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
LATLC Scholarships Grant Los Angeles Trial Lawyers' Charities a CA Non Profit Public Benefit Corp · Foundation Not published · $3K The LATLC Scholarships, established by the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers' Charities, aim to support local high school seniors in their pursuit of higher education.	Not published	$3K
Aurora Foundation College Success Program Grants Aurora Women and Girls Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $18K – $30K The Aurora Foundation for Women & Girls makes grants to Greater Hartford nonprofits/institutions running women's college-success/retention programs; 2025 grantees (Charter Oak State College, Hartford Public Library, University of Hartford…	Not published	$18K – $30K
Twin Tiers Youth for Christ Scholarship Grant Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc · Foundation Not published · $2K The Twin Tiers Youth for Christ Scholarship, offered by the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, Inc., supports high school seniors and adult learners in Upstate New York and Northern Pennsylvania.	Not published	$2K
GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) Simpson University Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Federal grant program designed to increase the number of low-income middle and high school students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.	Not published	Varies
CAP & GOWN Project Fund Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville · Foundation Not published · $35K	Not published	$35K
Earl Woods Scholarship Program Tiger Woods Charity Event Corp · Foundation Not published · Varies A scholarship and mentoring program for college students from low-income, underserved areas, with a focus on first-generation college students pursuing STEM and other fields of study.	Not published	Varies
Education Forward Arizona Scholarship Education Forward Arizona · Foundation Not published · Up to $6K	Not published	Up to $6K
Karl's Cabin Scholarship Educational Excellence Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $30K The Karl's Scholarship recognizes the need to promote personal responsibility, humility, faithful commitment, work ethic & general kindness in the culinary industry.	Not published	Up to $30K
George W. Andrews Scholarship Endowment Grant North Carolina Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The George W. Andrews Scholarship Endowment, managed by the North Carolina Community Foundation, offers financial support to graduating seniors from Montgomery County public schools.	Not published	Varies
YLS Textbook Scholarship United Way of Greater Stark County · Foundation Not published · $1K – $4K To help ease the stress of paying for college textbooks, which are typically not covered by other scholarships.	Not published	$1K – $4K
Oregon Accelerated College Credit Program Grant Education Grants · State Not published · Varies Grant program supporting accelerated college credit initiatives in Oregon schools.	Not published	Varies
Joseph James Scholarship Grant 10000 Degrees · Foundation Not published · Up to $2K The Joseph James Scholarship, managed by 10,000 Degrees, offers support to students from Bayside Martin Luther King Jr. Academy who graduated between 2013 and 2019.	Not published	Up to $2K
Mayor’s Youth Scholarship Grant The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Mayor's Youth Scholarship, established in 2005 by the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, aims to alleviate financial barriers for students pursuing higher education.	Not published	Varies
Robert W. and Martha D. Casciani Scholarship Grant Ashland County Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Robert W. and Martha D. Casciani Scholarship, managed by the Ashland County Community Foundation, supports graduating seniors from Ashland County high schools who have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and are pursuing degrees in Chemical or…	Not published	Varies
Belk Foundation Grant The Belk Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Belk Foundation believes that education is a basis for successful society and that a quality education is the right of all children and youth.	Not published	Varies
Dayton Daily News Si Burick Scholarship and Internship Grant The Dayton Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $3K The Dayton Daily News Si Burick Scholarship honors the legacy of sports editor Si Burick, awarded annually to a graduating senior from specific counties in Ohio pursuing journalism.	Not published	Up to $3K
JICSL Scholarships Program John's Island Community Service League Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
US Dept of Education: TRIO Student Support Services Salisbury University · State Not published · Varies Provides grant-aid to low-income, first generation students and provides assistance in course advisement, financial literacy, career counseling, financial aid resources, and graduate school assistance.	Not published	Varies
Edward P. Boland Scholarship Fund Grant Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts · Foundation Not published · Up to $3K Easily learn more about the Edward P. The next deadline for this grant is Tue, 02 Mar 2027.	Not published	Up to $3K
Oregon Pathways to Industrial Research Careers (OPIRC) Scholarship Umpqua Community College Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $45K	Not published	Up to $45K
QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program Neighborhood House Charter School Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The College Prep Scholars Program equips high-achieving high school juniors from low-income backgrounds with the knowledge, confidence, and resources to apply to top colleges.	Not published	Varies
Catholic College Scholarship Contest (Essay Scholarship) Cardinal Newman Society for the Preservation of Catholic HGR Ed · Foundation Not published · $5K The Cardinal Newman Society's annual Essay Scholarship Contest awards $5,000 toward college costs for high school seniors attending a Newman Guide-recommended college.	Not published	$5K
Power of Hope Award National Postsecondary Strategy · Foundation Not published · Varies Recognize school districts implementing FAFSA completion and college and career readiness programs led by school counselors.	Not published	Varies
Competitive Grants Akron Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Education and early learning grants ranged from $2,500 to $96,000, including funding for:	Not published	Varies

Showing 169–192 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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