The rising cost of education in this country is a challenge all high school students face as they approach graduation. Each year, an increasing number of students turn to loans to finance their education. Ponce Durr was one of those students. During his time as a college Resident Assistant, he not only experienced the burden of student loans himself but also witnessed peers who were forced to drop out due to financial struggles. These experiences motivated Durr to support current college students and those pursuing higher education by helping them raise funds for post-secondary education, whether at a university, community college, or trade school. That led him to start his business, Gapfundr.

Education is one of the most powerful tools for breaking the cycle of poverty and unlocking opportunities for all individuals. However, the rising cost of education often acts as a barrier, particularly for students from low-income backgrounds. At GapFundr, they believe that everyone deserves access to a quality education, regardless of their financial situation. Their mission is simple yet profound: to enhance the accessibility and affordability of education for students nationwide. Gapfundr helps students raise the funds they need for education and works directly with the institution a student is attending or is looking to attend, and they provide those funds directly to the institution. This way, students don’t have to worry about money for education being misused.

While looking for resources that could help him start up his entrepreneurial dreams, Durr came across the Individual Development Account program – where individuals in the Black, Latine and Tribal communities work one-on-one with financial coaches to set a savings goal that is then matched 2:1 up to $10,000 through United Ways of the Pacific Northwest’s Community Reinvestment Project. This pilot program is currently available in Clark, Pierce, and Yakima counties. Durr is the first person to complete the program through United Way of Pierce County and receive a $10,000 match for his business.