The Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation, created in 2003, assists low-income women and mothers in funding their educational pursuits. Mink represented Hawaii in the House of Representatives. The grant is available for low-income mothers that are at least 17 years old, pursuing a technical, vocational, associate's, bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree. The application can be downloaded from the foundation's website (see Resources).
The Women's Independence Scholarship Program offers financial aid to mothers who are survivors of partner abuse. The scholarship fund helps these women pay for their education to help them achieve freedom and economic independence. Applying for the Women's Independence Scholarship Program is a challenge, and the scholarship's website (see Resources) recommends filling out the application in stages. To qualify for the scholarship, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, be separated from the abuser for at least one year and be enrolled in or has applied to an accredited American university. The applicant must have used the services of a not-for-profit domestic violence center for at least six months, and the center must agree to sponsor the applicant. There is no deadline for applications, and scholarships offered vary from $250 to more than $2,000.
The Pell Grant Program offers federal educational funding for low-income undergraduate and graduate studies. The funding either goes directly into the student's account or to the university. The Pell Grant Program allocated $16.2 billion in scholarships in 2008, with individual students receiving $400 to $4,731 per year from the program. Pell Grants have a history of offering financial aid to women with children.
The Career Development Grant is funded by the American Association of University Women. It provides funding for women who are returning to their studies after a long career break, are changing careers or are seeking a second degree: either another bachelor's degree or a master's or Ph.D. Women are generally awarded $2,000 to $12,000, and minority women, women pursuing their first degrees and women pursuing a degree where they are underrepresented are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program provides financial assistance for spouses of veterans who died or were permanently disabled while working with the armed forces. The DEA provides aid to all dependents, including wives and their children, so they can pursue higher education. Spouses of veterans who were permanently injured are eligible for aid from DEA for up to 10 years from the date of injury. Widows and widowers are eligible for up to 20 years from the date of the veteran's death.