PROGRAM PURPOSE
AAUW’s Career Development Grants provide assistance to women who, through additional higher education, technical training, or participation in professional development institutes, are making career changes, seeking to advance in current careers, or reentering the workforce. Primary consideration is given to women of color, women pursuing credentials in nontraditional fields, and women who do not currently hold an advanced degree.

Grants provide support for coursework toward degree programs other than a doctorate or for specialized training in technical or professional fields.

AWARD
$2,000–12,000

TIME LINE
December 15, 2016, by 11:59 p.m. Central Time
Deadline for online submission of application and supporting documents.

April 15, 2017
Notification of decisions e-mailed to applicants. AAUW is not able to honor requests for earlier notification.

July 1, 2017–June 30, 2018
Grant Year

Career Development Grants are open to women who

• are U.S. citizens or permanent residents;
• hold an earned (not honorary) bachelor’s degree;
• received their bachelor’s degree on or before June 30, 2012;
• do not hold an earned (not honorary) graduate or professional degree;
• plan to enroll or are enrolled in courses/activities that are required for professional employment or advancement; and
• plan to enroll or are enrolled in one of the following:
  • Bachelor’s or associate degree program that is different from the field of study of the previously earned bachelor’s degree
  • Master’s degree program
  • Certification program
  • Technical school
  • Professional degree (e.g., law or medicine)

All courses of study must occur at a regionally accredited two- or four-year college or university in the United States or at a technical school that is fully licensed and/or accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants must reside within the United States during the grant period.

Distance or online learning programs will be funded only if they are conducted through an accredited institution appearing on the U.S. Department of Education’s list of approved online/distance learning programs. Final decisions about what constitutes distance learning under these grants will be made by AAUW.

Applicants are required to indicate their matriculation status within the application. While applicants are not required to already be enrolled or accepted into their preferred institution of study in order to apply, preference is given to those who are able to demonstrate strong commitment or intent in following the proposed plan of study. Awardees must be able to show proof of admission when submitting their acceptance materials.

Career Development Grant funding is not available for:

• Prerequisite coursework
• Doctoral coursework or dissertations

Career Development Grants are not open to previous recipients of any AAUW national fellowship or grant (not including branch or local awards or Community Action Grants). Members and officers of the AAUW Board of Directors are not eligible to apply for fellowships and grant awards. AAUW staff or volunteers with decision-making authority who wish to apply for an award must recuse themselves from the decision-making process.