Honor Your Dreams

04/30/2026

⏰ Applications for our Dream Builder Fund close tomorrow ⏰

Rising college juniors and seniors can apply for a $500 micro-grant to support a self-directed career projects. This fund ensures more students can dive into projects that advance their professional skillset.

Send this to a student in your network who may have an idea they want to turn into reality ✉️ link to apply is in bio!

04/13/2026

As a nonprofit working closely with youth, we take their feedback seriously, and it’s shaped something we’ve been building toward for a long time. We’re excited to introduce a new series of $500 micro-grants to support self-directed career projects.

From years of working alongside students, we’ve seen that the gap between a great idea and a real opportunity usually isn’t talent or ambition. It’s access. Sometimes, it’s just a few hundred dollars and someone willing to believe in them. The Dream Builder Fund is our way of being that support.

If you know a rising college junior or senior who is low-income or first-generation and has a project they’ve been wanting to pursue, please share this opportunity with them. The students who could benefit most are often the least likely to hear about it without someone advocating for them.

Applications are due May 1st with a priority deadline of April 17th ➡️ https://honoryourdreams.org/dream-builder-fund

03/18/2026

Through our Dual Impact Internship Program last semester, Haddar gained hands-on experience at Multicultural Music Group, a nonprofit dedicated to amplifying diverse voices in music.

In his role, he created content for their blog, contributed to website planning, and designed flyers and promotional videos, applying his studies in Sociology to explore the intersection of culture and media in a real-world, professional setting.

Our programs connect low-income college students with paid workforce experiences to open doors to further career opportunities for them, and we look forward to sharing more stories around our impact 🌟

03/06/2026

Since 2023, we have continued advancing our mission through the Dual Impact Internship Program, connecting low-income, first-generation college students with paid, career-building opportunities at startups founded by underrepresented leaders.

Through this program, Lizbeth, a sophomore at Vanderbilt University, applied her studies in Economics and her existing professional experience at Sachi Health. As a Growth Marketing Intern, she deepened her expertise in metrics-driven impact and gained hands-on experience at the intersection of data, product strategy, and user behavior to further her professional development.

03/03/2026

While we rebranded a few months ago, our work never slowed down. Throughout the fall, we continued running our Early Career Green Jobs Program, connecting low-income, first-generation college students to paid, career-building opportunities in the climate tech & sustainability economy.

In our most recent cohort, students like Danny gained hands-on experience with high-growth startups like Kelvin, building real-world skills, earning income, and contributing meaningfully to a growing business. When students rise, businesses grow, and we're excited to continue on with this program.

11/06/2025

🚀 We’re turning the page to a bold new chapter 🚀

I’m thrilled to share that First Tech Fund is rebranding as Honor Your Dreams, reflecting our renewed commitment to empowering low-income, first-generation students through workforce development and paid professional experiences.

We're making this change because we believe economic opportunity and personal aspiration are inseparable. As Honor Your Dreams, our mission remains rooted in that belief: helping students not just dream big, but build the skills, access, and confidence to make those dreams real.

Since 2020, we’ve supported students in navigating academic and professional pathways. Today, we’re intensifying our focus on career-launching moments: paid internships, mentorship, skills building experiences.

In 2023 we introduced our Dual Impact Internship Program, and this year launched the AI for Good Fellowship and Early Career Green Jobs Program, which are all designed to give low-income, first-generation college students the advantage they deserve.

👉 To our community: thank you for your support. We hope you’ll join us in this new chapter by sharing our story, supporting our students, and helping to spread the word.

First Tech Fund is stepping into a new era with a deepened investment in workforce development programming and a new name - Honor Your Dreams

10/29/2025

We're excited to share another alumni spotlight 🎉

Meet Sajid, a proud First Tech Fund alum who began his journey with us as a high school senior in the South Bronx and is now thriving at Syracuse University, studying Computer Science & Mathematics.

From refining his college essay with his mentor to embracing a mindset of “keep trying hard,” Sajid found more than academic help through participating in our programs - he found community and long-term bonds through our events which help keep him motivated to achieve a career in technology and business.

We’re so proud of all that Sajid’s accomplished and can’t wait to see the impact he’ll make next! www.firsttechfund.com/blog/alumnispotlight-sajid

10/09/2025

Did you know today is DAF Day? You can make a lasting impact through your Donor-Advised Fund 🌟

A DAF allows you to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants to your favorite causes. By recommending a grant to First Tech Fund from your DAF, you help us continue supporting the next generation in unlocking economic opportunity for themselves through workforce development programming.

If you already have a DAF through Fidelity Charitable®, Charles Schwab Charitable, Vanguard, or another provider, you can easily recommend a grant today!

Your generosity ensures that our work continues -- today, tomorrow, and for years to come 💚

09/30/2025

Earlier this month, we celebrated our 5th anniversary surrounded by former students, volunteers, mentors, donors, and friends. It was a powerful reminder that what began in 2020 as an urgent response to the pandemic has evolved into a thriving community that has touched the lives of hundreds of young people.

As we look to the next 5 years, we’re setting bold goals like scaling our paid internship programs, expanding scholarships, and ensuring even more students can dream big and honor their ambitions.

Help us reach our $50K goal and make these dreams possible, consider donating today ➡️　https://givebutter.com/b3lono

09/25/2025

Meet Tahya, a Computer student at Hunter College & First Tech Fund alum! 🚀 From
Girls Who Code Tech Coordinator to hackathon organizer, she’s building community & shaping the future of tech.

First Tech Fund supported her in navigating the college application process and learning about higher education as a first-generation student. The support of her mentor introduced her to the nuances of the technology industry as she was determining where to focus her academic attention.

Read her story & journey with our program ➡️ https://firsttechfund.com/blog

09/16/2025

We recently wrapped up our first-ever AI for Good Fellowship and are immensely grateful to our guest speakers who volunteered their time to share knowledge & insights with our fellows this summer.

Being able to impart real-world experiences and timely guidance around the application of AI across both the public and private sectors helped guide the development of our fellows and their AI projects.

Thank you to these 7 wonderful people for their time and energy this summer!