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
Harry and Myrtle Nabstedt Scholarship Grant Quad Cities Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $40K The Harry and Myrtle Nabstedt Scholarship, offered by the Quad Cities Community Foundation, supports students from Scott County, Iowa, pursuing post-secondary education at accredited institutions.	Not published	Up to $40K
MPS College Scholarships Achieve Twin Cities · Foundation Not published · $150K Support postsecondary education for MPS students	Not published	$150K
Cycle 4: Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program Grant Cycle Listed by The Portland Foundation · Foundation Not published · $4K The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program aims to enhance educational attainment in Indiana by supporting talented high school seniors.	Not published	$4K
Keys-to-College Fund University High School Foundation & Alumni Association · Foundation Not published · Varies Small scholarships to assist in accessing college. This fund assists students with fees associated with college entrance exams and college preparation.	Not published	Varies
James W. Victor Scholarship Grant Quad Cities Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $40K The James W. Victor Scholarship, administered by the Quad Cities Community Foundation, offers up to $10,000 annually to graduating seniors from Davenport, Iowa, who demonstrate financial need and academic ability.	Not published	Up to $40K
Christa McAuliffe Scholarship Fund Grant York County Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · $2K York County Community Foundation was founded in 1961 by generous visionaries who saw an opportunity to perpetually support their community by pooling charitable giving, investing it to grow over time and make grants to charity from the…	Not published	$2K
The Lehman Family 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
Legacy Scholarship City of Muskogee Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Part of the City of Muskogee Foundation's scholarship program for graduating high school seniors.	Not published	Varies
Members First Scholarships Credit Unions Chartered in the State of Michigan · Foundation Not published · $3K – $10K	Not published	$3K – $10K
James T. Alvey Visionary Scorpion Scholarship Grant The Community Foundation of Howard County Inc · Foundation Not published · $1K Easily learn more about the James T. The next deadline for this grant is Mon, 13 Apr 2026.	Not published	$1K
Innovative Program Grants Michigan College Access Network · Foundation Not published · Up to $10K Innovative Program Grants fund programming that increases college readiness, enrollment, and completion in communities across the state.	Not published	Up to $10K
916 Education Foundation Scholarship Program Special Intermediate School · Foundation Not published · $500 – $2K	Not published	$500 – $2K
MCAN: Summer Melt Grants Michigan College Access Network · Foundation Not published · Varies Increase college readiness, participation, and completion in Michigan, particularly among low income students, first-generation college-going students, and students of color.	Not published	Varies
Jack Maerz and Mary Rago Future of Healthcare Scholarship Fund Grant Hartford Foundation for Public Giving · Foundation Not published · $2K – $5K The Jack Maerz and Mary Rago Future of Healthcare Scholarship Fund, established by Rich Rago and Beth Maerz, supports Hartford students pursuing healthcare degrees amid a critical nursing shortage.	Not published	$2K – $5K
Dual Credit Scholarships Prosper Education Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Prosper Education Foundation offers scholarships to Prosper ISD students who are enrolled in and taking dual credit courses. Dual credit programs allow high school students to earn college credits simultaneously.	Not published	Varies
Gayle Miller Leaders of Change Scholarships Alliance for College-Ready Public Schools Facilities Corporation · Foundation Not published · $5K – $25K Support first generation college students to allow them to spend more time focusing on academic achievement rather than being burdened by financial concerns	Not published	$5K – $25K
Equality Utah Scholarship Mentorship Program Equality Utah Foundation · Foundation Not published · $500K Equality Utah's scholarship mentorship program creates meaningful connections between LGBTQ students and allies with professionals who understand the unique challenges and opportunities they face.	Not published	$500K
Redwood Local Scholarship Grant Redwood Foundation for Education · Foundation Not published · Varies The Redwood Local Scholarship, offered by the Redwood Foundation for Education, supports graduating high school seniors in Josephine County.	Not published	Varies
Posse Scholarship Foundation Program Neighborhood House Charter School Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Posse Foundation program places scholars in supportive, multicultural groups of 10 scholars — Posses.	Not published	Varies
Christine Mitus Rose Memorial Scholarship Fund Grant Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts · Foundation Not published · Up to $3K The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts seeks to enrich the quality of life of the people of our region by: Developing a perpetual, flexible endowment Assessing and responding to emerging and changing needs Serving as a resource…	Not published	Up to $3K
WMGA Foundation Scholarship Women's Metropolitan Golf Association · Foundation Not published · Varies The WMGA Foundation has provided scholarships to support young women pursuing higher education. Since its inception in 2001, over 115 young women have received financial assistance.	Not published	Varies
FCCF Scholarship Funds Franklin County Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Philanthropic citizens have established endowment funds in the Franklin County Community Foundation that are designated to provide scholarships to reduce the financial burden on graduating high school students and their families.	Not published	Varies
Escalar Scholarship Puerto Rican Association For Human Development Title Holding Corp · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Horning Marshall University of Michigan Scholarship Grant Grand Rapids Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization that connects people, passion and resources. With our partners, the Community Foundation uses the tools of philanthropy to find solutions to pressing issues.	Not published	Varies

Showing 577–600 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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