FAQ

Who can apply for Last Mile Education Fund grants and scholarships?

Last Mile Education Fund offers grants and scholarships to students who are nearing completion of their degree and need a little bit of help to get over the finish line. Recipients are typically within four semesters of graduation. Eligibility differs depending on the fund for which  you are applying. Details for each fund can be found on the application itself.

What kinds of things do you fund?

The Last Mile Education Fund is designed to fill gaps in financial support for low-income students. It is not a substitute for institution based financial aid or student loans. We provide support for expenses not covered by traditional scholarships or aid and shortfalls due to loss of work.

As a Junior, can I apply to have all of my future expenses paid for, until graduation?

When applying for a Last Mile or Bridge Grant, we take into consideration past balances owed, however, we only fund tuition, rent, expenses etc for the current term.

Am I eligible for funding as a Freshman or Sophomore?

No, at this time our funds are available to students in the final 2 years of their degree completion to get them over the Last Mile.

Are graduate students eligible?

Some of our funds are open to graduate students and new funds are being added frequently so join our social media channels to watch for announcements about new opportunities.

Can I apply to the same fund multiple times?

You may apply to the Emergency fund more than once and are eligible to receive it once each calendar year. Students are only eligible for one Bridge and Last Mile grant. Note: we ask that you apply to only one fund at a time. It will not benefit you to submit multiple applications.

What majors are eligible?

At this time, we are investing in students pursuing degrees primarily in computing disciplines, however we have added funds to support students in Biotech and Mathematics and Physics related majors. You can see the full list of eligible majors in individual applications.

Is this a loan?

Last Mile Education Fund provides grants and scholarships, not loans. There is no legal obligation to repay the support you receive. However, we are a social fund and hope that after graduation you will join us as a volunteer and donor once you are settled into your career.

Do I have to live in the US?

At this time we are not able to disburse funds internationally. We do fund international students who are studying at US institutions, but we cannot disburse funds to students who are located outside of the US.

Do I have to have a LinkedIn account?

We use your LinkedIn account to verify your identity as a computing student. You can use another professional profile such as GitHub or a personal web page, however, it is highly recommended that all students pursuing careers in technology set up and maintain a LinkedIn profile.

How long does the process take?

Emergency Grants are considered exclusively based upon the content in your application and are typically dispersed within 1 week via Tango Card.

Bridge and Last Mile grants require an interview. Depending on the scheduling of the interview, we can typically provide a decision within 2 weeks.

Am I required to complete a W9?

Yes, all students are required to complete a w9 and a 1099 will be issued to students who have received more than $599 in a calendar year from the Last Mile Education Fund and its partner funds.