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
Sally Stetson Tongren Scholarship Fund for Washington County Grant Maine Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Sally Stetson Tongren Scholarship Fund, established by the Maine Community Foundation, supports Washington County residents pursuing higher education.	Not published	Varies
Campus to Career Initiative Generation West Virginia Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Campus to Career Initiative is a partnership program between Generation West Virginia and West Virginia colleges and universities that provides individualized career support services to upcoming and recent graduates, helping them…	Not published	Varies
YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas Foundation Scholarship Program Grant YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $40K The YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas Foundation Scholarship Program offers substantial financial support to graduating high school seniors in the Dallas area.	Not published	Up to $40K
CBHA Healthy Futures Scholarship Columbia Basin Health Association · Foundation Not published · $2K Columbia Basin Health Association (a community health center in Othello, WA) awards three $2,000 Healthy Futures Scholarships each year to graduating high school seniors and enrolled college students from CBHA service areas who have shown…	Not published	$2K
Freshman Winner's Circle Scholarships Grant Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement · Foundation Not published · Varies The Freshman Winner's Circle Scholarships, established by the Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement, aim to support high school students graduating in Spring 2026 who are pursuing degrees in agriculture.	Not published	Varies
Scholarships and Book Grants The Foundation for Santa Barbara City College · Foundation Not published · $1M Over $1 million in scholarships and book grants are awarded annually to students through the SBCC Foundation. Hundreds of scholarships are awarded each year across multiple disciplines and program areas.	Not published	$1M
Scholarship Endowment Fund (Legacy Named Scholarship Program) Pearl & Ivy Educational Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $5K – $10K Through the Scholarship Endowment Fund (SEF), donors can create a lasting legacy of giving through a named scholarship that will be awarded annually in perpetuity to college-bound students.	Not published	$5K – $10K
Stoll Scholarship 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
Greenwald Family Foundation Emergency Fund for PeerForward Alumni College Summit Inc · Foundation Not published · $50K Emergency funding provided by the Greenwald Family Foundation to College Summit/PeerForward alumni graduating with an undergraduate degree. Active PeerForward teams during 2017-2018 through 2021-2022 school years in:	Not published	$50K
Berkshire Inspired Educational Fund Grant Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Berkshire Inspired Educational Fund, established by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, aims to assist BIPOC and economically disadvantaged students from Berkshire County, MA, facing emergency financial needs.	Not published	Varies
Health & Education Grants Sheng-Yen Lu Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Sheng-Yen Lu Foundation awards annual grants to nonprofit organizations in the Seattle area working to improve health care and education for underserved and vulnerable populations.	Not published	Varies
Gerard Thomas Lynch Fund Grant Hartford Foundation for Public Giving · Foundation Not published · $1K The Gerard Thomas Lynch Fund, established by New England Asset Management, Inc., honors founder Jerry Lynch.	Not published	$1K
Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Listed by Community Foundation of Morgan County · Foundation Not published · Up to $900 High school seniors from Morgan County (Martinsville, Mooresville, Monrovia, Eminence, and Indian Creek High Schools)	Not published	Up to $900
Detroit Economic Club Scholarship Program Grant Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan · Foundation Not published · $2K The Detroit Economic Club Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to students from Detroit and surrounding counties pursuing undergraduate education.	Not published	$2K
Class of 1988 Scholarship Alexandria Education Foundation · Foundation Not published · $2K Support students transitioning from high school to 2 and 4-year colleges	Not published	$2K
Scholarships for Nontraditional Students Mid Shore Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies	Rolling	Varies
NBO Foundation - Education Committee Grants The Nicholas B Ottaway Fdn Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Nicholas B. Ottaway Foundation offers grants through its Education Committee to support programs enhancing educational opportunities for economically disadvantaged students.	Not published	Varies
FWA Undergraduate Scholars Program FWA of New York Inc · Foundation Not published · $5K – $20K Provides scholarship funding and comprehensive support to undergraduate students who are graduates of the FWA's high school mentoring program at the High School of Economics & Finance.	Not published	$5K – $20K
The Larry Waters Scholarship Grant The San Diego Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies We enable donors and nonprofit partners to tackle the most critical needs facing San Diegans.	Not published	Varies
TRIALS (Training and Recruitment Initiative for Admission to Leading Law Schools) Advantage Testing Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Launched in 2009, TRIALS is widely regarded as the nation's most prestigious, full-scholarship pre-law program designed to prepare students of underrepresented perspectives for admission to leading law schools.	Not published	Varies
Latin Americans United for Progress Dream Scholarship Grant The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Latin Americans United for Progress Dream Scholarship, administered by the Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area, supports Hispanic students pursuing post-secondary education.	Not published	Varies
CAEF Scholarship Program Centennial Area Education Foundation · Foundation Not published · $15K – $111K Awarding scholarships to Centennial graduates pursuing post-secondary education. CAEF partners with Centennial High School to offer multiple local scholarships.	Not published	$15K – $111K
FirstGen Forward - College Completion Grant Woodward Hines Education Foundation · Foundation Not published · $1.5M Nationally, first-generation students have a completion rate of 24% compared to 59% for continuing-generation students.	Not published	$1.5M
21st Century Scholars Program Independent Colleges of Indiana Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to 4 years of paid tuition	Not published	Up to 4 years of paid tuition

Showing 529–552 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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