The U.S. Department of Education awards grants through its Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) program that helps low-income students who want to go to college. GEAR UP grants start with 7th grade students and continue through high school. The purpose of the grant is to increase college attendance, success and retention rates. Some funds are even earmarked for college scholarships for low-income students. They also are intended to raise student expectations at higher education institutions.
GEAR UP grants are competitive matching grants that are renewable for up to six years. They are offered as state and partnership grants. In 2008, California State University at Fullerton was awarded $7.9 million for a program that aids seventh graders at two schools in Anaheim. The award was the largest grant awarded in the university's history.
Some tutoring grants channel funds to programs that help girls succeed in mathematics. Women's Fund of the Fond du Lac Area Foundation provides such assistance. One grant the foundation awarded was for $7,500 to Girls Plus Math Equals Opportunities for math tutoring. The program also encourages the pupils to pursue careers in careers that heavily rely on math. Some of the career fields include architecture, laboratory sciences and pharmacy. The foundation prefers to fund programs that support the community and promote cooperation through volunteer efforts. Deadline for the grant application is offered twice a year, one on Jan. 15 and July 31.
Each state may have their own grants to help tutoring efforts. For example, the Delaware Mentoring Council has $25,000 in grant funds issued by the Delaware Department of Education. The purpose of the grants is to establish and support new community mentoring and tutoring programs. Qualifying programs are less than one year old and serve academically and socially at-risk children and youth in Delaware. These agencies could qualify for a grant award up to $9,000. Requests for proposals can be found at delawarementoring.com.