Agencies and Regulations
Federal Grants Resource
With a great deal of grants open for competition, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education and Founder and President of Seventh Street Strategies, Amanda Fuchs Miller, created a guide to view these grant opportunities at a glance.
Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) Grant Programs
The Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) supports projects that are innovative and address a range of postsecondary education challenges. These programs, such as the Postsecondary Student Success Grant (PSSG) Program, Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development (RPED) Grant Program, Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program, Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success (CEVSS) Program, and Open Textbook Pilot (OTP) Program provide good opportunities for community colleges to support their students’ success. Each of these are due Tuesday, June 23 at 11:59 pm Eastern, except PSSG, which is due Tuesday, June 29.
New Grant Opportunity for Eligible Community Colleges: The Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP)
U.S. Department of Education opened the Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) grant competition, and eligible colleges have until Tuesday June 23, 2026 at 11:59pm Eastern to apply.
2025 FIPSE Grants Awarded: How Did Community Colleges Fare?
In November of 2025, the Department of Education opened a grant competition for the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE). Out of a total 72 grant recipients, 17 community colleges are 2025 FIPSE grant awardees. This piece offers a breakdown into how community colleges performed in this grant competition.
FIPSE Funding Under the Second Trump Administration
The Department of Education announced that it was opening up a FIPSE grant competition, with a quick deadline of December 3, 2025. The Trump administration reformatted this program from over 10 competitions normally scheduled throughout the year to meet four areas of national need that align with the administration’s postsecondary education agenda.
