Grants specifically earmarked for single mothers, in general, don’t exist. There are grants single mothers can apply for based on criteria such as income-based, ethnic group, residency, career interest, knowledge base, etc.

Free money or grants specifically for being a single mom are hard to get. There are organizations offering temporary assistance such as churches, state and/or local government (not federal), several private, and a handful of corporate organizations.

The Hype about Single Mom Grants

A lot of the so-called free grant information online is linked to products and services of very little value and relevance to single moms. When you click on the hyped-up ad, you most likely land on a link farm or page full of links to other pages created by a person who has several affiliate program links embedded.

Every day millions of single moms, desperate for financial assistance scour the web looking for grants. They see ads touting millions for single moms only to be disappointed when they land on the webpage which is usually full of links or other irrelevant ads.

Not to be deterred, she searches high and low for grants she seems to qualify for. Frustration sets in and she usually gives up. In one last ditch effort she heads over to the forums and inquires and again she is pointed to the same websites full of links to pointless pages of ad hype.

Even though the search seems fruitless, there are sources of grants and financial assistance but only under certain circumstances. Here are a few sources of grants for single moms which require more than a quick glance. It requires research and asking the right questions.

Check locally for Single Mom Grants

Local organizations, usually non-profits that give grants or assistance to single moms, may not necessarily be in the form of money but could be housing assistance, food, or job training.

Resources could also be in the form of grants to children of single moms for summer camps, sports or music lessons, or medical assistance. Do a search on your city or state plus the words “grant”, “financial assistance”, or “scholarship” and you may come up with a few sources meeting your needs.

For more information about grants for single moms grab my free single mom grant report. It contains great education grant information and an interview with a very successful grant writer.

Going to school and being responsible for providing for a child is difficult, but it can be done. You have options and in this day and age, the opportunities are greater because of the internet.

I’ve included several sources of grants and scholarships for women below. This is a very general list. Some of the information may be repeated but look through them all anyway.

Have you considered going to school online? What about a program that offers in-person studies and online studies so you only have to go to the actual school part-time? As for working, perhaps you can find a work-study job or something on campus.

http://www.collegescholarships.org/grants/women.htm

http://www.ehow.com/list_5799514_education-working-women-returning-college.html

http://www.financialaidfinder.com/financial-aid/financial-aid-programs/major-aid-programs/women-college-grants/

http://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarships-by-type/scholarships-for-women/scholarships-for-women.aspx

http://www.free-4u.com/women1.htm

http://www.fundsnetservices.com/women.htm

Remember, you have to do the research and apply early. I know it’s a pain but it’s worth it in the end. Also, bug your financial-aid officer at your college every week for new opportunities. They have the best information and can guide you.

If you are not already, get temporary government assistance until you are finished with school. There will be plenty of opportunities to give back through taxes when you are working full time after school. There is no shame in getting help for a legitimate need.

If food is a concern, contact local food banks through churches and other non-profit organizations. Things are tight all over but you can still find help. Use coupons and buy items that are on sale in the store circular. Go to consignment shops for clothes and thrift stores for furniture. Go to the dollar store for inexpensive school supplies, etc.

Just don’t lay down and give up. There is always a workable solution. Also, check into dependent care services on campus.

If you want more information and specific sources of grants and scholarships for single moms, women, or non-traditional students grab a copy of The Single Mom Grant Guide. In this report, I cover two important things for single moms.

The first discusses how to find and maintain life balance when you are in school, parenting, and working. The second section lists hundreds of financial resources including where to find local, state, and federal grants as well as hundreds of scholarships just for single mom, women, and non-traditional students.

10 College Scholarships for Women

I came across this list of 10 college scholarships for women. I’m passing it on to you. Do you plan to attend college this fall? Have you already applied for financial aid? Do you know of any other scholarships?

Financial aid is a huge problem for millions of students every year who want to attend college. And yet, it is reported that billions of dollars in scholarship funding and grants are given away annually. One website, ScholarshipsOnline.org, helps students find those opportunities.

Below they have identified the top scholarship opportunities for women:

#1 – The AARP Foundation Women’s Scholarship Program provides scholarship funds to low-income women who are over the age of 50, and are seeking new job skills, training, and educational opportunities.

#2 – The Betty Rendel Scholarship is available to female undergraduates each year who are attending a four-year accredited college or university and majoring in political science, government or economics. It is open to women across the nation.

#3 – The Women’s Independence Scholarship Program, Inc. helps women who have survived domestic violence to return to school and become self-sufficient. The primary candidates are single mothers with young children who lack the resources to attend college.

#4 – The Miss America Scholarship Fund offers scholarships to over 12,000 young women who compete in the state and local competitions as well as Miss America first place winner, four runners-up, semi-finalists and non-finalists.

#5 – The Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship is open to female undergraduate seniors or female students enrolled in a graduate program and studying Computer Science or Computer Engineering.

#6 – The Young Women In Public Affairs Award is a scholarship for young women age 16 to 19 with an interest in public affairs who plan to enroll in college.

#7 – The Talbots Scholarship Program awards one-time scholarships to women who want to go back to school to earn their undergraduate degree after graduating from high school or receiving their GED at least ten years ago.
NO LONGER AVAILABLE

#8 – The Go Red Multicultural scholarship champions greater inclusion of multicultural women in the nursing and medical industries, address important gaps in treatment, and ensure that all Americans have an opportunity to work with their healthcare providers to make the best choices that lead to good health.
NO LONGER AVAILABLE

#9 – The Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund awards scholarships every year to low-income women who are 35 years of age or older.

#10 – The AWG Minority Scholarship program encourages young minority women to pursue courses of education and careers in the field in geosciences.

#11 – Wynetta A. Frazier Sister-to-Sister Scholarship  – Created to provide financial assistance to mature African American Women in their pursuit of post-secondary education. An applicant must be a returning student, whose education was interrupted by family responsibilities or other personal demands and is now ready to complete college or one who is entering college for the first time because of these factors.

#12 – Bethel Foundation USA Grace Scholarship – This $3000 scholarship is to assist moms with their tuition, costs of their books, and supplies. To qualify, you must be enrolled or in the process of enrolling in any institution of higher education.

9 Single Mom Friendly Colleges

Here is a list of the best colleges for single moms. They offer scholarships, housing, and childcare options to make the college education journey manageable.

1 – Wilson College – Provides family-friendly, on-campus housing year-round to single parents and their children (between 20 months and 12 years of age) so the parent can pursue a bachelor’s degree full time.

2 – Kent State University – Kent State’s robust LIFE program helps both single moms and their child with workshops, access to resources, and services designed to help you reach your educational and professional goals.

3 – University of the District of Columbia offer single parent housing program.

4 – Western Governors University Single Parent Scholarship – WGU is proud to offer the Single Parent Scholarship. This scholarship, valued up to $4,000, is designed for motivated single parents who wish to advance their education.

5 – Marian University – Awards tuition and stipend grants to economically disadvantaged single parents with dependent children – parents who possess the desire and determination to achieve a four-year undergraduate degree.

6 – University of Louisville – The Ann T. Allen Endowed Scholarship is for current University of Louisville undergraduate single parent students and the annual amount to be awarded is approximately $1,000.

7 – James Madison University – Offers a scholarship for heads of single-parent families who are in financial need.

8 – Oakwood University – The New Beginnings program offers supportive resource aids to custodial single parents, male or female, who are enrolled in a college, or other institution of higher learning within the North Alabama area.

9 – The University of Central Florida – Offers a scholarship to single parents enrolled in the university.

Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund – https://www.aspsf.org/

More Single Mom Friendly Colleges via Single Mother Guide

Balancing college and parenting can be challenging. I’ve done it before and believe me it is a worthy sacrifice. You can get through it and I can help. I wrote The Single Mom Grant Guide to help other single moms understand what they will face. Order your copy on Amazon.com now to get a head start on your new life as a single parent in college!