REACH · Esther Funds Foundation

The Survival KitBefore you drop out, REACH.

Four tools for the night it feels like you’re done. Use them alone, or bring a friend.

New: Pell Protector. Is your Pell Grant safe in 2026–27? →

RReach OutEEngage Your CommunityAAccess ResourcesCCare for Your Mental HealthHHold On

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Can I still register?

What’s in the way?

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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.

Your full nameYour schoolStudent ID (optional, never saved)Which term are you appealing for?What happened?Tell it in your own wordsWhat has changed since then?

Your planMeet with my academic advisor every monthUse the tutoring center every weekGo to my professors' office hoursTake a lighter course loadReduce my work hoursUse the campus counseling center

Why does finishing matter to you?What will you attach? (if they ask for documents)Your email or phone

September 30, 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.

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Help near my campus

Your school

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Everything, in one place

EFF’s own tools, and the national lines and programs we trust. 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 →The Survival KitCan I still register? Write my appeal. Help near my campus. REACH's four tools for the night it feels like you're done.Open the kit →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 EFF's own scholarships and emergency funding 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 →My REACH accountOne free account to apply for EFF's own scholarships and emergency funding when a round opens, upload what's asked and follow your application. Just your email and a code.Make my account →Pell ProtectorFrom 2026–27, grants and scholarships from your state, college or a private group that reach your cost of attendance end your Pell Grant for the year. Check where you stand, in English or Spanish. Nothing you type is saved.Check my Pell →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 →

Your career

EFF Builds Your ResumeA free tool that builds a stronger, more professional resume with you.Build your resume →EFF Interview CoachA free eight-question mock interview with instant coaching.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 →

In crisis or worried about a friend? Call or text 988, any hour. In immediate danger, call 911.