Thunderbirds Charities has awarded a $300,000 grant to the Be A Leader Foundation to support its Pipeline of Postsecondary Access and Success programs, a comprehensive initiative designed to help students in under-resourced communities prepare for, enroll in, and complete postsecondary education.
This funding will sustain Be A Leader’s year-round programming serving approximately 14,000 students annually across the Greater Phoenix area. Grant funds will directly support activities including one-on-one advising, college and scholarship application assistance, FAFSA completion support, and college and career readiness workshops to help students persist through critical transition points from middle school all the way through to college completion.
Be A Leader’s pipeline approach focuses on three core areas: building early college-going awareness, supporting high school seniors through the application and enrollment process, and ensuring students receive continued guidance as they work toward degree or credential attainment. The program primarily supports students who are first-generation, low-income, and from under-resourced backgrounds, addressing persistent gaps in postsecondary enrollment and completion in the local community.
“Thunderbirds Charities has been a long-standing partner in our work, and this investment reflects their deep commitment to our students and families—allowing us to continue meeting students where they are with consistent, high-quality support,” said Soilo Felix, President & CEO at the Be A Leader Foundation. “Together, we are helping students not only access higher education, but persist and succeed.”
Through this investment, Be A Leader will continue to build more equitable and sustainable pathways to higher education, ensuring talent and opportunity are not limited by zip code.
This grant is part of the Fall 2025 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees.