AAUW Career Development Grants provide funding to women who hold a bachelor’s degree and are preparing to advance or change careers or re-enter the workforce in education; health and medical sciences; science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM); or social sciences. Primary consideration is given to women of color and women pursuing their first advanced degree or credentials in nontraditional fields.
AAUW originally designed Career Development Grants in 1972 to offer “encouragement” funding to AAUW members seeking to renew or resume academic work for credit toward career or employment advancement.
Benefits
- The grant amount is between $2,000–$20,000
Requirements
Career Development Grants are open to women, including people who identify as 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, 2016.
- 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.
- Plan to enroll or are enrolled in one of the following program types:
- Bachelor’s 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.
- Plan to enroll or are enrolled in one of the following fields of study:
- Education.
- Health and Medical Sciences.
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).
- Social Sciences.
The following criteria apply to the selection of Career Development Grants:
- Demonstrated commitment to education and equity for women and girls.
- Reason for seeking higher education or technical training.
- Degree to which study plan is consistent with career objectives.
- Potential for success in chosen field.
- Documentation of opportunities in chosen field.
- Feasibility of study plans and proposed time schedule.
- Validity of proposed budget and budget narrative, including sufficient outside support.
- Quality of written proposal.
- Applicant is from an underrepresented racial/ethnic background.
- Applicant will be in an underrepresented area of the country and/or type of university other than a top-level research institution during the award year.
- Applicant is seeking credentials in a nontraditional field.
- Financial need.
Timeline:
- August 1, 2023: Application opens.
- November 15, 2023, by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time: Deadline for online submission of application and supporting documents.
- April 15, 2024: Notification of decisions emailed to applicants. AAUW is not able to honor requests for earlier notification.
- July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025: Grant year
When a date falls on a weekend or holiday, the date will be observed on the following business day.
Documents Required for Application
Complete all required components in the following tabs.
- Start
- Background
- Proposal
- Recommendation, Documents, & Review
- Recommendation
- Your recommendation must be submitted by a college counselor or adviser, an instructor or a work supervisor who knows you well. AAUW does not accept references from dossier services, such as Parment or Interfolio.
- Documents
- Applicants must upload transcript or diploma that shows bachelor’s degree. Document must include the applicant’s full name, the school’s name, the degree name, and the degree date.
- Recommendation
*A certified English translation is required for all components provided in a foreign language. Translations must bear a mark of certification or official signature that the translation is true and complete.
**All transcripts provided must include the applicant’s full name, the school’s name, all courses and all grades, as well as any other information requested in in the application instructions.
