Funding Opportunities
Last Mile Education Fund invests in financially vulnerable college students pursuing tech-related degrees and careers.
Awards can be used to cover expenses often excluded by scholarships such as laptops, groceries, car repairs, or even unexpected medical bills.
Awards are available year-round, as funding sources are available and as eligibility requirements are met.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and require the following documents:
A current transcript showing your name and major.
A financial aid award letter showing your name or other documentation demonstrating evidence of need.
Just in time funding to get you across the finish line
Eligibility Criteria
last mile supports students residing in the united states who are:
Within four semesters of attaining a degree or nearing certification completion; funding is available for 2-year, 4-year, and graduate students.
Able to provide evidence of financial need.
Experiencing a financial obstacle to continued progress toward the completion of an eligible degree.
Actively enrolled in a U.S. institution of higher education.
In pursuit of a degree or certification in a high-demand STEM field (computing, engineering, technology, cybersecurity, data science, etc.) Eligibility varies by funding source.
Able to complete a W8 or W9 form and provide a Social Security Number or an ITIN.
Able to provide a valid LinkedIn profile with a photo.
Able to provide a U.S.-based email and mailing address (required for award disbursement).
Please note: eligible majors vary by fund. Click on the “Learn More” buttons under the investor and partner funds listed below.
THREE AWARD LEVELS FOR U.S. STUDENTS:
EMERGENCY FUND
Awards up to $595: rapid-response funding to help students overcome short-term obstacles to academic progress.
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 computers required for class, car repairs, medical expenses, or loss of employment. Bridge funding also covers up-front costs to access critical career-building opportunities like attending tech conferences, travel and housing to participate in an internship, or undergraduate research experiences.
LAST MILE FUND
Awards of up to $10,000 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 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 Federal rules, we are only able to fund qualified educational expenses paid directly to institutions or third-party vendors for devices such as laptops.
Eligible expenses that are paid directly to institutions can include but are not limited to: tuition, health plans, parking decals, and 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
Ssupports 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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