Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) announces a grant opportunity available for Michigan organizations focused on assisting adult learners transitioning to postsecondary opportunities. The Building Opportunities that Lead to Degrees and Certificates (BOLD) will ask adult focused organizations to implement successful strategies to implement structural changes to inspire postsecondary awareness, academic readiness, and successful college transition for adult students. These grants will allow providers to successfully grow the resources and tools to assist adult learners with postsecondary transition.
IMPORTANT DATES
Application Release: Funding opportunity made available on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
Deadline: Applications will be due June 16, 2025 at 11:59pm. Funds will be awarded in grant amounts valued at $5,000 each.
Application Notification: Successful applicants will be notified within thirty days of their application submission.
ELIGIBILITY
Eligible applicants are adult education providers, Michigan Works! entities, MRS entities, Institutions of Higher Education, community based organizations currently serving participants in completion of their high school diploma, high school equivalency, or certificate of completion, justice impacted adult learners, veterans, adults currently employed and seeking to upskill, adults with disabilities. Eligibility questions should be directed to: Patrick Brown, Director of Adult Student Attainment Strategy, patrick@micollegeaccess.org or 517-582-8994.
APPLICATION ASSISTANCE
Applicants are encouraged to contact MCAN to inquire about eligibility and to request technical assistance. Please contact Patrick Brown, Director of Adult Student Attainment Strategy, patrick@micollegeaccess.org or 517-582-8994. for assistance with your application or help with the online application portal (mcan.smapply.org).
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION
Proposals are only accepted using Michigan College Access Network’s online grants system www.mcan.smapply.org.
GRANT AWARD
MCAN will offer ten grants of up to $5,000 each. These grants are not intended to be a renewable or long-term funding source. The grant period will have a start date of July 1, 2025 and an end date of June 30, 2026.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
As a part of Michigan College Access Network’s expanded focus on adult student attainment, the Adult Student Attainment Building Opportunities that Lead to Degrees (BOLD) grants serve as an opportunity for organizations supporting adults across the state to think creatively and innovatively about increasing academic readiness, college transition and postsecondary opportunity exposure for adults.
This population of learners is often seen as being left out of postsecondary opportunities. These grants are designed to increase awareness, exposure, and support of postsecondary opportunities for adults. Most importantly, this opportunity is intended to directly support the programs supporting adult learners. These grants will allow for programs to implement innovative approaches to increase program capacity to provide pathways to economic mobility and prosperity to all students.
Applicants will be awarded funds based on pitching MCAN an idea- an idea that will increase the college enrollment and persistence rate of their program participants.
ABOUT THE MICHIGAN COLLEGE ACCESS NETWORK (MCAN)
As the leader in the state’s college access movement, MCAN works to improve the futures of Michigan’s students and communities by making college accessible to all. MCAN’s work centers on one main goal: To increase Michigan’s postsecondary educational attainment rate to 60% by 2030. MCAN engages partners statewide who are committed to systems-level change and the reduction of barriers to increase college readiness, participation and completion rates, particularly among low-income students, first-generation college-going students and students of color. For more information, visit micollegeaccess.org.
Adult Student Attainment BOLD Innovation Grant
Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) announces a grant opportunity available for Michigan organizations focused on assisting adult learners transitioning to postsecondary opportunities. The Building Opportunities that Lead to Degrees and Certificates (BOLD) will ask adult focused organizations to implement successful strategies to implement structural changes to inspire postsecondary awareness, academic readiness, and successful college transition for adult students. These grants will allow providers to successfully grow the resources and tools to assist adult learners with postsecondary transition.
IMPORTANT DATES
Application Release: Funding opportunity made available on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
Deadline: Applications will be due June 16, 2025 at 11:59pm. Funds will be awarded in grant amounts valued at $5,000 each.
Application Notification: Successful applicants will be notified within thirty days of their application submission.
ELIGIBILITY
Eligible applicants are adult education providers, Michigan Works! entities, MRS entities, Institutions of Higher Education, community based organizations currently serving participants in completion of their high school diploma, high school equivalency, or certificate of completion, justice impacted adult learners, veterans, adults currently employed and seeking to upskill, adults with disabilities. Eligibility questions should be directed to: Patrick Brown, Director of Adult Student Attainment Strategy, patrick@micollegeaccess.org or 517-582-8994.
APPLICATION ASSISTANCE
Applicants are encouraged to contact MCAN to inquire about eligibility and to request technical assistance. Please contact Patrick Brown, Director of Adult Student Attainment Strategy, patrick@micollegeaccess.org or 517-582-8994. for assistance with your application or help with the online application portal (mcan.smapply.org).
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION
Proposals are only accepted using Michigan College Access Network’s online grants system www.mcan.smapply.org.
GRANT AWARD
MCAN will offer ten grants of up to $5,000 each. These grants are not intended to be a renewable or long-term funding source. The grant period will have a start date of July 1, 2025 and an end date of June 30, 2026.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
As a part of Michigan College Access Network’s expanded focus on adult student attainment, the Adult Student Attainment Building Opportunities that Lead to Degrees (BOLD) grants serve as an opportunity for organizations supporting adults across the state to think creatively and innovatively about increasing academic readiness, college transition and postsecondary opportunity exposure for adults.
This population of learners is often seen as being left out of postsecondary opportunities. These grants are designed to increase awareness, exposure, and support of postsecondary opportunities for adults. Most importantly, this opportunity is intended to directly support the programs supporting adult learners. These grants will allow for programs to implement innovative approaches to increase program capacity to provide pathways to economic mobility and prosperity to all students.
Applicants will be awarded funds based on pitching MCAN an idea- an idea that will increase the college enrollment and persistence rate of their program participants.
ABOUT THE MICHIGAN COLLEGE ACCESS NETWORK (MCAN)
As the leader in the state’s college access movement, MCAN works to improve the futures of Michigan’s students and communities by making college accessible to all. MCAN’s work centers on one main goal: To increase Michigan’s postsecondary educational attainment rate to 60% by 2030. MCAN engages partners statewide who are committed to systems-level change and the reduction of barriers to increase college readiness, participation and completion rates, particularly among low-income students, first-generation college-going students and students of color. For more information, visit micollegeaccess.org.