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
David L Smith Scholarship Award Center Point GA Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $1K Support for college, technical school, or other pre-approved post-secondary education	Not published	Up to $1K
Willard and Patricia Hennings 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
Thomas H. Moore IEC Memorial Scholarships Southwestern Electric Cooperative Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives presents scholarships to individuals associated with Illinois electric co-ops.	Not published	Varies
The Franklin-Simpson Alumni Association Scholarship Franklin-Simpson Educational Excellence Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Upward Bound - Shasta Simpson University Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The TRiO Upward Bound program supports current high school students and their families to help prepare them for success in college.	Not published	Varies
Rising Moon Scholarship Irvine Public Schools Foundation · Foundation Not published · $3K Awarded on behalf of the Crescent Moon Foundation, this scholarship recognizes students who are dedicated volunteers and leaders committed to helping others.	Not published	$3K
William McCaskey Chapman and Adaline Dinsmore Chapman Foundation Grant William McCaskey Chapman and Adaline · Foundation Not published · Varies The William McCaskey Chapman and Adaline Dinsmore Chapman Foundation Grant aims to support educational initiatives that motivate K-12 students in Monterey County, California, to prepare for and succeed in college.	Not published	Varies
Drs. Nima Patel and Daniel McNaughton Scholarship Fund - 4 -Year Grant Hartford Foundation for Public Giving · Foundation Not published · $3K The Drs. Nima Patel and Daniel McNaughton Scholarship Fund, managed by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, offers scholarships for 2-3 students from the Greater Hartford region.	Not published	$3K
Ethel Cushing Gardner Fund Grant Hartford Foundation for Public Giving · Foundation Not published · $2K – $3K The Ethel Cushing Gardner Fund, established by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, provides scholarships for Eastford, Connecticut students with musical talent who are intent on pursuing music studies.	Not published	$2K – $3K
MBCA Scholarships for Students Metropolitan Business and Citizens Association Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The MBCA Scholarship Foundation promotes higher education to residents of the Greater Atlantic City area by offering financial assistance in the form of scholarships for students and direct teach grants for creative independent programs.	Not published	Varies
BP Royalty Scholarship Fund The Kansas Rural Communities Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The BP Royalty Scholarship Fund was established by the class action settlement in the case of Eatinger v. BP America Production Company.	Not published	Varies
Youth Career Pathways Initiative (YCPI) Massachusetts Service Alliance Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $20K YCPI funds can be used for implementation of new programming, expansion of existing programming, or replication of promising models that either:	Not published	Up to $20K
Small Grants Program: Program Grants - Education The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg · Foundation Not published · Varies Through the Small Grants Program (SGP), the Foundation supports nonprofits with a streamlined grant application and review process.	Not published	Varies
Mark Winia Memorial Soccer 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
Competitive Community Grant- Education ( Fall cycle) Santa Fe Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · $5K – $20K Result: All children and youth succeed in education prepared for a career.	Not published	$5K – $20K
Harry A. Saunders III Memorial Fund Grant Hawaii Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Harry A. Saunders III Memorial Fund, established in 2025 by the Hawai‘i Community Foundation, supports Hawaii high school graduates pursuing higher education.	Not published	Varies
Shirley Lewis McCune Memorial Scholarship Grant The Pittsburgh Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.	Not published	Varies
Terry Traditional Scholarship (Freshman Scholarship) The Terry Scholars Fund · Foundation Not published · Varies The Terry Foundation is the largest private scholarship provider in the state of Texas, based in Houston. Applications are submitted through individual university partners, not directly to the Foundation.	Not published	Varies
Ray and Marian Stickman Scholarship Pikeland Public Schools Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Jacob Rodriguez College Scholarship Autism Strong Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies A one-time scholarship empowering autistic students in higher education or vocational training; applicant must have an autism diagnosis.	Not published	Varies
Kathy Buchanan TJ Memorial Scholarship Council Bluffs Schools Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies A named memorial scholarship for Council Bluffs Community School District seniors.	Not published	Varies
African-American Community Foundation - Waverly Glover Scholarship Grant The Dayton Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $1K The African-American Community Foundation - Waverly Glover Scholarship, offered by The Dayton Foundation, supports African-American students pursuing higher education at Central State University or Wilberforce University.	Not published	Up to $1K
Andy Vito/Harold Tompkins/Ron Vece Scholarship Fund Grant Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley Inc · Foundation Not published · $750 Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley (CFHV) empowers individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to fulfill their philanthropic goals through the establishment of charitable funds…	Not published	$750
Beyond Completion Challenge Strada Education Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $10M A $10 million challenge grant program supporting postsecondary institutions in identifying and expanding new solutions to improve career and life opportunities for more students after degree completion.	Not published	$10M

Showing 97–120 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