About

Small grants.
Big belief in people.

About the Fund

The Convivir Fund is a personal mini-grant initiative that provides direct financial support to individual students facing hardship. Convivir — Spanish for "to live together" — reflects a belief that a student's success is a shared responsibility, and that small investments in people can make a meaningful difference.

These grants are not scholarships. They are designed to remove the financial barriers that prevent students from fully showing up — in the classroom, on the field, and in their communities. When basic needs go unmet, academics and participation suffer. The Convivir Fund exists to close that gap.

Grants are awarded at $500 per recipient.

Who this fund is for

✦ Student athletes who want to participate but can't afford equipment, uniforms, or fees
✦ Food insecure students who are struggling to meet basic needs
✦ Student workers who need temporary relief to reduce hours and focus on school
✦ Students whose financial circumstances are keeping them from fully participating in their education

Current Pilot

The Convivir Fund is currently being piloted in partnership with DIY Girls, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that empowers girls and young women through technology and making. This pilot allows the fund to learn, iterate, and build toward a broader grantmaking model in the future.

We are not accepting open applications at this time. If you have questions or want to stay connected, feel free to reach out.

About the Founder

Marisol Jimenez

I am a Pacoima native and first-generation college student. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Design Engineering from Brown University, and I am currently pursuing a Master's degree in Computer Science at Stevens Institute of Technology, while working part-time as an educator.

The decision to pursue a graduate degree was not one I made lightly. Without financial assistance, I was prepared to take out loans and dedicate every paycheck to covering tuition. Then someone stepped in and made that burden disappear. What followed changed my life in ways I hadn't anticipated.

With school covered and a paycheck coming in, I had room to breathe. I got my sisters a set of quality tennis rackets and running shoes — and watched them fall in love with their respective sport. I rescued a dog. I had the flexibility to simply live a little more freely. I realized that money is a very tangible thing, and that a specific, well-timed amount of it can quietly transform someone's life outside the classroom just as much as inside it.

I created the Convivir Fund because I wanted to give that back — specifically to students who may not have a community cheering them on. Sometimes all it takes is one person deciding that your potential is worth investing in.