Do your homework. Begin your research online. If you are not computer savvy ask for help or go to your local library. On the internet, there is a wealth of information on federal, state, institutional and organizational grants. Grant awards vary from one to the other and some will be based on merit, necessity or a select field of study. There are no set guidelines or rules to govern them all so pay close attention to the details of each regarding eligibility and the deadline for applying.
Take a look at the list below and go to each website. On each site there is detailed information regarding each organization's grant program, an application to apply and contact information if you have more questions. This list is only the tip of the iceberg, so don't end your research here, continuing looking for other grants.
1. Check all colleges and universities you plan to attend.
The colleges just for women may have more grant opportunities.
2. Check all professional organizations in your field of study.
They will have grants for women who will join their organization.
3. Check federal and state grants- (Pell Grant)
4. United Negro College Fund (uncf.org)
Serve as a national advocate of higher education for minority students.
5. The Jeanette Rankin Foundation (rankinfoundation.org)
Grants are awarded annually to help women thirty-five and older to go to college.
6. The Business and Professional Women's Foundation (bpwfoundation.org)
Enabling and supporting working women and their families to go to college.
7. Raise the Nation (raisethenation.org)
Grants and scholarships are awarded to women who are single parents.
8. The Women's Independence Scholarship program (wispinc.org)
Helps women survivors of abusive relationships obtain an education.
9. The American Association of University Women (aauw.org)
10. The Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting (efwa.org)
11. The American Society of Women Accountants (aswa.org)
12. The Association for Women In Science (awis.org)
13. Women in Computer & Information Science & Engineering Awards sponsored by the
National Science Foundation (NSF.gov)
Competition can be high for some grants and some only award small amounts per year, so it is a good idea to apply for all you're eligible for and a few you may not be sure of. Don't be intimated to apply for any of the grants since it doesn't cost you anything and you just might be the recipient. Also, tuition, books, fees and incidentals can be very expensive and one grant may not cover it all so apply for every grant you can in order to ensure you have enough funds to cover all or most of your expenses.