Overview
After gaining admission to a post-secondary school or program finances, academics, or any other number of factors can impact a student’s ability to complete a program or degree. The Kenan Trust will fund projects that provide support for students to remain on their educational track until degree or certification completion.
Eligible Project Types
The Kenan Trust will fund projects that assist students in persisting to a degree or certificate in a post-secondary setting, including:
- Investing in academic support programs such as tutoring, writing centers, or other learning centers;
- Summer bridge or orientation programs for new incoming or first-year students;
- Wrap-around supports for students; or
- Last dollar funding for scholarships for enrolled students who have completed some coursework but who are at risk of unenrolling due to finances.
Eligible Organizations
The Trust will consider proposals for the types of projects listed above from organizations working in post-secondary settings only, including:
- Colleges and Universities, including Community Colleges and career/vocational certification programs
Size and Duration of Grants
Grants in this focus area will generally begin at $250,000 and may reach $1,000,000 for larger organizations demonstrating large-scale impact. Grant durations typically range from 1-3 years.
Please note, the grant size and duration listed here are meant as a general guide. A Kenan Grant Officer will work closely with organizations advancing to later stages of our grant process to tailor grant requests if needed.
Featured Grant in Retention: Hollins University
The Kenan Trust awarded a grant to Hollins University to support the Kenan Scholars Fund. The Fund was established to provide immediate financial hardship assistance to students already enrolled at Hollins who are at risk of withdrawing from their degree path. These funds fill a gap for students who might otherwise pause their degree progress to focus on employment or may transfer to another educational entity. Students who remain enrolled and progressing toward a degree are much more likely to persist to degree completion than those who leave their program or those who pause their progress with the intention of returning in the future.
