Closing the Gap

Grecia Frias' 16-year-old mind had no concept of college.  But that was two years ago.  Today, Grecia is college bound with dreams of becoming a social worker.  Unfortunately, Grecia is the exception in the Sacramento Region, not the rule. Four out of five African American, Latino, Southeast Asian, and low-income whites graduate from high school without the necessary coursework to apply to a four-year university.  Meanwhile, jobs that require a college degree are on the rise leaving many of our students to low-income jobs.

Closing the Gap is committed to reducing the disparity in achievement by providing resources that focus on helping local students achieve their fullest potential through academic achievement. We see tangible success in students in 8th through 12th grades.  Students like Grecia who received one on one counseling from a program funded by Closing the Gap.  The counselors not only met with Grecia but came to her home to counsel Grecia's mother on how to make sure her daughter would get into a four-year college.  It's the goal of founders of Closing the Gap envisioned in 2008 when they recognized how the achievement gap in their own backyard was eroding the skilled workforce in Sacramento and diminishing the chance of seeing the Sacramento area continue to thrive.

An all-volunteer board was formed to raise money, engage the community and identify programs to provide services to assist students in unlocking their potential.  The programs are vetted and must demonstrate commitment and ability to work with other programs so that a network of support is aggregated and delivered.  The mission caught the attention of businesses, local law enforcement, the Mayor, and dozens of community leaders who appreciate the critical importance a skilled workforce can make on local economy, and the quality of life of everyone living in the region.  More than 90 percent of funds raised by Closing the Gap are distributed to programs. Upwards of 1,200 students are touched each year by programs funded by CTG.  These programs offer services such as in-home one-on-one academic counseling, college tours, SAT tutoring, and college and financial aid application assistance.  Consistently, students served by CTG programs are going on to earn a four-year degree.  Six years after being founded, many students have earned graduate degrees and have come back to support others.  In most instances, students say it would not have happened without the support of Closing the Gap and its commitment to make a local impact by funding local programs helping local students.  

We are excited to announce that Closing the Gap is beginning its SEED campaign: $ustainability, Education, Empowerment, Development ($EED) as part of the annual Big Day of Giving in 2024! It is through fundraisers like BDOG that we are able to plant the seeds that grow impactful programs in our community.

The goal of $EED is to provide programs with SEED (Sustainability, Empowerment, Education and Development) Money.

Closing the Gap supports organizations that don’t have the big donors; don’t have the resources to advertise. They wouldn’t exist without us.

What we do well:

• We find the one-person band and turn them into an orchestra (e.g., Improve Your Tomorrow)
• Our vision is to help these organizations close the achievement gap by providing funding for the projects that need support to ensure children and youth can succeed
• We can help build these community organizations with your support.  We can create more award-winning programs like EagleForce Robotics in Elk Grove
• With your donations we can do even more to help programs who did not have the funds without the seed money provided by Closing the Gap

The Big Day of Giving is an annual event in where communities across the United States gather for one BIG Day of Giving. With the hope of reaching millions of

donors and raising over $100M nationwide, each community rallies support for the vital work of local nonprofits.

Closing the Gap supporters have generously donated tens of thousands of dollars on the Big Day of Giving to help close the academic achievement gap in the Sacramento region. The dollars raised during this event go to organizations reaching hundreds of Sacramento students with services like tutoring, SAT prep coursework, college readiness, and life coaching.