Chavez Family Foundation is pleased to be an initial investor in the California Campus Catalyst Fund – a multi-million dollar initiative to expand support for undocumented students and their families across the state’s three public higher education systems: California Community Colleges, California State University, and University of California.

Educators for Fair Consideration, Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, Grove Foundation, Hellman Foundation, James Irvine Foundation, and Weingart Foundation (pending), and CFF formed the Catalyst Fund to seed hope and a powerful path forward at a time when undocumented communities are grappling with fear and uncertainty. The fund was created by funders, educators, and advocates who believe increased collaborations across the state can help uncover the best ideas and solutions for California’s diverse communities.

As undocumented immigrants question whether they will be torn from their homes, their schools, their jobs, and their families, we are launching an initiative that builds on the proactive solutions coming out of California’s public higher education campuses. Thanks to the leadership of students, faculty, and administrators, our state’s public colleges and universities have emerged as sites for innovation in welcoming undocumented students out of the shadows and providing them with the resources they need to succeed.

The Catalyst Fund strengthens this wave of innovation, with an opportunity for campus leaders to develop creative strategies to respond to the needs of large numbers of undocumented students and their families. Because many undocumented students view their futures as closely linked to the security of their families, immigrant students can be important and trusted links to connect family members to needed services. The Catalyst Fund will support California’s public higher education campuses in expanding new and nascent services to undocumented immigrant students and their families, including legal services, academic advising, and other support services critical to undocumented students’ success.

For more details on what the California Campus Catalyst Fund will support, and details on how to apply, please visit CaliforniaCatalystFund.org