Career & College Preparation Grants

Q: How much money do career & college preparation grants award?

Of the 853 career & college preparation grants Grantable lists as of October 11, 2026, 412 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $5,000, and the middle half fall between $2,000 and $17K. The largest is $10M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.

Q: Which funders offer the most career & college preparation grants?

By number of active listings, the leading funders are Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties Inc (16), The San Diego Foundation (13), Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley (12), Hartford Foundation for Public Giving (10), and Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts (9). In all, 498 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

Q: When are career & college preparation grants due?

Of 853 grants listed, 5 accept applications on a rolling basis, 82 have a published upcoming deadline, 340 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 426 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site. Among dated deadlines, 77% fall in January–March.

Q: What college prep grants are available?

College prep grants support college awareness, advising, tutoring, test preparation, financial-aid help, and summer bridge programs. The federal TRIO programs (such as Upward Bound, Talent Search, and Student Support Services) and GEAR UP are the cornerstone funding sources, both administered by the U.S. Department of Education. Many private foundations and regional college-access organizations also fund programs that increase enrollment and completion for underserved students.

Q: Which organizations fund college prep programs?

College prep is funded primarily by the U.S. Department of Education through competitive TRIO and GEAR UP grants awarded to colleges, states, and nonprofit organizations. GEAR UP grants are typically six-year matching awards that frequently go to states, while TRIO grants go to institutions and community organizations. Private funders, including foundations focused on educational opportunity and college access, supplement federal funding for advising and scholarship-readiness programs.

Q: Who is eligible for college prep grants?

Eligibility varies by program, but federal college-prep funding generally targets students from low-income families and students who would be first in their family to earn a bachelor's degree. Grantees are usually colleges, universities, state agencies, school districts, and nonprofit organizations rather than individual students.

Last updated October 11, 2026

Grantable tracks 853 active career & college preparation grants in its free grants database, drawn from foundation sources and updated daily. 3 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 412 list an award amount, with a median of $5,000.

Grants tracked: 853; from 498 funders
Median award: $5,000; middle half $2,000–$17K
Total listed funding: $57.4M; across 412 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 5; 82 with a published date

On this page: Foundation · Updated daily

Find the college prep grants matched to your org

Free, no account to start — Grantable's AI ranks all 853 on mission, geography, and award size in a few minutes.

Start finding grants

Sort

Type

State

Amount

Eligibility

Include closed grants

Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Irving Schools Foundation Student Scholarships Irving Schools Foundation · Foundation ~October · Varies The Irving Schools Foundation manages 250+ donor-created and endowed scholarships awarded annually to graduating seniors from Irving ISD. The foundation partners with donors to create scholarships with diverse criteria and focus areas.	~October	Varies
AADC Scholarships Associate Alumnae of Douglass College · Foundation ~November · Varies The Associate Alumnae of Douglass College (AADC) offers scholarship support to incoming and returning Douglass College students; Fall 2026 scholarship applications are open as of May 27, 2026 and close on November 29, 2026 at midnight…	~November	Varies
Congressional Seminar Essay Contest for High School Students The National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New York · Foundation ~December · $250 A national writing competition run by NSCDA Corporate Societies and Town Committees across the United States for high school students.	~December	$250
Teagle Foundation: Knowledge for Freedom Grant The Teagle Foundation · Foundation Dec 1, 2026 · $10K – $300K The Teagle Foundation's Knowledge for Freedom initiative aims to empower underserved high school students through transformative experiences in the humanities.	Dec 1, 2026	$10K – $300K
College & Raffle Scholarships Idaho FFA Foundation Inc · Foundation ~December · Varies The Idaho FFA Foundation awards multiple college scholarships to Idaho FFA members pursuing post-secondary education. Multiple named scholarships are offered including:	~December	Varies
Community Impact Fund - Education Programs United Way of Indian River County Inc · Foundation ~December · Varies UWIRC is accepting proposals in the following Education priority areas:	~December	Varies
Israel Grants Jewish Community Federation of Greater Chattanooga · Foundation ~December · $2K – $3K Provide supplemental financial aid for educational and Jewish identity-strengthening programs in Israel. Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga	~December	$2K – $3K
CAP (College Achievement Program) - $1,000 College Scholarship Drawing Viable Options in Community Endeavors · Foundation ~December · $1K The College Achievement Program (CAP) helps students and their families plan for, apply to, and access resources to pay for college.	~December	$1K
Kyoto Prize Scholarship Kyoto Symposium Organization · Foundation ~January · $500 – $10K Since 2004, The Kyoto Symposium Organization has offered scholarships to college-bound students from public and private high schools in San Diego and Mexico.	~January	$500 – $10K
Latino Scholarship Program Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber · Foundation ~January · $2K – $6K To provide support and encourage Latino students to continue their higher education through annual scholarship awards to qualifying applicants. Mailing Address: PO BOX 1837 Portland, OR 97207	~January	$2K – $6K
Robert C. Byrd Thomas Scholarship Program (Illinois) Amalgamated Transit Union Local 241 · Foundation ~January · Up to $2K	~January	Up to $2K
The Overman Award Boys' Club of Duluth · Foundation ~January · Varies	~January	Varies
Academic Scholarships (National FFA Scholarships) Kansas FFA Foundation Inc · Foundation ~January · Varies Participating in the Kansas FFA scholarship program is an excellent opportunity for FFA members to receive financial support for their education while being recognized for their achievements and commitment to agriculture.	~January	Varies
Round Rock ISD Scholarships for Graduating Seniors Round Rock ISD Education Foundation · Foundation ~January · $100K Each year, graduating seniors across Round Rock ISD have the chance to apply for scholarships to help fund their higher education goals. The Foundation offers more than 30 scholarships totaling over $100,000 in awards.	~January	$100K
Walter Harrison Scholarship Central Georgia EMC Foundation Inc · Foundation ~January · $1K A statewide scholarship competition sponsored by electric membership corporations (EMCs) across Georgia and coordinated by Georgia EMC (GEMC).	~January	$1K
Union Plus Education Foundation Scholarship Amalgamated Transit Union Local 241 · Foundation ~January · Varies	~January	Varies
Scholarships Plus Program Clark County Public Education Foundation Inc · Foundation ~January · $250 – $20K The Scholarships Plus program is a comprehensive scholarship clearinghouse that provides financial support to high school seniors and college-enrolled students pursuing two-year and four-year college or vocational school programs.	~January	$250 – $20K
Laurel Montana Community Foundation Scholarship Laurel Montana Community Foundation Inc · Foundation ~January · $500 – $2K The Laurel Montana Community Foundation awards scholarships to support deserving students from the greater Laurel area in their pursuit of higher education and vocational training.	~January	$500 – $2K
Benton Community Foundation High School Common Application Benton Community Foundation Inc · Foundation ~January · Varies Centralized application for over 45 scholarship opportunities for high school students	~January	Varies
ATU International Scholarship Amalgamated Transit Union Local 241 · Foundation ~January · $2K – $5K	~January	$2K – $5K
Tomorrow's Leaders Today (TLT) Scholarship Oregon State Credit Union · Foundation ~January · $3K	~January	$3K
New Futures Scholars Program New Futures · Foundation ~January · Up to $8K New Futures propels underserved young adults in the Washington, D.C. region toward rewarding, sustainable careers by helping them earn community college degrees and professional certifications in high-demand fields.	~January	Up to $8K
UWDMI Youth Opportunity Program Investment United Way of Decatur and Mid IL · Foundation ~January · Varies	~January	Varies
Scholarships for High School Seniors Mid Shore Community Foundation Inc · Foundation ~February · Varies	~February	Varies

Showing 1–24 of 851

Career & college preparation grants by the numbers

How deadlines work

Rolling or ongoing: 5 <1%
Upcoming date published: 82 10%
Stated cycle, no date yet: 340 40%
No deadline published: 426 50%

When dated deadlines fall

Share of the 82 grants with a published date, by quarter.

77%

Jan–Mar

10%

Apr–Jun

Jul–Sep

12%

Oct–Dec

Funders with the most active career & college preparation grants

Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties Inc 16 active
The San Diego Foundation 13 active
Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley 12 active
Hartford Foundation for Public Giving 10 active
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts 9 active
Cumberland Community Foundation Inc 9 active

498 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

Source: Grantable's grants database, compiled from funder websites, Grants.gov and state grant portals. Figures cover all 853 active career & college preparation grants (with a deadline today or later, or none published) as of October 11, 2026, and refresh daily. Award amounts are each grant's listed maximum; 1 listed amounts over $10M are left out, since they're usually program-wide totals rather than single awards.

About college prep grants

College prep grants fund programs that help students prepare for, enroll in, and succeed in postsecondary education, with a focus on low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students. The largest federal sources are the U.S. Department of Education's Federal TRIO programs (including Upward Bound and Talent Search) and GEAR UP. Private foundations and college-access nonprofits also fund advising, test prep, and transition support.

A long list is the starting point, not the shortlist. Our grant prospecting guide shows how to narrow career & college preparation grants down to the funders most likely to say yes, using their giving records.

College Prep Grants by state

Browse college prep grants available to organizations in 15 states.

Want new funders like these found for you every week?

This page is a snapshot. Funders change, and a list stops being true the day it's made. A grants department keeps looking for you, and tells you when it finds something that fits — with the grant history it reasoned from attached.

Create your grants department

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do career & college preparation grants award?

Of the 853 career & college preparation grants Grantable lists as of October 11, 2026, 412 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $5,000, and the middle half fall between $2,000 and $17K. The largest is $10M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.

Which funders offer the most career & college preparation grants?

By number of active listings, the leading funders are Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties Inc (16), The San Diego Foundation (13), Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley (12), Hartford Foundation for Public Giving (10), and Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts (9). In all, 498 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

When are career & college preparation grants due?

Of 853 grants listed, 5 accept applications on a rolling basis, 82 have a published upcoming deadline, 340 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 426 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site. Among dated deadlines, 77% fall in January–March.

What college prep grants are available?

College prep grants support college awareness, advising, tutoring, test preparation, financial-aid help, and summer bridge programs. The federal TRIO programs (such as Upward Bound, Talent Search, and Student Support Services) and GEAR UP are the cornerstone funding sources, both administered by the U.S. Department of Education. Many private foundations and regional college-access organizations also fund programs that increase enrollment and completion for underserved students.

Which organizations fund college prep programs?

College prep is funded primarily by the U.S. Department of Education through competitive TRIO and GEAR UP grants awarded to colleges, states, and nonprofit organizations. GEAR UP grants are typically six-year matching awards that frequently go to states, while TRIO grants go to institutions and community organizations. Private funders, including foundations focused on educational opportunity and college access, supplement federal funding for advising and scholarship-readiness programs.

Who is eligible for college prep grants?

Eligibility varies by program, but federal college-prep funding generally targets students from low-income families and students who would be first in their family to earn a bachelor's degree. Grantees are usually colleges, universities, state agencies, school districts, and nonprofit organizations rather than individual students.

Get a shortlist of college prep grants built for your organization

Tell Grantable's AI about your nonprofit and it ranks these grants on mission, geography, and award fit — then emails you a personalized shortlist with the reasoning for each. Free, no account to start.

Find my grants — emailed to me

Your AI grants department