Building Brands to Engage Adults Students

Building Brands to Engage Adults Students is a grant from the Michigan Community College Association (MCCA), funded by the Lumina Foundation, that funds Michigan community colleges to develop strategic, data-informed brand environments that improve access and belonging for adult learners.

Eight Michigan community colleges will be selected to receive 50,000 dollar subgrants to participate in the 2026 to 2027 initiative, supporting efforts to redesign campus wayfinding and signage, create adult-friendly physical and virtual spaces, and implement targeted communications strategies connecting adult students to available resources and support services. Eligible applicants are Michigan community colleges.

The application deadline is April 17, 2026. The initiative supports Michigan Reconnect student enrollment, persistence, and completion, and advances both Michigan's Sixty by 30 goal and Lumina's Goal 2040 for postsecondary attainment.

Michigan Community College Association Grant: Building Brands to Engage Adults Students Funding: $50,000 subgrant Deadline: Friday, April 17, 2026.

Description: The Michigan Community College Association (MCCA), in partnership with the Michigan Center for Adult College Success (MCACS) and with funding from the Lumina Foundation, is offering the Building Brands initiative to support community colleges in developing strategic, data-informed brand environments that improve access and belonging for adult learners.

Eight Michigan community colleges will be selected to receive subgrants supporting efforts to redesign campus wayfinding and signage, create adult-friendly physical and virtual spaces, and implement targeted communications strategies that connect adult students to available resources and support services.

Grant: Innovative Program Grant Funding: Up to $10,000 + 50% institutional match Deadline: Ongoing until allocated funding is depleted within the fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1 annually. Applications will be reviewed on a quarterly basis, Jan.

3, April 4, July 5 and Oct. 6. Description: The Innovative Program Grant is designed to help move the needle on critical metrics and funds programming that increases college readiness, enrollment, and completion in local communities and across the state.

Federal Grant Opportunities Grant: Understanding Postsecondary Students’ Perspectives on Basic Needs Insecurity National Cohort Funding: $5,000 subgrant per participating institution Deadline: Friday, March 6, 2026 Description: Ithaka S+R is launching a new multi-year research initiative funded by ECMC Foundation to better understand how undergraduate students define and experience basic needs insecurity, and how those perspectives influence help-seeking behaviors, trust, and engagement with institutional and public benefits supports.

The initiative centers student voice to generate practical insights that institutions can use to strengthen communication, outreach, and support strategies related to food insecurity, housing instability, financial insecurity, and other basic needs challenges impacting student success.

Ten to fifteen two-year and four-year colleges and universities nationwide will be selected to participate in a national cohort representing a range of institutional contexts and stages of basic needs work. Participating institutions will engage in research activities designed to inform national practice while receiving a $5,000 subgrant to support institutional participation.

Grant: Reconnect Enroll with Momentum Grants Funding: Up to $300,000 (2-year grant term) Deadline: February 27, 2026 Description: This grant supports increasing enrollment of adult learners and Reconnect applicants by addressing barriers to starting or returning to college and improving persistence and completion. A partnership with a county or county-wide governmental entity is required.

For the purposes of this grant, county governments may include the formal county administration, or another quasi-governmental body such as a local Workforce Development Board or Economic Development Corporation that has at least a county-wide footprint. Pre-review Deadline: Applicants who would like feedback may submit a preliminary proposal by January 16, 2026 to: MiLEAP-Sixtyby30-Grants@michigan. gov .

Grant: Hunger-Free Campus Activities Grant Funding: Up to $100,000 per institution with $500,000 available statewide Deadline: Friday, February 13, 2026 by 3:00 PM Description: The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) is offering the Hunger-Free Campus Activities Grant to support public, tribal, and independent higher education institutions in addressing student food insecurity and basic needs.

Institutions must work in partnership with local and or state organizations that address food insecurity. Grant funds may be used to implement sustainable campus solutions such as expanding food pantries, providing meal assistance, improving access to food resources, and assessing student need to ensure students can remain enrolled and succeed.

Grant: Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education – Special Projects (FIPSE Special Projects) Funding: Varies by project priority (total estimated funding of $167 million across priority areas) Deadline: December 3, 2025 Description: This U.S. Department of Education FIPSE Special Projects grant supports innovative postsecondary initiatives that address one or more areas of national need.

This year’s competition focuses on four key priorities: advancing the use of artificial intelligence in higher education, promoting civil discourse on college campuses, supporting reform in accreditation practices, and building capacity for high-quality short-term programs. Colleges may apply under any of the seven absolute priorities included within these four areas.

Grant: Direct Admit Project Funding: Up to $5,000 in reimbursement funds Description: This initiative empowers participating community colleges to proactively admit students from partner K-12 districts—no application required. By leveraging existing student data, your college can send personalized mailers to eligible in-district students confirming their admission and highlighting tuition-free college opportunities.

To support your efforts, participating colleges are eligible for up to $5,000 in reimbursable funds to offset costs associated with directly admitting students. This project not only reduces barriers to higher education but also advances equity, strengthens student pathways, and positions your institution as a leader in expanding access and success.

To learn more, contact Jamie Storey, Director of Higher Education Innovation, at jstorey@micollegeaccess. org . Grant: 2025 Educated Workforce Pathway Planning Grant (MCAN) Description: This 12-month planning grant supports cross-sector planning teams working to bridge the gap between education and workforce systems by fostering a stronger college-going culture.

Funding will help teams collaboratively design strategic action plans focused on one of three areas: articulated CTE pathways, college credit within apprenticeships, or credit for industry-recognized credentials. One organization must serve as the lead applicant.

Grant: Take Flight: Sixty by 30 Pitch Competition Deadline: June 30, 2025 (interest form); August 1, 2025 (pitch video) Description: The Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) invites individuals and organizations to pitch bold, scalable ideas that advance postsecondary attainment in Michigan. Focus areas include affordability, adult attainment, credential completion, transitions, and college-going culture.

Submissions should emphasize equity and cross-sector collaboration to support low-income, first-generation, and students of color. Finalists will present at MCAN’s annual conference and win cash prizes based on audience vote. No implementation or reporting is required.

An informational webinar will be held at 11 a. m. on May 21.

Register for the 2025 Take Flight Pitch Competition Informational Webinar Grant: Food Pantry Grant Program Funding: Refrigeration unit (valued up to $7,000) + $250 match for dairy foods Description: This grant supports Michigan-based food pantries with refrigeration equipment and matching funds to enhance access to dairy and fresh food options.

Offered through a partnership between the United Dairy Industry of Michigan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Blue Cross Complete of Michigan, and the BCBSM Foundation, the grant aims to strengthen pantry infrastructure and improve distribution of nutrient-rich foods. Eligible food pantries must be nonprofit organizations serving individuals and families facing food insecurity.

Grant: Barrier Removal - Growing Institutional Capacity Grants from Sixty by 30 Funding: $100,000-$400,000 Description: Funding to strengthen institutional systems to eliminate barriers for students struggling to meet their basic needs.

Grant: College Success Grants from Sixty by 30 Funding: $100,000-$1 million Description: Implementing, improving on, and scaling implementation of promising reforms of policy and practice associated with decreased time to credential, increased student persistence, improved completion rates for all learners, and the elimination of equity gaps. Grant: MEDC & MiSTEM Strategic Investment Grant Funding: Up to $500,000 per grantee.

Deadline: April 17, 2025, by 3:00 p. m Description: The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and MiSTEM are investing in PreK-12 education to expand industry awareness and career exploration for PreK-8 students. This initiative supports hands-on, experiential STEM learning through the MiSTEM 3P (place-, project-, problem-based) strategy, aligning education with Michigan’s strategic industries.

While K-12 institutions serve as the lead applicants, MEDC strongly encourages partnerships with higher education institutions to enhance program impact and employer engagement.

Grant: Barrier Removal - Direct to Students Grants from Sixty by 30 Funding: Formula- based, dependent on population of Pell-eligible students Description: Funding to provide emergency aid and other direct support to students aimed at removing life barriers such as childcare, transportation, housing, food, and costs for textbooks, internet, or other program supplies.

Grant: Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) Workforce Development (WD) - Adult Education Funding: Approx. $5 million of funding available. Description: LEO-WD is pleased to announce the release of a second round of Request for Proposals (RFP) to support innovative approaches that lead to increased participant enrollment, retention, and completion of adult education programming.

Eligible applicants include adult education providers and community colleges funded under Section 107 with demonstrated experience serving adult learners. Applicants are encouraged to partner with other entities and organizations, as appropriate. Funding: Needs-based and range between $100,000 and $1,000,000.

Description: The Lowe’s Foundation is now accepting applications for its Gable Grants program, designed to close the skilled trades gap nationwide. Community and technical colleges can apply for funding to support innovative programs that recruit, train, and prepare the next generation of skilled trades professionals. Grants are awarded for a 24-month period.

The next Gable Grant cycle for community-based organizations and nonprofits will open later this year. Grant: Energywerx Career Skills Training Program Funding: Up to $6. 8 million.

Awards will range from $400,000 to $1,100,000. Description: U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) is requesting applications from nonprofit partnerships between industry and labor organizations through the Career Skills Training Program (CST).

These nonprofit partnerships will concurrently provide students classroom instruction and on-the-job training to obtain an industry-related certification to install energy efficiency buildings technologies.

Deadline: February 23, 2025 Description: In recognition that higher education partners are crucial in helping Michigan reach its Sixty by 30 goal, MCAN is launching a grant to support institutions in effectively engaging and enrolling adult learners who qualify for Michigan Reconnect. This grant opportunity aims to remove financial barriers and foster college enrollment through intentional outreach and enrollment support strategies.

The focus is to engage and enroll students aged 21-24 who are approved for Michigan Reconnect but not currently benefiting from the program and/or engage and enroll students aged 25 and older eligible for Michigan Reconnect not currently benefiting from the program.

Grant: CTE CHIPS Challenge Funding: $1 million prize competition Deadline: December 20, 2024 Description: Seeks to expand student recruitment, training, and placement strategies in good-paying semiconductor fabrication (fab) construction and advanced manufacturing careers.

Grant: Michigan Justice Fund Deadline: October 31, 2024 Description: The Innovation in Re-Entry and Workforce Development Grants will prioritize innovative, scalable strategies that increase opportunities for system-involved people, inclusive of formerly incarcerated people, to achieve economic mobility.

Grant: Quick Start Grants from Sixty by 30 Description: Funding to undergo an action-oriented assessment process to strengthen grounding in student experience and/or develop a coherent and strategic approach for removing institutional barriers to student success. Can also help prepare IHEs to apply for a larger grant in the College Success or Barrier Removal – Growing Institutional Capacity category in a later window.

Grant: Reconnect Community Action Grants Funding: $100,000-$300,000 Deadline: May or September 2024 Description: Funding for community colleges working with county-wide governmental entities in community partnerships to grow college enrollment and support adults on their post-secondary journeys. Grant: MITTEN – Michigan’s Inclusive Training, Technology and Equipment Network Funding: More than $13M in grants.

Description: The MITTEN program aims to promote equitable access to high-speed internet and digital skills training across Michigan. Digital Navigators will be stationed regionally and within local communities to address specific needs of underrepresented, under-invested and underserved areas.

MIHI will coordinate the efforts of these Navigators by partnering with local community institutions and state agencies to provide support and resources. The goal is to increase broadband adoption and develop essential digital skills through community-focused programs that remove barriers to internet access and digital learning.

Funding: $2,500-$20,000 (Pathway 3 for $10,000 is the most appropriate option for colleges) Deadline: Until funds are exhausted by the end of August Description: Funds to support summer FAFSA programming to ensure that colleges are helping students complete the FAFSA. Colleges can apply funds to existing FAFSA completion efforts.

Grant: Innovation Investment Awards Funding: Up to $1 million Description: The Michigan Center for Adult College Success is offering Innovation Investment Awards to help postsecondary institutions implement best practices or pilot new ideas to better serve adult students in a way that increases completion rates.

Grant: Higher Education Strategic Investment Grant Initiative Funding: Currently there is no expected average per funding request. Previous grants awarded have ranged from $50,000 to $1,000,000.

Deadline: Friday, May 31, 2024 - Application Closed Description: The Higher Education Strategic Investment Grant Initiative is intended to fund higher education partners (e.g., community colleges, 4-year colleges and universities, private training providers, other workforce training entities) to implement programmatic solutions to grow the state’s Advanced Manufacturing talent pipeline.

Grant: Native American Heritage Fund Funding: Reimbursement of Costs Deadline: June 28, 2024 - Application Closed Description: Grants are available from the Native American Heritage Fund to replace or revise school mascots, government seal or images in public spaces, curricula or program development, resolution of inter-governmental/community conflict involving reservation community or Native American residents, or another education initiative.

Grant: Take Flight: Sixty by 30 Pitch Competition Funding: $2,500-$10,000 prize Deadline: June 28, 2024 (interest form must be completed before the deadline) - Application Closed Description: MCAN is seeking scalable, high-impact college attainment strategies or ideas to expand across the state to move Michigan closer our Sixty by 30 goal!

During MCAN’s inaugural pitch competition, organizations and individuals will present an idea or effective practice (activity, routine, or tool) in college attainment with the chance to win a cash prize. In the process, participants will gain an audience for their ideas and receive valuable feedback and advice from players in the field.