Deadline: November 15, 2019
Applications for AAUW’s Career Development Grants 2020 are now open. Career Development Grants provide funding to women who hold a bachelor’s degree and are preparing to advance or change careers or reenter the workforce. Primary consideration is given to women of color and women pursuing their first advanced degree or credentials in nontraditional fields.
AAUW originally designed Career Development Grants in 1972 to offer “encouragement” funding to AAUW members seeking to renew or resume academic work for credit toward career or employment advancement. Grants provide support for coursework toward degree programs other than a doctorate or for specialized training in technical or professional fields.
Grants provide support for course work beyond a bachelor’s degree, including a master’s degree, second bachelor’s degree, certification program, or specialized training in technical or professional fields. Course work must be taken at an accredited two- or four-year college or university in the United States or at a technical school that is fully licensed or accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. Funds are not available for doctorate-level work.
Award
Funds ($2,000–12,000) are available for tuition, fees, books, supplies, local transportation, and dependent care.
Eligibility
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents whose last degree was received before June 30, 2015.
Career Development Grants are open to women who
- are U.S. citizens or permanent residents;
- hold an earned (not honorary) bachelor’s degree;
- received their bachelor’s degree on or before June 30, 2015;
- do not hold an earned (not honorary) graduate or professional degree;
- plan to enroll or are enrolled in courses/activities that are required for professional employment or advancement; and
- plan to enroll or are enrolled in one of the following:
- Bachelor’s or associate degree program that is different from the field of study of the previously earned bachelor’s degree
- Master’s degree program
- Certification program
- Technical school
- Professional degree (e.g., law or medicine)
All courses of study must occur at a regionally accredited two- or four-year college or university in the United States or at a technical school that is fully licensed and/or accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants must reside within the United States during the grant period.
Distance or online learning programs will be funded only if they are conducted through an accredited institution appearing on the U.S. Department of Education’s list of approved online/distance learning programs. Final decisions about what constitutes distance learning under these grants will be made by AAUW.
Applicants are required to indicate their matriculation status within the application. While applicants are not required to already be enrolled or accepted into their preferred institution of study in order to apply, preference is given to those who are able to demonstrate strong commitment or intent in following the proposed plan of study. Awardees must be able to show proof of admission when submitting their acceptance materials.
Criteria
The following criteria apply to the selection of Career Development Grants:
- Demonstrated commitment to education and equity for women and girls
- Reason for seeking higher education or technical training
- Degree to which study plan is consistent with career objectives
- Potential for success in chosen field
- Documentation of opportunities in chosen field
- Feasibility of study plans and proposed time schedule
- Validity of proposed budget and budget narrative, including sufficient outside support
- Quality of written proposal
- Applicant is from an underrepresented racial/ethnic background
- Applicant is from an underrepresented area of the country and/or type of university other than a top-level research institution
- Applicant is seeking credentials in a nontraditional field
- Financial Need
Application
Start the application process by clicking on the link to access the application and create an account.
For more information, visit AAUW Career Development Grants.
