Institutional Capacity
Beyond the Department of Education: Other Federal Grants Worth Your Time
When people usually think about federal funding opportunities for community colleges, the Department of Education is usually the first (and sometimes only) place they look. But several agencies across the federal government regularly put out funding opportunities that community colleges are well-positioned to apply and compete for.
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.
Community College Presidents and Trustees Invited to Complete National Survey on Economic Development
New America & ACCT announce a first-of-its-kind national survey to understand the role of community college trustees and presidents in building capacity for economic and workforce development.
Data-Informed Trusteeship: A New Learning Opportunity To Strengthen Board Leadership
Achieving the Dream (ATD) have partnered to launch a new asynchronous online course: Data-Informed Policy and Decision-Making for College Trustees. Designed specifically for trustees who wish to deepen their dialogue with their senior leadership team."
