The federal role in higher education has grown over the past two decades, and now a new administration has the opportunity to strengthen policies that support students and their colleges and universities. To help inform these decisions, the Urban Institute convened a bipartisan group of scholars and policy advisers to write a series of memos…

The persistently low college attainment rates of youth from poor families are partly attributable to their uncertainty about college affordability. The current federal financial aid system does not provide specific information about college costs until just before college enrollment and the information is only available to students completing a…

Every student, who meets some basic eligibility requirements, can get some type of financial aid regardless of age or family income. Federal student aid is a financial aid from the federal government to help a student pay for education expenses at an eligible college, technical school, vocational school, or graduate school. There are three…

The audience for this guide is state, local, and program leaders who want to learn more about federal funding sources that can support early literacy programs and systems reform. Funding available through federal programs can help address the underlying causes of children failing to learn to read by the end of third grade, such as limited access…

This guide outlines strategies for financing asset-building initiatives and provides information on 71 federal funding sources that can be used to support a range of activities and services. It includes well-known sources of funding for asset building, for example, the Assets for Independence Demonstration Program and the Family Self-Sufficiency…

Growing concerns about low awareness and take-up rates for government support programs like financial aid for college have recently spurred calls to simplify the application process and enhance visibility. However, little research has been done to determine whether such reforms would truly improve college access and in what form…

The Department of Education's ability to create a high-performance education system is directly linked to the public's understanding of how to apply for and make proper use of federal grant funds. This booklet is intended for individuals who are interested in applying to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) for discretionary grants and…

Under the 1996 Telecommunications Act, the Federal Communications Commission established a $2.25 billion annual fund to support communications services for needy K-12 schools and libraries. Services eligible for Universal Service support include telephone lines, integrated digital networks, private lines, and Internet access hookups. The…

Procedures are described for selecting field readers and awarding grants under the Women's Educational Equity Act Program, National Institute of Education, and Talent Search Programs. Information is provided for each on (1) the legislation, regulations, policy, and program directives that govern the grant award process; (2) how and by whom funding…

Guidelines concerning what grantseekers should know about foundations before they ask for money and how to find the facts needed to obtain a grant are presented. There are basically three types of private foundations (independent, operating, and company-sponsored) and one type of public foundation (community foundations) that are of interest to…

Sources of research funds for undergraduate faculty and ways to secure the funds are discussed. Information on three federal grant programs is provided, along with advice for obtaining funds from foundations and corporations, including techniques for gathering information on prospective funding sources. Suggestions on the process of preparing…

Ways to identify possible funding sources for educational institutions are described and steps involved in drafting a proposal are enumerated. It is shown that the first step in proposal writing is to match funding needs with appropriate granting agencies, often using the assistance of offices for research and development or colleagues who have…

As a resource for grantseekers, this book is divided into two sections. Part 1, "How to Seek and Win Grant Support," provides a step-by-step system for successful grantseeking, from organization preparation to proposal writing to follow-up. Part 2, "A Directory of Funding Sources," contains more than 500 detailed entries for…

This guide provides an overview of strategies for gaining access to and using federal funds, as well as a catalog of 87 funding sources that can potentially support workforce development initiatives for adults and youth. It is intended to help program developers, policy makers, and initiative leaders identify federal funding sources to support…