The theme of the day on Tuesday was scholarships for adult learners. I was researching grants available through community foundations and came across a scholarship page from the Community Foundation of Sarasota. The Foundation provides scholarships to adult learners, defined as someone who did not continue higher education after high school, for accredited colleges, universities and technical schools. Not all community foundations provided scholarships, and some limited grants for individuals. Be sure to check out community foundations that cover your area to see if there are any opportunities for your students!
In the afternoon, I was reminded that I signed up for a webinar from the Foundation Center called “Finding Foundation Support for Your Education.” The Foundation Center hosts a series of free webinars to help first time grant seekers, so you will be able to find several opportunities to learn more on their site. Here are the main take-aways from the presentation:
- The majority of undergraduate student aid comes from federal loans (38%). Federal Pell Grants (19%) and Institutional Grants (18%) are next in line.
- Foundations gave $3.6 Billion in scholarships and other grants to individuals in 2008. Over 240,000 individuals benefited from grants and scholarships made directly from foundations.
- Private sources of support include professional associations, clubs and groups in the community, religious community, population-specific organizations and corporations/employers.
- The Foundation Center has a scholarship search service
If you are working with an adult learner who is interested in continuing his or her education, these might also be helpful websites:
