Best Higher Education Grants in South Carolina

The Jay Frank Memorial Musical Scholarship Fund, managed by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, supports students passionate about music and the music industry. With over 30 years of commitment to community enhancement, CFMT aims to foster a thriving and inclusive environment for future generations. This scholarship empowers aspiring musicians to explore their interests and develop their skills, ensuring that the rich cultural landscape of Nashville continues to thrive.

The SHAPE America Major of the Year Award recognizes exemplary undergraduate students in health, physical education, recreation, and dance. This prestigious accolade aims to highlight nominees who demonstrate academic excellence and commitment to service within their communities. Faculty members from colleges and universities are encouraged to nominate one outstanding student per major, ensuring that the next generation of health educators is celebrated for their achievements and contributions to the field.

The STEM Higher Education Grant Program, funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, aims to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM graduate education. The program focuses on transforming educational pathways, empowering universities, and supporting innovative initiatives that cultivate a diverse faculty body. By addressing systemic barriers and promoting inclusive environments, the Foundation seeks to ensure that all students have equitable opportunities to succeed in STEM fields, ultimately strengthening the scientific enterprise.

Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund

The American Bar Association (ABA) awards an annual Legal Opportunity Scholarship to first-year law students. The program's mission is committed to enhancing the diversity, equity, and inclusion of the legal profession. The ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship grants $15,000 of financial aid to 20 - 25 incoming law students over their three years in law school. Since its inception, the ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship has benefitted more than 400 students from across the country.

The Gene Haas Foundation offers Manufacturing Education Grants to empower students in technical career pathways through CNC education. These scholarships support public and private nonprofit schools, enhancing skills in CNC technology. Funds can be allocated for the Gene Haas CNC Scholarship and tooling awards for essential tools and safety gear. By fostering hands-on experience in real-world manufacturing, the foundation ensures the next generation of skilled professionals has the necessary resources to succeed.

Truliant's Community Giving program supports nonprofit organizations that enhance local communities near Truliant branches. Focus areas include financial wellness, social mobility, and workforce education, specifically targeting initiatives that promote financial literacy, basic stability, and career development. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt and have been operational for at least three years. The program seeks to empower individuals and families while fostering community growth and stability.

The BECU Foundation's People Helping People Awards honor exceptional nonprofit work in communities served by BECU. Each year, BECU members can nominate organizations for grants up to $50,000. Eligible nonprofits must be active 501(c)(3) organizations with a direct impact in Idaho, Oregon, South Carolina, or Washington. This initiative highlights the importance of community service and encourages members to recognize local heroes making a difference.

The Transfer Pathways to the Liberal Arts Grant Program, sponsored by the Teagle Foundation and Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, aims to enhance transfer opportunities between community colleges and private four-year liberal arts institutions. With grants up to $350,000, this initiative supports partnerships that promote timely degree completion for underrepresented students, fostering diversity and enriching academic environments. The program addresses transfer challenges, ensuring alignment in curricula and maximizing credit transferability to facilitate successful transitions to higher education.

The AccessLex Diversity Pathway Intervention Grant Program aims to support initiatives that facilitate the entry of college students from historically underrepresented groups into law school. By providing funding of $200,000 to $300,000 over 12 to 24 months, the program seeks to improve enrollment and success rates for these students. AccessLex Institute emphasizes research-backed strategies and collaborative programs to enhance educational outcomes in legal education.

The AAS Northeast Asia Council (NEAC) Distinguished Speakers Bureau Grant invites applications from U.S. and Canadian colleges to host distinguished scholars for public lectures on Japan and Korea. This program, initiated in 2011, aims to foster engagement with early career scholars and enhance East Asian studies. Grants cover honoraria of $500 and additional funding for in-person events, promoting accessibility and academic collaboration. Institutions are encouraged to apply every three years, ensuring support for smaller programs in Asian studies.

Mission

The Foundation was established in December 2013 by Kathryn B. McQuade, after retiring from 33 years of working in the business community. I was blessed to have been born into a loving middle class family. My father worked very hard to insure that all of his children were given an opportunity for a good education and my mother, “a stay at home Mom’ was always there for us. My world was safe and comfortable. My life is in stark contrast to how much of the rest of the world lives. I continue to read of the terrible injustices waged against women and children globally and hope that this foundation can provide them the opportunity and resources to succeed. We will support organizations that help us achieve our goal of Striving to make sustainable improvements in women and children’s rights education and welfare.

Kathryn McQuade Foundation Grant

The Foundation will make timely decisions on your grant request and provide clear communications on our expectations of reporting progress.

Women

The Foundation’s goal is to provide women assistance and provide them an opportunity to succeed. Assistance can take many forms, however our goal is to help them become self sufficient and enable them to lift themselves out of poverty and provide for their children. Access to education, job training and professional skills, even access to capital in order to build a business are possible ways we will consider helping women to succeed. Grant requests should focus on enabling the women to sustain financial independence.

We look forward to hearing of the many creative ways organizations are working on helping women succeed through out the world. To help women is to help their children and the communities they live in.

Children

Too many children in the US and across the world live in poverty and lack the access to education. Education and/or appropriate skills training are necessary to break the cycle of poverty and crime. While the assistance to women may take many forms, the foundation’s focus for children will target education and/ or skills training. The Foundation is open to many ideas on how to accomplish this goal and look forward to receiving proposals to help all children achieve their potential.

The U.S. Embassy Tokyo is launching a competition to promote study abroad opportunities in U.S. graduate schools. This initiative invites American and Japanese non-profit organizations to propose innovative programs aimed at increasing the enrollment of Japanese students in various graduate fields across the United States. The goal is to foster educational exchange and strengthen U.S.-Japan relations through enhanced academic collaboration.

The Transformational Partnerships Fund offers catalytic grants of up to $100,000 to support partnerships among degree-granting institutions, focusing on student-centered solutions. These grants aim to explore innovative collaborations that enhance stability and success for students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds. Eligible institutions must demonstrate a commitment to transformational partnerships, with priority given to those serving diverse populations and improving educational outcomes. Interested applicants can find more information on the grant process and criteria.

The Cornerstone: Learning for Living Planning Grants, sponsored by The Teagle Foundation and NEH, aim to revitalize humanities education in higher learning. With a focus on transformative texts and faculty engagement, the initiative encourages diverse institutions to innovate general education. Grants up to $25,000 support curriculum reform and professional development, fostering a sense of belonging and community among students while enhancing their analytical skills and cultural awareness.

The Teagle Foundation and the NEH are offering the Cornerstone: Learning for Living implementation grants to enhance the role of humanities in higher education. Aimed at revitalizing student engagement, the initiative supports diverse institutions in creating transformative curricula and fostering community. Grants of up to $350,000 over 24 months will fund faculty development, course redesign, and outreach efforts, ensuring sustainable humanities programs that benefit a wide array of students, particularly in STEM fields.

The Stephan D. Weiss Student Mental Health Award, established by the American College Health Foundation, aims to enhance mental health support for college students. Offering $5,000 annually, it encourages innovative initiatives that can improve mental health service delivery and student retention. Eligible applicants are members of the American College Health Association, focusing on identifying mental health needs and developing effective campus-wide strategies. This award addresses growing concerns regarding mental health issues in higher education, fostering a supportive learning environment.

The Weiss Writing Prize, established by the American College Health Foundation in 2010, aims to enhance mental health care quality for college students. It honors the lead author of a significant publication addressing student retention programs for those with mental health challenges. By fostering innovative and effective solutions, this prize encourages the dissemination of impactful research among American College Health Association members, ultimately contributing to the well-being and success of students across campuses.

The PATH Scholarship, established by the Ellucian Foundation in 2020, aims to support higher education institutions in assisting students facing financial hardships. With over $2.9 million awarded, it has benefited more than 3,100 students. Eligible institutions can receive grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000, with individual awards up to $1,500. This initiative encourages public two-year colleges, particularly Minority Serving Institutions, to apply and adapt award criteria to meet the needs of their students.

Boom & Bucket's Student Scholarship Program aims to provide a $1,000 scholarship each year to students pursuing heavy machinery programs at colleges or trade schools in the U.S. and Canada. This initiative supports both current and future students, ensuring access to quality education regardless of financial background. By investing in education, Boom & Bucket hopes to foster the next generation of heavy equipment professionals while demonstrating its commitment to transparency and customer service.

The American Electric Power Foundation provides grants to 501(c)(3) organizations focused on educational improvement, particularly in STEM fields, and basic human services such as hunger and housing. Organizations must operate within AEP's service territory or have a broader beneficial purpose. The Foundation also supports social justice initiatives and environmental protection efforts. Eligible applicants must affirm compliance with anti-discrimination policies and demonstrate commitment to diversity and inclusion.

The College Well-Being Funding Opportunity aims to enhance the health of college students through innovative programs and research. Offered by the American College Health Foundation, it provides up to two awards of $3,500 to eligible institutions for improving campus infrastructure that promotes student well-being. This initiative encourages creativity and collaboration among campus health professionals to develop effective, measurable outcomes in student wellness. By fostering a culture of well-being, the foundation seeks to address the evolving needs of contemporary students.

The AERA Minority Dissertation Fellowship in Education Research aims to enhance diversity in education research by supporting doctoral dissertation projects from advanced graduate students belonging to historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. By providing a $25,000 stipend and opportunities for mentorship, the program encourages high-quality research across various educational topics, including STEM education and achievement gaps. This fellowship not only aids in academic development but also fosters the competitiveness of minority scholars in higher education.

The Hearst Foundation: Education Grant aims to support outstanding nonprofits that promote education across various levels, focusing primarily on higher education. With a minimum grant size of $100,000, the foundation prioritizes organizations demonstrating significant impact and sustainability. They support innovative educational models, professional development, and scholarships, specifically targeting underserved populations. Since the 1940s, the foundation has evolved while maintaining its commitment to fostering healthy and productive lives for all individuals in the United States.

The Bristol Bay Foundation offers a Higher Education Scholarship Program supporting both full-time and part-time students pursuing 4-year or advanced degrees. Eligible applicants must be shareholders of the BBNC or their descendants, have a high school diploma or GED, and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0. Scholarships are based on academic performance and life experiences, with applications due in April for the next academic year.

The Maria and Paolo Alessio Southern Italy Scholarship, offered by the UNICO Foundation, supports students of Southern Italian descent pursuing a degree at an accredited U.S. college or university. Valued at $2,500, this scholarship aims to empower students who demonstrate academic excellence with a minimum GPA of 2.7. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens and can be Freshmen, Sophomores, or Juniors, continuing their studies in the 2026-2027 academic year.

The ASNT Foundation's Faculty Grant aims to enhance nondestructive testing (NDT) education at US universities and colleges. By providing $10,000 in funding, this grant supports faculty in revising or developing NDT curricula. Recipients who are not ASNT members receive a complimentary one-year membership. The initiative focuses on improving educational quality in the NDT field, ensuring students receive top-notch instruction, thus paving the way for successful careers in nondestructive testing.

The AFNGA AusArt Scholarship, offered by the American Australian Association, supports Australian graduate students in fine arts or related fields for one year of artistic development in the US. With funding of US $30,000, recipients can cover travel, living, and tuition costs. Eligible applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents, emerging artists, and have a formal offer from an accredited US institution. This scholarship fosters cultural exchange and artistic growth between Australia and the US.