear Members of the Appeals Committee, I am writing to appeal the suspension of my financial aid. I understand that I did not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements, and I want to explain what happened, what has changed, and my plan to succeed. [What happened] [What has changed since then] I will follow the academic plan I make with my advisor. [Why finishing matters to you] I respectfully ask the committee to reinstate my financial aid so that I can continue. Thank you for considering my appeal. Sincerely, [Your name]
This letter stays on this device. Read it once out loud, change anything that doesn’t sound like you, and use your school’s appeal form if it has one. Need someone to read it first? Ask EFF.
Help near my campus
Every tool, by what you’re going through
39 tools, all free. Nothing you type is sent to EFF unless a tool says so.
I can't register or I have a hold
Paying for school
I'm thinking about leaving
Food, housing and health
Classes and grades
I'm just getting started
Students like me
People and programs we trust
Beyond the Kit: EFF’s own programs, and national lines and programs. Cards marked National are run by someone other than EFF.
EFF has your back
REACH Action HubScholarships, emergency support, a stay-enrolled plan, cost-gap tools and guided next steps in one place.Open REACH →Ask EFF for helpTell a real person at EFF what's going on: financial aid, billing, housing, registration, anything. You get a code to follow your request.Ask EFF →The LighthouseAsk EFF National for help privately, and follow your lantern until a person has it.Ask for help →Find your EFF chapterA community on your campus that will notice when you go quiet.Find a chapter →Join EFFA national membership is a full membership, whether or not your campus has a chapter yet.Join EFF →EFFective LearningEFF's course library, starting with The Esther Experience. Earn certificates anyone can verify.Open the library →The Fix-It DeskCan't sign in to MyEFF, or something looks wrong? Prove your email with a code and MyEFF fixes what it can.Fix my account →
Money
REACH Scholarships & Apply to EFFThousands of open scholarships checked every morning, plus the EFF Emergency Grant and EFF support with a free My REACH account.Find scholarships →The Scholarship Walk167 scholarships for high school, undergraduate, graduate and international students, in the order they close. Save a list and add deadlines to your calendar.Take the walk →Scholarship MatchAnswer a few questions and see the open scholarships that fit you, with the reasons why.Take the quiz →Apply With MeEFF builds your scholarship application with you: your profile and essays once, every answer ready to paste. You make it yours and click submit.Start my application →My REACH accountOne free account to apply for the EFF Emergency Grant and EFF support when a round opens, upload what's asked and follow your application. Just your email and a code.Make my account →HOLD UPPaste your student account and get your real number before a registration hold: what you owe now, aid on the way, your real gap, your school's payment and drop dates, and a plan in order. Nothing leaves your phone unless you choose to share.Check my number →NationalFederal Pell GrantsFederal grants for students with financial need. Unlike loans, they generally don't have to be paid back.About Pell Grants →NationalFinding scholarships (StudentAid.gov)Where to look, when scholarship season is, and how to apply without missing a deadline.Read the tips →NationalAvoid scholarship scams (FTC)The warning signs: guaranteed awards, fees to apply, requests for your card or bank number. Report scams at 1-877-FTC-HELP.Know the red flags →NationalSubsidized vs. unsubsidized loansWhich federal loans charge interest while you're in school, and which don't.Compare loans →NationalDidn't get enough aid?StudentAid.gov's options when your financial aid doesn't cover the bill.See the options →NationalManage your college money (CFPB)Free tools from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, including a spending tracker and tips to avoid overdraft fees.Get the tools →NationalFAFSA at StudentAid.govThe free federal application for grants, work-study and loans. File every year. It never costs money to file.Open the FAFSA →NationalFederal Student Aid help lineStuck on the FAFSA? Call 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) and a person walks you through it.Call the help line →NationalCareerOneStop Scholarship FinderThe U.S. Department of Labor's free search of more than 9,500 scholarships, grants and fellowships. No account needed.Search scholarships →NationalUNCF scholarshipsThe nation's largest private scholarship provider, with hundreds of programs for students at UNCF member colleges and beyond.See UNCF scholarships →NationalThurgood Marshall College Fund scholarshipsScholarships for students at public HBCUs and Predominantly Black Institutions. One profile matches you to what you qualify for.See TMCF scholarships →NationalHispanic Scholarship FundScholarships and support for Hispanic and Latino students.Visit HSF →
Food
REACH Emergency Food RequestFor currently enrolled college students facing an urgent food emergency. Requests are reviewed by urgency and available resources.Request food help →REACH Get HelpTell REACH what's going on and your school or city: a script for what to say, help near you, and a real person at EFF if you need one.Get help →NationalSNAP for college students (USDA)The federal rules for when a college student can get SNAP food benefits.Read the rules →NationalApply for SNAP in your stateEvery state runs its own SNAP application. Find yours here.Find my state →Nationalfindhelp.orgType your ZIP code to find free and low-cost food, housing, health care, transit and more near you.Search by ZIP →NationalSwipe Out HungerThe national nonprofit working to end college hunger, with a network of more than 1,000 campuses.For students →NationalLifeline phone and internet discountA federal monthly discount on phone or internet if you get SNAP or Medicaid, or your income qualifies.Check if I qualify →National211Call or text 211, or search online, for local help with food, rent, utilities and more.Find local help →
Your mind
SelahEFF's quiet space: soft music, a verse, a timer and a grounding exercise when your mind is loud.Take a breath →JourneyFor college students who have survived sexual assault: letters to professors sent for you without the details, your rights in plain words, grounding for hard moments, Daily Light and help in your state. Private, no account.Open Journey →National5 action steps (NIMH)Ask, be there, help keep them safe, help them connect, follow up: what to do when someone may be thinking about suicide.Learn the five steps →NationalWarning signs of suicide (NIMH)What to listen for and watch for, from the National Institute of Mental Health.Know the signs →NationalHow much sleep you need (CDC)Adults 18 to 60 need at least 7 hours a night. Why it matters for your mood, memory and health.About sleep →National988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineCall or text 988, any hour, if you or a friend are in crisis. Free and confidential.Call 988 →NationalCrisis Text LineText HOME to 741741 to reach a trained crisis counselor by text.Text HOME →NationalThe Steve Fund: text STEVEFor students of color: text STEVE to 741741 to reach a trained crisis counselor, any hour.Text STEVE →NationalThe Trevor ProjectFor LGBTQ+ young people under 25: call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678, any hour, free and confidential.Get help now →NationalSeize the AwkwardHow to start the conversation when a friend is struggling: what to say, what to ask, and what to do after.Learn what to say →NationalNational Domestic Violence HotlineFree, confidential help 24/7 if someone is hurting or controlling you. Call 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.Get help →Nationallove is respectDating violence help for young people: call 1-866-331-9474 or text LOVEIS to 22522.Talk to someone →
Your career
EFF Builds Your ResumeA free tool that builds a stronger, more professional resume with you.Build your resume →EFF Interview CoachMock interviews for 56 careers, scholarships and grad school: the interviewer reads each question aloud, tough questions, instant coaching, a story bank and a 30-second pitch.Practice an interview →The Letter DeskA personal recommendation letter written and signed by EFF National, sealed with a link any school can check.Ask for a letter →Practice the ConversationPractise interviews and hard conversations out loud on REACH, so the real one feels familiar.Practise now →
In crisis or worried about a friend? Call or text 988, any hour. In immediate danger, call 911.