Our Mission
Investing in abundant Potential
Most scholarship programs seek to identify ‘top’ talent and reward them with support—as long as they stay on top.
This leaves out far too many capable students and overfunds a select few. The Last Mile Education Fund takes an abundance approach, investing in a broader group of students already committed to technology and engineering fields, providing support for challenges they face beyond their control, and incubating them to be the next generation of innovators.
We see these students as a high return on investment (ROI) opportunity to address the diversity challenges plaguing the tech industry and increase economic mobility for women and minorities.
PROVIDING Agile SUPPORT WHEN IT’S NEEDED MOST
The Last Mile Education Fund is agile. We respond quickly to the dynamic circumstances students encounter, provide immediate response to student needs, and directly address financial obstacles in their paths.
Last Mile stays nimble: it leverages its founders’ and champions’ networks for outreach, volunteers, informal mentoring, and to create a clearinghouse of additional resources. Since 2020, Last Mile has awarded nearly 3000 grants totaling $2.9M to support degree completion for low-income underrepresented students aimed at careers in tech.
Creating a Sustainable engine of reinvestment
Last Mile creates sustainability through a virtuous circle of investment, engagement, and reinvestment. Students progress from grantee (investment), to fund ambassador, and then become investors once established in their career.
The Last Mile model has a built-in path to sustainability as the graduates enter high-paying careers and are able to reinvest in the next cohort of students. Last Mile is structured completely around grants, and students are intended to experience support and goodwill, rather than pity or obligation. These factors are designed to heighten the impulse to “pay it forward,” and early results indicate that it is working.
“A bump in the road should not mean the end of the journey!”
— Ruthe Farmer, Co-Founder
Who We Support
Last Mile invests in striving students who have already committed to a technology pathway and:
Demonstrate low-income status, ineligibility for US Federal student aid, or evidence of financial need.
Currently in pursuit of a STEM related degree or certification in the U.S.; eligible degrees are detailed in the each application.
Are nearing completion.
Currently located in the United States.
Experiencing a financial obstacle that is a threat to your continued progress towards your computing degree.
Members of Affiliate Partner organizations and alumnae of computing talent pipeline programs and groups are encouraged to apply (e.g. NCWIT Aspirations in Computing, Girls Who Code, Black Girls Code, Boys & Girls Clubs, Girl Scouts, SWENext, etc.).
Investors
Affiliate Partners
