Bridge the Gap

Bridge the Gap offers in-school math and reading intervention, an extended day program, an after-school program, one-on-one tutoring, summer programs, and weekly group guitar lessons. The program also includes support related to high school, college, and career.

• Ages: 4–18 years old

Bridge the Gap is a Marin education nonprofit that has offered tutoring and other services to students in southern Marin since 1995 and has extended its program to western Marin. It originated as a reading program started by the late pastor Fred Small and volunteers at People’s Inter-Cities Fellowship in Marin City and is described as a nonprofit that has shown exemplary leadership in addressing educational equity and community development. Bridge the Gap has been recognized as Nonprofit of the Year 2023 by Giving Marin and hosts an annual Vines & Vision Gala in Sausalito.

Bridge the Gap’s mission states that it plants seeds for college from an early age and steadily supports that mindset, supporting students from transitional kindergarten through college and beyond. Its mission also states that it has a community of college-bound graduates and that its comprehensive in-school, after-school, one-on-one tutoring, and summer programs help students prepare for college and post-secondary pathways.

Bridge the Gap is working at Tomales High School to help students boost their academic skills and college readiness and has collaborated with schools, community organizations, and donors in its expansion into West Marin. Branson School students arranged weekly group guitar lessons during Bridge the Gap’s after-school program for the Sausalito Marin City School District. Bridge the Gap invites the community to join in supporting youth and their futures and seeks enthusiastic and compassionate volunteers and support for its programs.

The leadership team includes Executive Director Lisa Raffel, Volunteer Manager Cat Tong, Director of Development Sara Ryba, and Enrollment staff member Amy Adkins. Bridge the Gap notes that it is celebrating 30 years of building a strong foundation.

A student named Fuentes, speaking at Tam High’s graduation ceremony, said, “With the help of my community, I will continue to be brave and attend Dominican University of California next fall as a first-generation college student. This is a dream I never thought possible when I first came to the U.S., but this dream […]”.

Last updated August 10, 2026.