At Barrier Breakers®, we’ve already supported over 7,000 students on their journeys to higher education, helping them secure over $490 million in scholarships. With 95% of our students identifying as first-generation (those without a parent who went to college traditionally in the US), we know firsthand the transformative power of access, opportunity, and personalized guidance.

You Can Fund a Student’s Future—From the First Step to the Final Goal

At Barrier Breakers®, we serve two critical groups of first-generation students:

High school students from low-income backgrounds navigating the path to college and through graduation
College graduates seeking admission to law school and long-term support to thrive in the legal profession

The Barrier Breakers Difference

For many first-generation and low-income students, navigating the college and law school admissions process is overwhelming. Without personalized guidance, they face barriers that can derail their dreams.

We provide one-on-one admissions advising with current and former deans, professional private counselors, and expert writers to low-income students at no cost. This personalized support increases their chances of attending schools that change the trajectory of their lives—and their communities.

Our Impact

📍 7,000+ students supported
📍 $490M+ in scholarships earned
📍 5,900+ students served through our Break Into Law conferences
📍 3,919 essay drafts reviewed (2024-Present)
📍 143 college persistence check-ins (2024-Present)
📍 97 high school students supported pro bono (2024-2026 school years)

Student Outcomes

📊 100% college acceptance rate
📊 90% receive at least one merit scholarship
📊 95% are admitted to one of their top 3 college choices
📊 54% of law applicants admitted to a Top 14 law school
📊 66% receive half-tuition+ scholarships, and 34% receive full-tuition scholarships

These students aren’t just getting into schools — they’re breaking generational cycles and proving what’s possible.

How You Can Make a Difference

💜 $2,400 (or $200/month) sponsors a student from 11th grade through college graduation (6 years)

💜 $1,500 (or $125/month) sponsors a student applying to law school through law school graduation (4 years)

💜 $1,000 funds one year of 1:1 advising

💜 $250 funds three months of 1:1 advising

💜 $100 funds one year of wellness checks for one student

💜 $25 funds one student’s attendance at our virtual conferences

Give once. Give monthly. Or rally your friends, family, workplace, or church to sponsor a student together.

Together, we can break barriers and transform futures.

Have questions? Don't hesitate to reach out to us at hello@barrier-breakers.org! You can also learn more about our work and how to get involved with us on our website.

Barrier Breakers® was started by our founder, Sydney Montgomery, a first-generation graduate of Princeton University, Harvard Law School, and Princeton Theological Seminary. She is a Obama USA Leader, Forbes 30 Under 30, TEDx Speaker, and One Young World Ambassador, championing the educational rights of first-generation students nationwide.

Sponsor a First-Generation Student's Path to College or Law School

Help a student from high school to college—or from college to courtrooms.