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

Find the college prep grants matched to your org

Free, no account to start — Grantable's AI ranks all 851 on mission, geography, and award size in a few minutes.

Start finding grants

Sort

Type

State

Amount

Eligibility

Include closed grants

Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Accelerating Innovative + Equitable Workforce Pathways Grant Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Blue Grass Community Foundation, with support from the Walton Family Foundation, is offering a second round of a two-round funding opportunity aimed to foster the development of innovative education-to-workforce programs.	Not published	Varies
Robert H. (Bob) Lent Scholarship Grant Elk Grove Regional Scholarship Foundation · Foundation Not published · $2K The Robert H. (Bob) Lent Scholarship, offered by the Elk Grove Regional Scholarship Foundation, supports students pursuing higher education in the Elk Grove Unified School District.	Not published	$2K
St. Mary’s Extended Education Fund Grant Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Easily learn more about the St. The next deadline for this grant is Thu, 04 Mar 2027.	Not published	Varies
Beth Dillinger Scholarship Fund Beth Dillinger Foundation Inc Co Kay Dillinger · Foundation Not published · Varies Over 350 two-year scholarships have been awarded to financially disadvantaged students for academic or technical education beyond high school.	Not published	Varies
Jill Hanses Scholarship Endowment Fund Grant Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley · Foundation Not published · Varies Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley is a collection of individual funds and resources given by local citizens to enhance and support the quality of life in the Fox River Valley of…	Not published	Varies
Rachel Amey Scholarship Endowment Fund Grant Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina Inc · Foundation Not published · $600 The Rachel Amey Scholarship Endowment Fund, established in 2013 by the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, honors Rachel Amey's dedication to the Charleston County School District's ESL Program.	Not published	$600
John S. Brewer Memorial Scholarship Fund Hope and a Future Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K	Not published	Up to $5K
Lehner Women Empowering Women Scholarship (wEw) Dearborn Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $500 Empower women of Dearborn County to improve their lives through education; assist non-traditional female students who have not had the opportunity to attend college or complete post-secondary education started previously in life.	Not published	Up to $500
ANSWER Scholarship (College Scholarships for Moms) ANSWER Scholarship Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. provides college scholarships plus mentoring (Mentors for Mom) and professional development to mothers pursuing a four-year college degree (or select two-year degrees) in Mecklenburg and 11 surrounding counties in…	Not published	Varies
Helen Irwin Littauer Educational Trust Grant Helen Irwin Littauer Educational Trust · Foundation Not published · $10K – $25K The Helen Irwin Littauer Educational Trust Grant supports charitable organizations in Tarrant County, focusing on education, arts, and human services.	Not published	$10K – $25K
Falcon Pride Scholarship Cambridge Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Scholarship program for Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS) graduates. Program has grown from initial winners to a community of 20+ scholars.	Not published	Varies
Grad School/Test Prep Assistance University Academy Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies Provides financial assistance to UA alumni who have graduated with their bachelor's degree and need help paying for graduate school entrance exam testing or test prep materials.	Rolling	Varies
AVID: Orange County Centennial Scholarship Fund (Academic Awards) Grant Scholarship America Inc · Foundation Not published · $2K – $5K The AVID: Orange County Centennial Scholarship Fund offers financial assistance between $2,000 and $5,000 to eligible high school seniors in Orange County, CA, who are enrolled in the AVID elective.	Not published	$2K – $5K
Davis Breakthrough Scholarship Santa Fe Preparatory School · Foundation Not published · Varies A full cost of attendance college scholarship designed to help students who would otherwise be unable to afford college out of state. The award is part of a generous gift that will reach $1 million/year in several years.	Not published	Varies
The First Tee of Corning Scholarship Grant Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc · Foundation Not published · $6K The First Tee of Corning Scholarship, administered by the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning, offers educational funding for high school seniors and adults from Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Yates counties in New York and Bradford, Tioga…	Not published	$6K
Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship Program Grant National Children’s Cancer Society (NCCS) · Foundation Not published · Varies The Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship Program, offered by the National Children’s Cancer Society, supports childhood cancer survivors in their pursuit of higher education.	Not published	Varies
Rhoades to Justice Scholarship Fund Grant Greater Kansas City Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $12K The Rhoades to Justice Scholarship supports determined students from Kansas City public schools who are passionate about justice and committed to pursuing college despite obstacles.	Not published	Up to $12K
Ruth Westerman Oren Nursing Scholarship Grant The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area seeks to ensure that our community thrives today, tomorrow, and forever by building our Community’s Endowment to support high impact…	Not published	Varies
Sussman-Miller Educational Assistance Fund Grant Santa Fe Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Sussman-Miller Educational Assistance Fund, managed by the Santa Fe Community Foundation, provides financial aid to New Mexico residents enrolled in higher education.	Not published	Varies
Post-Secondary Transition RFP Harold KL Castle Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Hawaii’s high cost of living means young people must make smart choices, ones that help them to be upwardly mobile. Recent research shows that graduating from the University of Hawaii results in higher lifetime earnings.	Not published	Varies
INSIGHT Scholarship Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable · Foundation Not published · $5K Promote college and career readiness for students who are blind and visually impaired	Not published	$5K
Scholarships Program Brevard Schools Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $250 – $70K Comprehensive scholarship program providing financial assistance to deserving students pursuing higher education.	Not published	$250 – $70K
The Gray-Benson Scholarship Toledo Public Schools Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies A scholarship established to honor Rogers High School graduates who demonstrate dedication, involvement, and first-generation college student status.	Not published	Varies
Upward Bound (TRiO Program) Lake-Sumter State College Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $1.3M Upward Bound has been operating since 1964 and helps students prepare for and enter college. At Lake-Sumter State College, the program serves high school students from across Lake County.	Not published	$1.3M

Showing 457–480 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.

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