Career & College Preparation Grants

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

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
A. Lamar Matthews Jr. Memorial Fund Scholarships The Community Foundation Trust of Sarasota County · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation: Operating Grants - Education The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg · Foundation Not published · Varies The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation The Weinberg Foundation fulfills its mission of meeting the basic needs of people experiencing poverty by providing grants across five focus areas that serve a range of populations, primarily…	Not published	Varies
Swinton Scholars Fund Grant Innovia Foundation · Foundation Not published · $500 – $4K As the community foundation for Eastern Washington and North Idaho, we partner with people who want to improve their communities and make the world better.	Not published	$500 – $4K
Kern Futures Scholarship Kern Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Hispanic League Scholarship Grant The Winston-Salem Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Hispanic League Scholarship, established in 2013, supports local students, particularly those who are past or present ELL or LEP students.	Not published	Varies
Youth United Way RFP United Way of South Central Michigan · Foundation Not published · Up to $6K Support programs that address racism and/or college and career readiness through youth empowerment and community action.	Not published	Up to $6K
¡HICA! Scholarship for Latinx Students Hispanic and Immigrant Center of Alabama · Foundation Not published · $13K Established to support Latinx youth achieve their dreams of pursuing higher education.	Not published	$13K
REF Grants at Work Rockford Education Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $100K The Rockford Education Foundation funds dozens of innovative programs and projects annually that support educational excellence in Rockford Public Schools.	Not published	Up to $100K
Education and Economic Development Act (EEDA) Preparing College- and Career-Ready Graduates Competitive Grant South Carolina Department of Education · Foundation Not published · Varies The Education and Economic Development Act (EEDA) Preparing College- and Career-Ready Graduates Competitive Grant aims to support South Carolina schools in implementing effective strategies for students facing academic challenges.	Not published	Varies
Alexander Lauder W. Adams Estate Fund Central Florida Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Distributions from the fund provide annual scholarships.	Not published	Varies
North Star Scholarship Community Foundation Alliance Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Annual, renewable scholarship created by an anonymous donor. May be renewable for up to four consecutive years provided recipient maintains a minimum 3.0 grade point average and continues to demonstrate financial need.	Not published	Varies
George Von Tobel College Aid Fund Nevada Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $1K A scholarship fund established in 1988 by George Von Tobel to provide college aid to students from Clark County, Nevada. The fund has awarded over $500,000 to hundreds of students.	Not published	$1K
Opportunity Grants - Pathways Douglas County Educational Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Provide students with a clear direction for their future education and career goals necessary for success in our changing world and evolving workforce.	Not published	Varies
The Promise Program Parke County Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Promise is a community-driven initiative that promotes saving for post-secondary education. The program:	Not published	Varies
Adam Driscoll Memorial Scholarship Council Bluffs Schools Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies A scholarship established to honor the legacy of Adam Driscoll, a devoted community member and volunteer.	Not published	Varies
Educated Workforce Pathway Planning Grant Michigan College Access Network · Foundation Not published · Varies Through the Educated Workforce Pathway Planning Grant, MCAN aims to support cross-sector community teams to lead the charge in their community to connect historically fragmented systems and dismantle the false dichotomy between college and…	Not published	Varies
The McAllister’s Love Scholarship Grant The R.O.S.E. Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The McAllister’s Love Scholarship, provided by the R.O.S.E. Foundation, aims to empower high school seniors of African ancestry residing in Bucks and Montgomery Counties, Pennsylvania.	Not published	Varies
Wally Groom Agricultural Scholarship Pikeland Public Schools Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
J17 Scholarship Fund City of Refuge · Foundation Not published · Varies An Educational Expense Assistance Fund designed to provide financial assistance to minority students choosing to attend college, university, or technical school upon graduation from high school.	Not published	Varies
Realizing the Dream Scholarship Earlham College Inc · Foundation Not published · $5K Made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., the scholarship recognizes first-generation college students who demonstrate outstanding achievement in their studies.	Not published	$5K
CFMC Scholarships (General) Community Foundation of Morgan County · Foundation Not published · $500 – $5K CFMC administers numerous scholarship funds established by individuals and organizations. The foundation manages the daily administrative and financial needs of these endowment and scholarship funds.	Not published	$500 – $5K
Freeport-McMoRan Native American College Scholarship Education Forward Arizona · Foundation Not published · $3K – $5K	Not published	$3K – $5K
Gloria Anderson Memorial Scholarship Grant Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies · Foundation Not published · $1K The Gloria Anderson Memorial Scholarship, administered by the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies, honors a beloved music teacher and the founder of the Singing Dutchmen Men’s Chorus.	Not published	$1K
Lawrence A. Sanders Scholarship Fund for Creative Writing Grant Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Easily learn more about the Lawrence A. The next deadline for this grant is Thu, 04 Mar 2027.	Not published	Varies

Showing 289–312 of 851

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.

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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.

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