Career & College Preparation Grants

Last updated October 11, 2026

Grantable tracks 853 active career & college preparation grants in its free grants database, drawn from state and 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: State Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Dell Scholars Program Grant Michael & Susan Dell Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Dell Scholars Program, established by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, provides scholarships and support to empower students in their journey towards college graduation.	Not published	Varies
Teddy J. Purcell Memorial Scholarship Faith Family Education Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Provides financial assistance to Faith Family Academy high school graduating seniors who are first-generation college students pursuing higher education at four-year institutions.	Not published	Varies
Beulah Mae Jones Mitchell Scholarship Endowment Fund Service League of Hickory Inc · Foundation Not published · $2K – $12K	Not published	$2K – $12K
Edmond Amateis Foundation Scholarship Grant Educational Foundation of Lake County · Foundation Not published · Varies The Edmond Amateis Foundation Scholarship supports Lake County seniors demonstrating financial need and maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher.	Not published	Varies
PPL: Energizing Education Grants PPL Foundation · Foundation Not published · $3K – $50K The PPL Foundation offers Energizing Education Grants to support equitable, high-quality educational opportunities for all students.	Not published	$3K – $50K
Howard T. Collins Memorial Scholarship Program Eden South Bay Inc · Foundation Not published · $2K – $100K Awards scholarships to Eden Housing residents pursuing higher education and career advancement goals.	Not published	$2K – $100K
Howard T. Collins Memorial Scholarship Program Eden Development Inc · Foundation Not published · $96K – $100K The Howard T. Collins Memorial Scholarship Program awards scholarships to Eden Housing residents pursuing educational and/or career advancement goals.	Not published	$96K – $100K
Brede-Wilkins Scholarship Fund Central Florida Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Balfour Foundation- Educational Organizations Grants Ttee Uw of Lloyd G Balfour · Foundation Not published · Varies The Lloyd G. Balfour Foundation, established in 1973, focuses on educational support for underserved populations in New England.	Not published	Varies
Mai Kou Lee Scholarship Fund Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Honors the legacy and work of Mai Kou Lee, a beloved North High School graduate and staff member. Enables future North High School graduates to pursue post-secondary education.	Not published	Varies
Gloria B. Lee Scholarship Grant Pasadena Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Gloria B. Lee Scholarship supports talented, at-risk youth from low-income backgrounds in pursuing undergraduate degrees in STEM or education.	Not published	Varies
Howard T. Collins Memorial Scholarship Program Eden South County Inc · Foundation Not published · $96K – $100K	Not published	$96K – $100K
The Peter Longo ProStart Scholarship (Western NY Chapter) New York State Restaurant Association · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
George G. Johnson Scholarship Grant Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan · Foundation Not published · Varies The George G. Johnson Scholarship Fund, established in 2021, aims to support African American male undergraduates at Wayne State University's Mike Illitch School of Business who are pursuing degrees in accounting or finance.	Not published	Varies
2+2 Transfer Scholarship Program Maryland Higher Education Commission · State Not published · Varies This program is designed to assist and encourage transfer students from Maryland community colleges to attend a 4-year institution within the State.	Not published	Varies
Close Up Foundation – Claude Pepper Scholarship Program The Claude Pepper Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Established in 2015, the Claude Pepper Scholars program provides scholarships to help students from underserved communities and economically disadvantaged backgrounds participate in the Close Up Foundation Washington program.	Not published	Varies
Bird Scholarship Amador Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
J.C. Bubolz Memorial Scholarship Grant Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region Inc · Foundation Not published · $1K The J.C. Bubolz Memorial Scholarship provides two $2,000 awards for graduating high school seniors or continuing college students from the Fox Valley area.	Not published	$1K
Will Harris Scholarship Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star · Foundation Not published · Up to $3K The Will Harris Scholarship was established in 2024 by Will Harris, a longtime Big Brother who created this scholarship to provide additional financial support to deserving students who plan to pursue higher education.	Not published	Up to $3K
Women of AT&T (WOA Dallas) Scholarship Program Listed by Communities in Schools of the Dallas Regioninc · Foundation Not published · $2K – $16K Women of AT&T Dallas Chapter (through CISDR partnership)	Not published	$2K – $16K
Silver Family Foundation Grant Silver Family Foundation · Foundation Not published · $15K – $50K The Silver Family Foundation Grant supports transformative youth development programs aimed at underserved youth aged 5-18 in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.	Not published	$15K – $50K
Cooke Foundation: Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Grant Jack Kent Cooke Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation offers the Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship to outstanding community college students with financial need, providing up to $55,000 per year for two to three years to cover educational expenses.	Not published	Varies
McLaughlin-Wilson Scholarship Fund Grant Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The McLaughlin-Wilson Scholarship Fund, established in 1994 by Edith Wilson, supports residents of Monterey, MA, in accessing post-secondary education.	Not published	Varies
Johnny Ritchey Scholarship Program Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons · Foundation Not published · $3K – $10K The Johnny Ritchey Scholarship Program honors the legacy of Johnny Ritchey, the "Jackie Robinson of the West Coast," who broke the color barrier in the Pacific Coast League in 1948.	Not published	$3K – $10K

Showing 385–408 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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