Best Grants for Women in Arkansas

Arkansas NCAA Division III member institutions seeking to create new assistant coaching positions that advance ethnic minority and women’s representation can apply for this coaching enhancement grant. National Collegiate Athletic Association provides U.S. Division III schools with two years of matching support for salary, wages, and benefits, which may strengthen opportunities for women in athletics coaching.

NCAA Division III conferences and institutions working to advance ethnic minority and gender representation in athletics administration can apply for National Collegiate Athletic Association Strategic Alliance Matching Grants, including in Arkansas. Funding supports full-time mid- to senior-level athletics administration roles with responsibilities such as strategic planning, fundraising, compliance, and diversity initiatives over a five-year commitment.

With a mission to advance diverse athletic coaching, the National Collegiate Athletic Association provides Arkansas NCAA Division II member schools with multi-year support for newly created assistant coaching positions. Eligible institutions can receive US $48,000 over three years to increase ethnic minority and gender representation in any NCAA-sponsored sport, benefiting women and girls in athletics.

Arkansas NCAA Division II conferences and institutions seeking to improve ethnic minority and women’s representation in mid- to senior-level athletics administration can access funding through the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Grants support full-time positions focused on areas like strategic planning, budget management, fundraising, compliance, diversity initiatives, and student-athlete welfare over a five-year commitment.

Arkansas NCAA Division II schools and multisport conference offices seeking to hire full-time, entry-level athletics administrators can access funding through the National Collegiate Athletic Association; awards US $30,000 for a one-year internship plus professional development support. Programs focused on women, ethnic minorities, and diversity in athletics administration may be especially well-suited.

Larger, established 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Arkansas and across the U.S. can seek support for education and health programs serving underserved populations. The L B Research and Education Foundation provides US $10,000 - US $75,000 for research-informed initiatives, especially those advancing women and girls’ services, closing opportunity gaps, and expanding access to mental and physical healthcare.

Madeline Mellers Memorial Girls Golf Scholarship

Madeline started playing golf at a young age with her father, Ed Mellers, in Missouri. After moving to Colorado with her mother and stepfather, Chris and Ann Bush in 4th grade, she continued to play and started competing in CJGA events around the state. When she started as a freshman at Rye High School in 1990-91, there was no girls’ golf team at Rye High School so CHSAA said she could try out for the boys’ team, and she made it! Her junior year, Madeline along with her coach, Greg Bailey and Hollydot Professional, Prim Ivan, approached CHSAA again to see if Mad’s scores from Boys golf in fall could qualify her for the Girls State golf tournament the next spring, and CHSAA decided yes! She qualified and played in her 1st state tournament the next spring, placing 10th. In those days, the girls competed against girls from every size of high school in the state 1A to 6A.

During her Junior and Senior years, Madeline was also working with Dana Smith, a well known teaching professional from the Mike McGetrick Golf Academy in Denver. Dana took Madeline’s golf to the next level and is now graciously helping with her scholarship. He was chosen as the best teacher in Colorado by Golf digest and has several articles on golf published by Golf digest and Golf Illustrated. He is currently one of the staff at Trent Wearner Golf in Denver.

Her senior year, we were able to field a team made up of girls from various Southern Colorado small high schools and they played in girls’ season, 11 tournaments in all. Madeline was medalist in all 11 tournaments. She went on to become the Pueblo Ladies City Champion 3 times in 1994, 1995, and 1996. She was the youngest girl to win the Ladies championship at 17 years old!

Madeline was awarded a golf and academic scholarship to Stetson University, a division 1 school in Florida, where she attended and played golf for 4 years graduating in 1998. Denver University Law School was her next stop, and she graduated with her Juris Doctorate in 2002, passed the bar and started her law career with a private firm in Denver.

Tragically, we lost Madeline at 41 years old to colon cancer after a courageous 5-year battle. At the time of her death, she was a Senior Asst. Attorney General for the state of Colorado and very actively involved as a fundraiser for the Colon Cancer Alliance of Colorado. Madeline Ann Mellers played golf all of her life and was President of the Denver Businesswomen’s golf league. 

Description of the award

• We will be awarding two $2,500.00 scholarships
• Payment will be made to the institution directly
• Both in-state and out-of-state institutions are accepted
• Applicants must maintain a 3.0 or above GPA while maintaining the scholarship

Emma E. Hill Memorial Scholarship Fund

Mission Statement

The Emma E. Hill Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to memorialize Emma by helping female swimmers pursue their dreams of a college education. The scholarship awards will be granted on an annual basis to female graduating high school senior athletes in Southern Chester County.

About Emma

Emma was an excellent student as a sophomore at Unionville High School (UHS). She loved to swim and was a dedicated member of both the Kennett YMCA Sea Dragons and UHS swim teams. In her spare time, Emma was a lifeguard and also taught young children how to swim at the Y. As a younger child and teenager, Emma excelled on the ballfield in URA softball.

At the young age of 16, Emma passed away following complications caused by a rare type of gastric cancer, a form of the disease that was unheard of in a child and unfortunately found too late. Throughout Emma’s brief illness, she was strong and determined to get better, and did not let her health issues define her in any way.

Emma was beautiful in every sense of the word, and was loved throughout her community and beyond. She worked hard at whatever she was trying to accomplish, but always with a cheery, exuberant attitude and lovely smile. More than anything, her absolute kindness and warm heart are what made Emma our sweet girl.

YWCA Chester County Fund

Mission Statement

A primary focus of the YWCA Chester County Fund is to provide scholarships to women, primarily non-traditional students, to continue their education.

The Bob Zylstra STEM Scholarship, offered by the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, supports undergraduate students who identify as female or as students of color from West Michigan. This scholarship aims to empower students pursuing STEM majors by removing barriers to education and fostering diversity in these fields. Each year, the foundation awards scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 to help students achieve their academic and career aspirations.

Who We Are

Buiding a stronger, More Vibrant Community

For over 70 years, the Scranton Area Community Foundation has served Northeastern Pennsylvania as a steward of charitable resources, a grantmaker, and a catalyst for positive change. Guided by our core values of collaboration, trust, integrity, innovation, and inclusivity, we work to ensure that our communities thrive with opportunities for all.

This scholarship is awarded to a female or female-identified student from a high school in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, or Wyoming county who has 50 or more documented volunteer hours and and who has a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Women and girls pursuing further education, including traditional or nontraditional students, may be eligible for scholarships that support educational advancement in Arkansas. Scranton Area Foundation provides women and girl services with funding to help increase access to higher and adult education opportunities. Applicants complete the SACF Scholarships Common Application to determine specific scholarship eligibility.

Female high school seniors pursuing higher education who attend Scranton or West Scranton High School and live in Lackawanna County may be eligible for this scholarship, which supports women and girl services. Scranton Area Foundation offers the Junior League of Scranton Scholarship to help these students continue their education.

Women who are unemployed or under-employed and pursuing post-high school education can receive multiyear scholarship support for tuition and other college expenses through the Women's Education Coalition Grant. Grants from Kalamazoo Community Foundation help women in select Michigan counties working toward degrees or vocational training; Arkansas organizations serving similar populations may find this model relevant.

Women age 19 and older pursuing two- or four-year college degrees can receive up to US $3,000 in scholarship support, usable at accredited U.S. institutions. Grants from Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts help students in Hampden County, and women-focused education programs in Arkansas may find this model relevant when exploring similar opportunities.

Women and gender-equity–focused students pursuing STEM degrees can receive US $1,000 - US $5,000 for higher education through scholarships from San Diego Foundation, open to U.S. students. Arkansas women and girls preparing for four-year science, technology, engineering, or math programs may be eligible if they meet the foundation’s academic, residency, and financial-need criteria.

Women-led organizations in Arkansas working with mid-career women of color environmental leaders can apply for Rachels Network’s organizational grants of US $10,000. Funding supports organizations connected to Catalyst Award recipients who advance environmental stewardship, sustainability, and a healthier, safer, and more just world for women and communities.

Women of color environmental leaders working in Arkansas can receive personal funding through the Rachel’s Network Catalyst Award to support their mid-career leadership and impact. Grants from Rachels Network help women and girl services leaders advancing sustainability, environmental conservation, and stewardship across the U.S., including Arkansas, with US $15,000 in personal support plus additional services.

Nonprofit leaders advancing women and girl services in Arkansas and nationwide can receive US $25,000 to support their community-focused causes. With a mission to honor women who uplift their communities, L'Oreal Paris provides recognition, mentorship, and a national platform through its Women of Worth Award for U.S. and U.S. territories organizations.

Women and girl–serving students in Arkansas seeking education to reenter the workforce may be eligible for scholarships supporting training and educational access. Community Foundation for Southwest Washington provides the YWCA Clark County Chan Barnett Scholarship, awarding US $1,000 - US $4,000 to Washington State residents connected to YWCA Clark County who are domestic violence survivors with financial need.

Female high school seniors from Erie, Huron, or Ottawa counties in Ohio planning to study STEM or medical fields can apply for Erie County Community Foundation’s Zonta Club of Greater Sandusky High School STEM Scholarship Fund. This academic scholarship supports study at accredited nonprofit colleges, universities, community colleges, or vocational schools in the U.S. and may benefit women-focused programs in Arkansas researching similar opportunities.

Female adult students pursuing undergraduate or vocational education who live in Erie, Huron, Ottawa, or Sandusky Counties in Ohio can receive scholarship support to return to school. With a mission to strengthen community opportunity, Erie County Community Foundation assists nontraditional women students, which may interest Arkansas organizations serving women seeking similar educational support models.

Female high school seniors pursuing an undergraduate degree and interested in women and girl services may be eligible for this academic scholarship, which considers financial need. Offered by Erie County Community Foundation, it supports students from specific Ohio high schools and may benefit Arkansas-based programs guiding young women toward higher education opportunities.

Doctoral students at U.S. universities researching 19th–early 21st century Russian/Soviet history can receive up to US $28,000 for dissertation research or completion, including projects in women’s and gender studies. With a mission to advance regional scholarship, ASEEES provides Arkansas scholars and others with support for culturally, politically, or socially focused historical work.

AAUW branches and state organizations in Arkansas designing or running hands-on STEM programs for girls in grades K–12 can receive up to US $10,000 to expand and deepen their work. American Association of University Women supports projects focused on STEM skill-building, confidence and identity, college and career prep, and mentoring for girls.

The AAUW Community Action Grants provide up to $75,000 to support nonprofits and educational institutions that empower girls in grades K–12 to succeed in STEM fields. By fostering hands-on learning, mentorship, and family involvement, these grants aim to build confidence and skills among girls, especially those from underrepresented communities. AAUW believes that immersive STEM environments and relatable role models can inspire lasting interest and help close the gender gap in leadership and careers.

The Emerge Grant, established by the Jeannette Rankin Foundation, supports women and nonbinary individuals aged 25 and older from Georgia and Montana. With grants up to $2,500 annually, recipients can pursue technical, vocational, or degree programs at accredited U.S. institutions. This initiative, rooted in Rankin's legacy, aims to empower those demonstrating financial need. Applicants will be informed about their status, ensuring transparency in the selection process.