Obtaining Federal Grants for Mentoring

There are two major federal grant programs exclusively targeted to mentoring programs. However, a few other federal and state grant programs have a focus on helping youth, after-school programs, and other related goals that mentoring programs may be able to apply for. Some of these programs require that mentoring programs partner with other institutions in order to be eligible for funding.

More information is provided below on federal grant programs focused on mentoring. To search for other federal, state, and foundation funding opportunities, visit the following online resources:

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (A database of all federal funding sources.)
U.S. House of Representatives Funding Resources
White House List of Funding Streams
Community Foundation Locator
The Foundation Center (Their Foundation Directory is available at many libraries.)
FundsNet Online Services
Grants, Etc.

Mentoring Programs

Agency: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities, National Activities

Description: The purpose of this program is to provide federal competitive grants to local mentoring programs. The funding is flexible, empowering local programs with the control needed to best serve community needs. It was created in December 2001 as part of H.R. 1, the No Child Left Behind Act, and first funded in FY2002.

Application Date: May 23, 2007 was the last application date. There is not likely to be a competition in 2008, as ED will likely award grants from unfunded, high-quality application from the 2007 competition.

Grant size and length: In 2004, 165 grants were awarded, ranging in size from $48,411 to $493,672 per year for three years. In 2005, an additional 90 grants were awarded, totalling just over $16 million, selected from the remaining 2004 applications. In 2007, ED issued 170 grants, ranging in size from $47,573 to $412,743 per year for three years.

Funding Available: Congress has allocated $50 million for this program in FY2008. Approximately $17.5 million is available for new grants in 2008 (the remainder of the funding is to support the second year of funding to FY2007 grant recipients).

Eligibility: Local direct-service mentoring organizations are eligible to apply. Applicants must either be community-based organizations (CBOs), local educational agencies (LEAs), or partnerships of the two. The Department is strongly encouraging partnerships between LEAs and CBOs that propose school-based mentoring programs. Existing, developing, or new mentoring programs may apply.

Contact: Information about the grant program - including the list of past recipients and FY2007 application - is available on the Department of Education website at http://www.ed.gov/programs/dvpmentoring/index.html.

Mentoring for Children of Prisoners

Agency: Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Description: The program provides grants to organizations that provide high-quality mentoring services to children of incarcerated parents. Applicants must also develop a plan for the mentees' families, including how to connect the child with the imprisoned parent and how to support caregivers and siblings. Applicants can either establish new programs or expand existing programs. It was created in 2002 as part of the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Amendments of 2002, and first funded in FY2003.

Application Date: Applications are due on June 4, 2007. There will not be a new grant competition for 2008. However, interested mentoring programs are encouraged to consider joining Mentoring Children of Prisoners: Caregiver's Choice. This is a new initiative funded by HHS and run by MENTOR that seeks to bring children of the incarcerated together with mentoring programs, and to financially support the resulting mentoring relationships.

Grant size and length: In 2006, 76 new grants, totaling $11.2 million, were awarded, ranging from $30,000 to $750,000 per year, renewable for three years. In 2007, approximately 100 grants were awarded. Grant sizes can range between $0 and $1,000,000 per year, for three years, and the average grant size is approximately $190,000.

Funding Available: Congress has allocated $50 million for this program in FY2008. All funds are dedicated to supporting existing grantees.

Eligibility: Faith and community-based organizations, tribal governments or consortia, and state and local governments are eligible to apply. Applicants must serve areas where substantial numbers of children of prisoners live, as compared to the national average. Applicants can establish new programs or expand existing mentoring programs.

Contact: More information about the grant program is available on the HHS website. Grant applications can be accessed here.

U.S. Department of Justice Funding

Agency: State Departments of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

Description:In 2003, Congress consolidated many delinquency prevention programs, including JUMP, into one large state block grant fund for juvenile delinquency prevention. Beginning in FY2004, funds will be distributed to the states, which can then award grants for any or all of 25 different types of juvenile delinquency prevention programs. Mentoring is one of the 25 types of eligible programs. Mentoring programs would need to apply for funds through their own state government.

Application Date: Varies from state to state.

Grant size and length: Varies from state to state.

Funding Available: Amounts available vary from state to state.

Eligibility: Varies from state to state.

Contact: State Department of Justice contacts are available at http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/statecontacts/resourcelist.asp. Check the box for Juvenile Justice Specialist and then click on your state.

In addition, in 2006, The US Department of Justice held a small pilot grant competition for “Mentoring for System Involved Youth,” which resulted in a total of four grants being awarded, along with a technical assistance and evaluation contract. It is unclear whether this program will have any future funding opportunities. For more information, visit http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/enews/06juvjust/060222.html.

21st Century Community Learning Centers

Agency: State Departments of Educations

Description: Congress provides funding allocations to each state for this program. Each state then conducts a grant competition at the state level. Mentoring programs in each state must apply for funds through their own state government. The program provides funding to establish and expand after-school, weekend, and summer learning centers for children and families in a safe, drug-free, and supervised environment.

Application Date: Varies from state to state.

Grant size and length: Varies from state to state.

Funding Available: Congress allocated approximately $1 billion for this program in FY2008.

Eligibility: Eligible entities include local educational agencies, community-based organizations, other public or private entities, or consortia of two or more of such agencies, organizations, or entities. States are required to make awards only to applicants that will primarily serve students who attend schools with concentrations of poor students. Also, States must provide a priority for projects that will target services to students who attend low-performing schools.

Contact: A list of each state’s contacts for this program is available at http://www.ed.gov/programs/21stcclc/contacts.html

GEAR-UP Program

Agency: The US Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education

Description: GEAR UP is an early intervention program that provides grants to organizations to help low-income students prepare for college. Applicants must work with an entire cohort of students beginning no later than seventh grade and continuing through high-school graduation. Applicants must raise awareness about attending college, assist with financial aid and college applications, and provide other comprehensive services - which can include mentoring, counseling, tutoring, after-school programs, and college visits.

Application Date: The most recent grant application deadline was November 5, 2007 for FY2008 funding.

Grant size and length: The estimated average grant award for partnerships is approximately $1 million.

Funding Available: In 2006, 27 new partnership grants were awarded, totalling $24 million. In 2007, 7 new partnership grants were awarded, totalling $9.6 million.

Eligibility: Eligible applicants are partnerships between low-income middle schools and colleges, plus at least two other partners - such as nonprofits, religious groups, businesses, and community groups.