Transformational Partnerships Fund: Grant Programs - Catalytic grants

Transformational Partnerships Fund: Grant Programs - Catalytic grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Transformational Partnership Fund
Amount: Up to US $100,000
Last Updated: December 11, 2025

Summary

The Transformational Partnerships Fund offers catalytic grants of up to $100,000 to support partnerships among degree-granting institutions, focusing on student-centered solutions. These grants aim to explore innovative collaborations that enhance stability and success for students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds. Eligible institutions must demonstrate a commitment to transformational partnerships, with priority given to those serving diverse populations and improving educational outcomes. Interested applicants can find more information on the grant process and criteria.

Overview

NOTE: Grant applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Institutions interested in applying for a grant can start the application process or contact us for more information. Helping eligible institutions explore student-centered partnerships The Transformational Partnerships Fund supports colleges and universities interested in exploring partnerships and collaborations that could fundamentally transform the way they operate — centering students in solutions that deliver stability and success.Catalytic grants Catalytic grants (up to $100,000 per exploration) can be used to engage third-party technical assistance providers knowledgeable in law, finance, governance, fundraising, human resources, and other related fields. These grants may support the exploration of partnerships in many forms — ranging from shared administrative services or consolidated academic offerings on one end of the spectrum, to full mergers on the other. Criteria for Catalytic Grants Partnership explorations supported by TPF must involve two or more degree-granting institutions of higher education. These can include private nonprofit colleges, public universities or systems, community colleges, and (in exceptional situations) for-profit institutions or nonprofits that are not degree-granting institutions. TPF will prioritize partnerships based on the following criteria: One or more of the participating institutions serve a student population that is at least 25 percent persons of color and/or where 40 percent meet the financial criteria for Pell eligibility; One or more of the participating institutions deem the partnership to be transformational and that, if completed, it would make a material difference to the operations of the institution(s); The partnership, if completed, is expected to produce materially better outcomes for current and/or future students of the institution(s). TPF’s grants support the out-of-pocket, one-time, external costs of exploring of new partnerships; they are not available for allocated internal costs other than in exceptional circumstances. Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Partnership explorations supported by TPF must involve two or more degree-granting institutions of higher education. These can include private nonprofit colleges, public universities or systems, community colleges, and (in exceptional situations) for-profit institutions.TPF will only consider supporting the exploration of a partnership involving one academic department (e,g. nursing) if: it is the first stage in a broader institutional partnership discussion and/or a meaningful number of students (250+) would be involved.TPF only supports partnerships pre-dominantly serving undergraduates.TPF will consider pre-exploration “seed” grants for the membership group to convene participants to explore the level of interest in exploring a proposed standalone partnership. TPF will also consider the exploration of standalone partnerships whose participants have been introduced by / or are members of such groups.

Ineligibility

TFP will not consider grants to single institutions, to support the implementation of partnerships where the decision to proceed has already been made, to expand or restructure existing partnerships, or to support ongoing programs even if they involve two or more institutions.TPF will not support the exploration of a partnership that extends the activities of a pre-existing multi-institution collaborative/membership group/network. TPF does not support partnerships involving only faith-serving (in contrast to faith-based) institutions.TPF does not support partnerships involving institutions located outside the United States.