Funding Opportunities
About LAST MILE’s FUNDING
Last Mile Education Fund invests in financially vulnerable college students pursuing tech-related degrees and careers.
Support is available for 2-year, 4-year and graduate students enrolled at U.S. institutions. Awards can be used to cover expenses excluded from allowable scholarship expenses such as a new laptop, groceries, car repairs, or even an unexpected medical bill..
Awards are available year-round, as funding sources are available and as eligibility requirements are met.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Just in Time Funding to Get You Across the Finish Line
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Specific criteria vary by funding, but typically, last mile supports students:
Able to demonstrate evidence of financial need.
Experiencing a financial obstacle to continued progress toward the completion of a computing degree.
Currently in pursuit of a computing-related degree or certification in the U.S.: eligible degrees are detailed in specific funds’ webpages.
Nearing degree completion.
Currently enrolled in a US based institution of higher education.
Have a US-based email and mailing address (required for payment distribution).
Complete a W8 or W9 form and provide a Social Security Number or an ITIN.
Provide a valid LinkedIn profile with a photo.
THREE AWARD LEVELS for us STudents:
EMERGENCY Fund
Rapid-response funding to help students overcome short-term obstacles to their academic progress. Awards are up to $595.
BRIDGE Fund
Awards $600 to $4,500 to help juniors and seniors in an undergraduate program or first and second-year students in a master’s program bridge potentially catastrophic financial hurdles such as car repair, medical expense, loss of employment, and required devices or equipment for your major. Bridge grants can also cover up-front costs to access critical career-building opportunities like attending tech conferences, travel and housing to participate in an internship or undergraduate computing research opportunities.
LAST MILE Fund
Awards of up to $10,000 to cover tuition and expenses for the final credits to degree completion. Last Mile awards are only available to students in the final two semesters of their undergraduate program at an accredited institution currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program.
TWO AWARD LEVELS for f1 visa students:
EMERGENCY MINI Fund
Rapid-response funding to help students overcome short-term obstacles to their academic progress. Awards are up to $595.
BRIDGE Fund
Awards $600 to $3,000 to help juniors and seniors in an undergraduate program or first and second-year students in a master’s program bridge potentially catastrophic financial hurdles. Due to tax treaty challenges, we are only able to fund qualified educational expenses, paid directly to institutions or third-party vendors for a device like a laptop or desktop computer.
Eligible expenses that are paid directly to institutions can include but are not limited to:
Tuition
Health Plans
Parking Decals
Meal Plans
Investor and Partner Funds
The funds listed below are sponsored by our generous partners and investors. Each has unique eligibility requirements and parameters. When you apply for funding in our Caravan portal, you will be matched to all available funds for which you are eligible using the information you share during the application process. Take care to answer the questions as accurately and completely as possible to ensure you are awarded the maximum funding available to you!
APPLIED MATERIALS MOMENTUM FUND
The Momentum fund aims to advance the semiconductor industry by widening the talent pool and strengthening pathways for financially vulnerable students to succeed.
DETROIT AREA TALENT FUND
The Detroit Area Talent Fund invests in degree and credential completion for Metro Detroit residents of all ages in high-demand STEM fields, paving the way toward postsecondary degrees and credentials that lead to promising careers in tech and tech-enabled industries.
dow Last mile fund for manufacturing & skilled trades
The Dow Last Mile Fund for Manufacturing & Skilled Trades supports the manufacturing talent pipeline in and around Dow communities.
Last Mile Research Experiences for Undergrads (REUs) fund
Last Mile REU Fund Fund ensures research experiences for undergrads are accessible to students at all income levels, broadening the pool of talent exposed to research career pathways.
Microsoft Cybersecurity Scholarship Program
Funding to support degree and industry certification attainment among community college students in cybersecurity and related fields. Students also receive access to LinkedIn Premium, GitHub Global Campus, and Global Mentors Initiative.
NYC STEM TALENT FUND
The NYC STEM Talent Fund aims to close the graduation gap for financially vulnerable, high-potential NYC math, physics, and neuroscience students, paving the way toward undergraduate degrees and graduate school in the sciences.
Reboot Transfer Success Fund
The Reboot Transfer Success Fund invests in high-potential transfer students with financial need, paving the way toward undergraduate computing-related degrees.
Members of Partner organizations have specially allocated Emergency, Bridge, and Last Mile funds:
Rewriting the code
The RTC Future of Tech Fund prepares the next generation of tech talent to learn, innovate, and lead.
Ready to Apply?
Last Mile Education Fund offers students the opportunity to apply to all available funding opportunities using one common application. Through our Caravan platform, you can submit your application and be matched with funds based on your eligibility. The process is simple and easy to follow, and we'll be with you every step of the way.
The first step to applying for funding is setting up a Caravan profile.
Step 1
Create your Caravan Portal profile
After you save your profile in Caravan, you will receive a username via email from studentawards@lastmile-ed.org. Make sure to write down your credentials before moving on to Step 2.
Step 2
Follow the link sent to your email to set up your application account.
Step 3
Log in to your account to begin the application process. Remember, this is a common application meaning you will only complete one application and you will be matched with funds based on your eligibility.
Step 4
Complete your application.
Click the "Apply" button below to get started with this process. We can't wait to help you get across the finish line and to degree completion.
Investors
Ecosystem Partners
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