Learn about grants for college readiness by browsing our curated list of top college readiness funders below. Members can also research funding opportunities using the search tool for GrantFinder. Become a member.

College Readiness Funders

AINSLIE FOUNDATION

The Ainslie Foundation makes grants in a variety of areas but prioritizes support for education, health, and the environment.

AON FOUNDATION

Aon is primarily an education giver. It’s college readiness grants work to increase access to quality education for underserved populations of the Chicago area and elsewhere.

ASCENDIUM EDUCATION PHILANTHROPY

Ascendium seeks organizations that remove barriers to education for underserved and marginalized students and those seeking to close the equity gap in education.

AT&T FOUNDATION

The AT&T Foundation supports higher education organizations located within AT&T service regions and awards grants to small colleges, as well as, large universities.

BANK OF AMERICA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

This giving arm of the banking behemoth gives to college readiness and completion outfits preparing young people for success in the 21st-century workforce. 

BEAUMONT FOUNDATION OF AMERICA

This funder predominately focuses on the Southwest, but funding occasionally finds its way elsewhere. Its support of education is geared towards college readiness and college achievement. 

BEST BUY FOUNDATION

The philanthropic arm of the electronic retail giant supports multiple approaches to tech education to prepare teens for college and careers in the 21st century, with an emphasis on computer and digital skills. They fund national and local programs. 

BEZOS FAMILY FOUNDATION

The Bezos Family Foundation is solely dedicated to enriching education for students—starting before formal education begins, continuing through K-12 education, and positioning students for college success and enriched lives.

BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES

Bloomberg has an education program, and also provides funding for work in its other programs: public health, the environment, government innovation, and arts & culture.

CAPITAL ONE FOUNDATION

The Capital One Foundation’s college readiness grantmaking centers on increasing students’ access to quality education. 

CARNEGIE CORPORATION OF NEW YORK 

A leading funder of education projects and programs across the country, Carnegie's grantmaking strategy includes supporting creative, forward-thinking projects for college readiness and success.

CITI FOUNDATION

In addition to its focus on helping families save for college, Citi also supports efforts to promote greater college access and persistence.

COLLEGE FUTURES FOUNDATION

This funder wants to expand higher education opportunities in California, with a focus on access to financial aid for low-income and first-generation students for whom college would otherwise not be an option.

COMCAST FOUNDATION

The Comcast Foundation is the philanthropic arm of American mass media company Comcast. The Comcast Foundation does not have a dedicated college readiness program, but has shown a historic commitment to both community service and youth development, with an overarching goal of diversity inclusion.

JACK KENT COOKE FOUNDATION

The Cooke Foundation works with institutions of higher education and national organizations to increase college access for talented young men and women with financial needs.

MICHAEL AND SUSAN DELL FOUNDATION

Dell's College Preparation and Completion initiative targets the preparation of disadvantaged populations for education beyond high school, leading to a bachelor's degree. This funder includes a specific college readiness focus, supports school systems, nonprofits, and charter operators in urban areas, and accepts unsolicited proposals.

DEUTSCHE BANK AMERICAS

This funder has demonstrated a strong interest in college readiness programs in the U.S. Deutsche Bank’s funding in this area has supported programs that provide academic support for students as well as counseling and mentoring through the college application and selection process.

DONLEY FOUNDATION

The Donley Foundation names college readiness as an area of interest, prioritizing programs that provide tutoring and mentoring to high school students.

ECMC FOUNDATION

ECMC invests in projects that help to prepare underserved students for college and completion of their degree programs.

ECOLAB FOUNDATION

College readiness is a significant priority for the Ecolab Foundation, so long as the programming occurs in an Ecolab community.

FCA FOUNDATION

The FCA Foundation’s college readiness support is primarily focused on STEM education and STEM-related professional development, particularly for students coming from underserved populations.

FORD FOUNDATION

The iconic Ford Foundation is respected worldwide, with a global reach and a vast range of grantmaking interests including focus areas in inequality, social justice, freedom of expression, and workforce development.

GANNETT FOUNDATION

Through its education program, Gannett supports a wide range of college readiness programs to help students overcome barriers to postsecondary access through initiatives like college advising, test prep, campus tours, and much, much more.

GE FOUNDATION

GE Foundation supports college readiness programs across the United States.

ROSALINDE AND ARTHUR GILBERT FOUNDATION

The Gilbert Foundation funds college readiness programs via its college access program, which aims to support underrepresented and low-income students.

EVELYN AND WALTER HAAS, JR. FUND

The fund supports organizations and programs that help K-12 students to develop academic and life skills that are associated with college success.

HEARST FOUNDATIONS

The Hearst Foundation’s education program has long targeted colleges and universities, but it has always kept the door open for K-12 nonprofits and schools. Hearst's grants mostly support large organizations with budgets exceeding $10 million, but they also support some midsize nonprofits with budgets over $1 million. In the past few years, a consistent portion of grants has supported K-12 initiatives, including those for college readiness.

HELIOS EDUCATION FOUNDATION

This funder’s agenda is to improve college access and success, but only for students in Arizona and Florida. Its grantmaking activities emphasize scholarships and support of college access networks.

JOYCE FOUNDATION

The Joyce Foundation awards college readiness grants to organizations located in parts of the Midwest that view education as a tool for upwards mobility. It prioritizes projects that support students of color or those from low-income backgrounds.

MAYER AND MORRIS KAPLAN FAMILY FOUNDATION

The Mayer and Morris Kaplan Foundation focuses its college readiness grants on increasing access to college and helping college students complete their Associate’s and Bachelor’s degree programs.

KRESGE FOUNDATION

With its focus mainly on urban areas, Kresge's "To and Through College" subprogram leaves the door open for diverse projects such as college readiness programs, financial aid counseling, campus technology improvements, and research on college completion strategies.

LUMINA FOUNDATION

Lumina Foundation aligns its grantmaking to the foundation's Goal 2025 program, which seeks to increase the number of students earning post-secondary credentials to 60 percent by 2025. 

CHARLES STEWART MOTT FOUNDATION

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation broadly funds organizations and initiatives related to community development, education, and social justice, with a particular focus on the Flint, Michigan area.

NATIONAL MATH & SCIENCE INITIATIVE

NMSI’s College Readiness Program seeks to “empower sustainable changes at the school system, campus and classroom levels to better prepare all students for college and beyond.”

NEXT GENERATION LEARNING CHALLENGES

Funded largely by the Gates Foundation, the NGLC network is driven to improve student outcomes through innovative strategies for teaching, learning and assessment. It is especially interested in ensuring college readiness and completion. 

PANDA CARES

The foundation broadly gives to college readiness in order to prepare students for the workforce.

PIMCO FOUNDATION

The philanthropic arm of the investment management firm wants to help low-income and underserved students get into top four-year colleges and thrive academically.

PRUDENTIAL FOUNDATION

The Prudential Foundation invests in college readiness programs that prepare students for their careers, as well as, for their postsecondary education.

SCHUSTERMAN FOUNDATION

This funder prioritizes K-12 education across the country and in its hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. It is especially interested in education reform and ensuring students leave high school college and career ready.

TEAGLE FOUNDATION

The Teagle Foundation believes a traditional liberal arts education is an excellent vehicle for boosting the college readiness of New York City's youth. This funder works with nonprofit organizations, often in partnership with New York-area colleges and universities.

TRAVELERS FOUNDATION

The Travelers Foundation supports school systems and nonprofit organizations with college readiness and access programs. Most attention goes to the company's key cities of Hartford, Connecticut, and St. Paul, Minnesota, but some grants are awarded each year outside these two cities for Travelers employee initiatives.

US BANCORP FOUNDATION

This foundation's “Providing Pathways for Success to Post-Secondary Education” focus falls under its “Community Possible Grant Program.” The foundation has an open grant application process, but only for programs in the states where its corporate side offers banking services.

U.S. BANK FOUNDATION

The U.S. Bank Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the financial services company, and provides grants in education, workforce development, economic development, affordable housing, arts, and culture in the areas where its bank has a presence.

HARRY AND JEANETTE WEINBERG FOUNDATION

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg supports programs helping individuals and families who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and other types of abuse.

WELLS FARGO

Wells Fargo’s higher education giving focuses on being a leading corporate citizen. It emphasizes diversity promotion, support for military vets, scholarship programs, and college readiness initiatives.

ZEGAR FAMILY FOUNDATION

The Zegar Family Foundation’s higher education grants primarily go to help support programs for less advantaged students.