AAUW Career Development Grants ($2,000-12,000)

Deadline: December 15, 2014

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) invites applications for the 2015 Career Development Grants, which provide funding to women who hold a bachelor’s degree and are preparing to advance or change careers or re-enter the workforce. 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 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. Award Amount: $2,000-12,000.

Eligibility

Career Development Grants are not open to previous recipients of any AAUW national fellowship or grant (not including branch or local awards or Community Action Grants). Also, AAUW boards, committees, panels, task forces, staff and current interns are not eligible to apply for fellowship and grant awards.

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, 2010;
• 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:
  1. Bachelor’s or associate’s degree that is different from the field of study of the previously earned bachelor’s degree
  2. Master’s degree
  3. Certification program
  4. Technical school
  5. Professional degree (e.g. M.D., J.D.)

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.

Applicants are required to indicate their matriculation status within the application. While it is not a requirement that the applicant 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.

Career Development Grant funding is not available for:

• Prerequisite coursework
• Ph.D. coursework or dissertations

Selection 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

For more information, visit AAUW Career Development Grants.