Funding Opportunities
About our Funds
Last Mile Education Fund increases diversity in tech by providing grants to under-represented college students pursuing tech-related degrees and careers.
Funding is available for 2-year & 4-year students enrolled at a U.S. institution. Grants can be used to cover expenses such as a new laptop device, groceries, car repairs , or even an unexpected medical bill.
Awards are available year-round, as funding sources are available and as eligibility requirements are met.
Just in Time Funding to Get You Across the Finish Line
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Specific criteria vary by fund, but typically, we support students who:
Demonstrate low-income status, ineligibility for US Federal student aid, or evidence of financial need.
Currently in pursuit of a computing-related degree or certification in the U.S.; eligible degrees are detailed in the application.
Are nearing degree completion.
Currently attending school in the United States.
Experiencing a financial obstacle that is a threat to continued progress toward your computing degree.
Members of Affiliate Partner organizations and alumnae of STEM talent pipeline programs and groups are encouraged to apply.
A US-based email and address are required for payment distribution.
A valid LinkedIn profile with a photo.
All students must complete a W8 or W9 and provide a Social Security Number or an ITIN.
Last Mile Education Fund offers three levels of grants for us residents and daca students:
EMERGENCY MINI-grants
Rapid-response funding to help students overcome short-term obstacles to their academic progress. Awards are up to $595.
BRIDGE GRANTS
Grants $600 to $4,500 to help juniors and seniors in an undergraduate program or first and second-year students in a master’s program bridge potentially catastrophic financial hurdles such as car repair, medical expense, loss of employment, and required devices or equipment for your major. Bridge grants can also cover up-front costs to access critical career-building opportunities like attending tech conferences, travel, and housing to participate in an internship or undergraduate computing research opportunities. Bridge grants are only available for students currently enrolled in a bachelor's or master’s degree program.
LAST MILE Grants
Funding of up to $10,000 to cover tuition and expenses for the final credits to degree completion. Last Mile grants are only available to students in their final two semesters of their undergraduate or master’s program at an accredited institution. Last Mile grants are only available for students currently enrolled in a bachelor’s or masters’s degree program.
Last Mile Education Fund offers the following levels of grants for f1 visa students:
EMERGENCY MINI-grants
Rapid-response funding to help students overcome short-term obstacles to their academic progress. Awards are up to $595.
BRIDGE GRANTS
Grants $600 to $3,000 to help juniors and seniors in an undergraduate program or first and second-year students in a master’s program bridge potentially catastrophic financial hurdles. Due to tax treaty challenges, we are only able to fund qualified educational expenses, paid directly to institutions or third party vendors for a device like a laptop or desktop computer.
Eligible expenses that are paid directly to institutions can include but are not limited to:
Tuition
Health Plans
Parking Decals
Meal Plans
Bridge grants are only available for students currently enrolled in a bachelor's or master’s degree program.
Investor and Partner Funds
The funds listed below are sponsored by our generous partners and investors. Each has unique eligibility requirements and parameters. When you apply for funding in our Caravan portal, you will be matched to available funds using the information you share during the application process. Take care to answer the questions as accurately and completely as possible to ensure you are awarded the maximum funding available to you!
Reboot Scholar Transfer Success Fund
The Reboot Scholar Transfer Success Fund invests in striving Black, Latina, and Native American women transferring from community colleges and accepted into a bachelor's degree program for computing (e.g., computer science, information systems, data science, management information systems, etc.). The Fund aims to invest in high-potential transfer students with financial need, paving the way toward undergraduate computing degrees.
DETROIT AREA TALENT FUND
The Detroit Area Talent Fund invests in degree and credential completion for Metro Detroit residents of all ages who are currently pursuing industry credentials, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees in high-demand STEM fields. The fund aims to close the graduation gaps for under-resourced students, paving the way toward postsecondary degrees and credentials that lead to promising careers in tech and tech-enabled industries.
fellowship for indigenous women in tech
The Fellowship For Indigenous Women in Tech aims to increase the number of Indigenous (Native American, Alaskan Native, Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders) women earning undergraduate computing degrees in the U.S. by 20% and pave the way to careers in tech for this vastly underrepresented population.
APPLIED MATERIALS MOMENTUM FUND
The Momentum fund aims to advance the semiconductor industry while empowering women engineers through strengthened pathways.
Microsoft Cybersecurity Scholarship Program
Scholarships to support community college degree and industry certificate completion through financial assistance up to $500 and subsidies for cybersecurity certification exam costs up to $375. Students also receive access to LinkedIn Premium, GitHub Global Campus, and Global Mentors Initiative.
dow Last mile fund for manufacturing & skilled trades
Emergency support up to $595, Bridge Grants up to $3000, and Last Mile Grants up to $5,000 for manufacturing and skilled trades students nearing program completion in communities near Dow sites.
NYC STEM TALENT FUND
The NYC STEM Talent Fund invests in striving undergraduate STEM students located within the five boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island), focusing on those pursuing math, physics, and neuroscience pathways. The fund aims to close the graduation gap for financially vulnerable, high-potential STEM students, paving the way toward undergraduate degrees and graduate school in the sciences.
Members of the Partner organizations below have access to Emergency, Bridge, and Last Mile funds especially allocated for them.
Rewriting the code
Rewriting the Code's mission is to disrupt gender and racial inequity in the tech industry by equipping and empowering college and early career women in tech.
Ready to Apply?
Last Mile Education Fund offers students the opportunity to apply to all available funding opportunities using one common application. Through our Caravan platform, you can submit your application and be matched with funds based on your eligibility. The process is simple and easy to follow, and we'll be with you every step of the way.
The first step to applying for funding is setting up a Caravan profile.
Step 1
Create your Caravan Portal profile
After you save your profile in Caravan, you will receive a username via email from grantmaking@lastmile-ed.org. Make sure to write down your credentials before moving on to Step 2.
Step 2
Follow the link sent to your email to set up your application account.
Step 3
Log in to your account to begin the application process. Remember, this is a common application meaning you will only complete one application and you will be matched with funds based on your eligibility.
Step 4
Complete your application.
Click the "Apply" button below to get started with this process. We can't wait to help you get across the finish line and to degree completion.
Investors
Affiliate Partners
We are continuously working to create new funding opportunities. Join our newsletter to receive updates. Interested in investing in emerging tech and engineering talent? Donate or Contact Us.