Exponentially Accelerating Student Success
Mathematical Sciences Talent Fund
A $ 30 Million Initiative to Keep 10,000 Mathematics & Quantitative-Science Students on Track to Graduation by 2029
America’s innovation economy depends on a strong mathematical sciences pipeline. The Mathematical Sciences Talent Fund ensures that promising students don’t lose years of progress because of a single unexpected setback. Together with the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), Last Mile Education Fund is building a national safety net for the next generation of mathematical thinkers, researchers, and problem-solvers.
“MAA Quote”
A Missing Safety Net in the Mathematical Sciences
Every year, an estimated 2,000 mathematics and quantitative majors are derailed just before graduation due to modest financial emergencies. At the same time, the U.S. is not producing enough graduates in math-intensive fields to meet growing workforce demand in:
AI and machine learning
Data science and analytics
Quantitative research and finance
Scientific computing and engineering
Fast, Flexible Support When It Matters Most
The Mathematical Sciences Talent Fund provides rapid-response awards—typically under $3,000—to students within their final four semesters of graduation. These are academically strong, high-potential students navigating financial instability beyond their control.
Our model is simple and powerful:
Immediate awards delivered in days
Flexible use of funds for whatever barrier stands in the student’s way
No GPA cutoffs or merit barriers
Focus on degree completion to unlock upward mobility
Last Mile brings the scalable infrastructure and student-centered approach. MAA brings community, mentorship, and 100+ years of leadership in mathematical education.
Together, we’re bridging students from “almost graduated” to fully prepared contributors in high-demand quantitative fields.
Last Mile gave me the chance to finish strong. With a remaining tuition gap I couldn’t cover on my own, I am thankful that their support covered my final semester, allowing me to graduate debt-free as a math major and fully focus on my research projects in optimization and statistical modeling. Because of that investment, I’m able to enter the workforce prepared for a quantitative career and motivated to pay forward the same support to others.
Delgardo Hutchinson
Mathematics Major, CUNY Lehman College
United To Secure America’s Quantitative Edge
From two trusted organizations comes one shared mission. MAA brings over 100 years of leadership in mathematics education and a nationwide network of departments, faculty, and chapters ready to identify students in need. Last Mile brings a proven, data-driven model with demonstrated outcomes.
Together, we’re building a national safety net for the mathematical innovators our future demands — turning persistence into graduation, and graduation into opportunity.
Why Investors Choose Last Mile: A Proven Model With Outsized Returns
Last Mile delivers fast, flexible awards in days, not months, with no GPA barriers—investing in persistence, not perfection.
Partnering with Last Mile Education Fund delivers a proven model with unmatched ROI. With nationwide reach, we support students in high-demand career pathways at any U.S. institution.
Our platform amplifies impact by pooling employer contributions, powered by a scalable tech backbone and lean operations. Funders benefit from transparent, centralized reporting and the collective power of a shared model that multiplies results across contributors.
Last Mile’s approach is already transforming outcomes at scale:
$16M+ invested directly into 13,000+ students served across 1,000+ institutions
74% graduation rate within 12 months (triple peers of similar backgrounds)
<$3,000 average award
246× 10-year social return on investment
Graduates entering high-demand jobs across the innovation economy
By combining financial stabilization with professional belonging through MAA chapters, we ensure students don’t just complete degrees—they launch into meaningful, mathematically rich careers.
Small investments. Extraordinary outcomes.
Be Part of the Equation
Your investment fuels upward mobility, strengthens U.S. competitiveness, and ensures that students with talent and determination—but no margin for error—can reach their full potential.
Help close the final-gap funding barrier and expand access to the mathematical sciences.
Together, we can prepare the workforce the future demands.