Career Development Grants

Applicants must pursue an accredited certificate or training program in a field where women hold less than 50% representation in the field or in senior positions at a national, regional, or local level.  AAUW encourages applications from women pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), as well as other areas that show ongoing gender gaps in participation or leadership. Examples of eligible fields include but are not limited to:

• Architecture 

• Engineering 
  • Grants are available for a range of engineering disciplines, such as advanced manufacturing, aerospace, chemical, civil, electrical, environmental, geotechnical, and mechanical engineering.
• Executive Leadership or Management Training
  • Grants are available for eligible women in business, law, and STEM, as well as in other fields in which women are disproportionately represented at leadership levels at a national, regional, or local level.
• Mathematics
  • Grants are available for a range of math disciplines, including applied mathematics, statistics, and actuarial science.
• Natural & Physical Science
  • Grants are available for a range of science disciplines, including agricultural science, biology, biomedical science, chemistry, geology, earth and environmental science, materials science, and physics.
• Technology
  • Grants are available for a range of technological disciplines, such as artificial intelligence, automation, cloud computing, computer engineering, computer science, data analytics, robotics, and software development.
• Other Underrepresented Fields
  • AAUW also welcomes applications from women pursuing certificates or training in other areas – such as business, finance, law, and emerging technical or applied trades – where women are underrepresented either overall or in leadership roles.

Applicants should demonstrate that women hold less than 50% representation in their field or in senior positions at a national, regional, or local level.

• Applicants must identify as a woman.
• Applicants must:
  • Have applied or been accepted to a certificate or training program in a field where women are underrepresented and comprise less than 50% of the workforce; OR 
  • Currently employed in a field where women comprise less than 50% of senior leadership positions nationally, regionally, or locally, if pursuing executive leadership or management training. 
• Program start date must fall between September 1, 2026 – December 30, 2026. 
• Programs must be offered by accredited or licensed institutions and lead to professional advancement or employment in the applicant’s chosen field.
• Applicants must hold at least an associate’s degree or higher.
• Applicants whose accredited certificate or training programs directly prepare them for industry-recognized certification may receive priority consideration, depending on the strength of their application and alignment with program goals.
• Citizenship & Immigration Status
  • Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. 

The following are not eligible for consideration:

• Members of the AAUW Board of Directors
• Employees of AAUW, including paid or unpaid, part-time or temporary employees, consultants, interns and contract employees
• AAUW Review Panelists
• Immediate families (i.e., spouses and dependent children) of individuals described in the points above
• Applicants for another national AAUW fellowship or grant, in the same year
• Previous national AAUW fellowship or grant recipients (excluding Community Action Grants or branch or local AAUW awards)
• Applicants who are recommended for an award, however, whose certificate, credential or training program is different than envisioned at the time of application, will be disqualified
• Career Development Grants cannot be used for a degree program (ex. master’s degree) or for completing a certificate within a degree program (ex. Certificate completed as part of master’s degree coursework)

• The certificate or training program sought is in a field where women are underrepresented and comprise less than 50% of the workforce. 
• Applicants must demonstrate a clear and purposeful trajectory toward or within a career in a field where women are underrepresented. This may be reflected through professional experience, pursuit of skill-building opportunities, career-related goals, mentorship or leadership activities, or overcoming significant barriers in their educational or career journey. Traditional academic achievements are welcome but are not required. 
• Applicant demonstrates a commitment to helping women and girls through service in their communities or professions. 
• Feasibility of applicants’ ability to complete their certificate or training program based on sufficient time, financial resources, and other support. 
• Applicants who have demonstrated resilience in overcoming life challenges beyond their control, such as socioeconomic status, discrimination, limited academic resources or opportunities, or other adverse circumstances (Preferred). 
• Applicants who hail from single parent households (Preferred).  
• Applicants who are parenting students (Preferred).  
• Applicants who were the first in their family to attain a bachelor’s degree (Preferred). 

To begin your application, visit the AAUW Fellowships & Grants Application Portal to create an account or log in.

For step-by-step guidance on completing your application, refer to the Application Instructions and Sample Application.

All applicants are required to submit the following with their application:

• Proof of Degree: Copy of all degrees earned to date. (Required) 
  • Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to at least a U.S. associate’s degree. 
  • Applicants must upload copies of all diplomas/degree certificates OR official transcript showing conferral of degree and date of conferral for all programs from which they have received a degree.   
  • Applicants with an equivalent of an associate’s degree (particularly if the transcript or degree certification does not explicitly state it is a associate’s degree) must provide an official explanation from the academic institution or governing body, or submit a credential evaluation report form service like WES or ECE that clarifies the equivalency of your qualification to a bachelor’s degree. 
  • The documents provided must correspond to the programs and institutions listed in the application and must include the applicant’s full name, the institution name, and the degree conferred.  
  • If the original is not in English, applicants are required to submit certified translation.  
  • If an applicant holds two degrees at the same level, such as two associate’s degrees or two bachelor’s degrees, the most recently awarded degree will be considered the highest. 
• Transcripts: Transcripts confirming conferral of all degrees received. Official transcripts are highly encouraged. (Required) 
  • Applicants must upload copies of all academic transcripts from all programs from which they have received a degree.  
  • The transcripts provided must correspond to the programs and institutions listed in the application. 
  • All transcripts must include the applicant’s full name, the institution’s name, the degree conferred, the list of courses taken, and grades received. Transcripts must also include the name of coursework and grades from transfer courses, if applicable. If transcripts reflect transfer courses without grades, a transcript from the institution where courses were taken is required. 
  • If a transcript is not written in English, a certified translation must be provided by applicant. 
  •  Applicants who studied at an institution that does not provide a transcript, or a list of courses taken, and grades received, or the degree did not require coursework, must provide an institutional letter affirming the same as well as the degree completion date.  
  • If an applicant holds two degrees at the same level, such as two associate’s degrees or two bachelor’s degrees, the most recently awarded degree will be considered the highest. 
• Proof of Underrepresentation (Required)
  • Applicants must provide a link showing the current percentage of women employed in the field (nationally or regionally) and the source of this statistic. Applicants must include hyperlinks or brief citations for their data sources. Please provide data from reputable sources (i.e. US Department of Labor, or other state or regional databases).
• Proof of Accreditation (Required)
  • Applicants must submit a document or link confirming a program’s accreditation status and the name of the accrediting body.

Career Development Grants are awarded with the expectation that grantees will use the funds to pursue a certificate, credential, or training program in a field where women are underrepresented. Eligible expenses include tuition, fees, required course materials (e.g., books and supplies), transportation assistance, and dependent care.

Grant funds may be considered taxable income, depending on how they are used and the recipient’s individual circumstances. In many cases, funds used for purposes of non-tuition-related costs or living expenses are subject to taxation under U.S. tax law.   

It is the grantee’s responsibility to understand and fulfill any tax obligations associated with their award. AAUW does not provide tax advice, issue tax forms, or report grants to the IRS. Grantees are strongly encouraged to consult a personal tax advisor or the IRS for guidance specific to their situation.   

Applicants recommended for an award, but whose field of study or program is different than envisioned at the time of application will be disqualified.

Eligibility and Application Guidelines 

Can I apply if I am pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or professional degree?  

No. AAUW’s Career Development Grant is only for applicants who are enrolled or enrolling in a certificate or training program.

Can I apply if the certificate is a part of my bachelor’s, master’s, or professional degree curriculum?

No. AAUW’s Career Development Grant is only for applicants who are enrolling in a certificate or training program that is not part of a formal degree program.  

Can I apply if I am pursuing a certificate program that is not in a STEM field?  

Yes. The Career Development Grant is available to applicants pursuing a certificate or training program in any field where women are underrepresented or make up less than 50% of the workforce at a national, regional or local level.

I have applied or been admitted to several programs but have not yet decided which one to pursue. Can I list more than one program in my application?

Yes. Applicants may list up to five programs and institutions in their application. However, please note that if you are awarded a grant, you must enroll in one of the programs and institutions listed in your application. If you choose to pursue a program at an institution not included in your application, you will be disqualified from receiving the grant. 

Am I eligible for the Career Development Grant if I haven’t received an offer of admission to a specific program?

Yes. You must have applied, been admitted to, or currently be enrolled in at least one certificate or training program at the time of application.

How can I apply if my program does not have an application period, but is simply a course you sign up for?

If your program’s enrollment follows a sign up instead of an application format, please indicate “applied” on your application. If your program requires payment upfront to sign-up, you may sign-up after being notified of your award status to show proof of your enrollment/ acceptance. In these instances, award funds may be applied retroactively to cover the cost of the program.

Do I need to pursue my program full-time?

No. You may be enrolled in your program either part-time or full-time.

Do I need to be currently employed in the field?

Only applicants pursuing executive leadership or management training are required to be currently employed in their field. All other applicants are not required to have current employment in their chosen field.

Do I need to have completed an associate’s degree?

Yes. You must have completed at least an associate’s degree at the time of application.

Award Details 

What types of expenses are considered prohibited under the Career Development Grants?

Under the Career Development Grants, certain expenses are classified as prohibited and therefore may not be covered using fellowship funds. These include:

• Previous expenditures, deficits, or repayment of personal loans  
• Institutional (overhead) costs  
• Tuition for dependents’ education