Scaling State Emergency Aid Programs

Scholarship America, HCM Strategists, the National College Attainment Network, and EdTrust invite applications from states interested in developing and advancing a new statewide emergency aid grant program. Ascendium Education Group supports this multiyear initiative.

The project will select four states to receive grant funding, research, convening support, and tailored assistance from Spring 2027 through Fall 2029.

Proposals are due November 25, 2026. You can download the LOI guidelines and instructions here to prepare your application. Please submit your responses through the form below.

Selected states will be announced in early 2027.

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Register for the Informational Webinar on Thursday, October 22

Unexpected expenses can force students to choose between addressing an immediate financial need or continuing their education. Emergency aid programs provide small, timely grants to help students cover expenses such as car repairs, medical bills, housing emergencies, and other financial challenges that could disrupt their enrollment or completion.

Many colleges operate emergency aid programs, but relatively few states provide coordinated, statewide support. The Scaling State Emergency Aid initiative will help four states build the policy, organizational, and coalition foundations needed to establish statewide emergency aid grant programs.

• Number of applicants selected: Four
• Grant funding: Approximately $85,000 to $125,000 per state
• Project period: Spring 2027 through Fall 2029
• Eligible applicants: State agencies, statewide nonprofit organizations, and partnerships
• Application deadline: November 25, 2026
• Primary objective: Develop and advance a new statewide emergency aid grant program

Selected states will work with national partners between Spring 2027 and Fall 2029 to develop and advance state emergency aid programs. During the partnership, states will receive the following: 

Grant Funding

Each state will receive approximately $85,000 to $125,000 to support activities such as staffing, coalition building, analysis, communications, and convening. The final amount awarded will be based on the proposed budget, scale of the initiative, and other relevant factors.

State Landscape Analysis

The national partner organizations will assess, in consultation with each state:

• Existing emergency aid programs at colleges and universities
• State policies that affect or inform the development of an emergency aid program
• Relevant state and institutional stakeholders
• Available data and opportunities to strengthen evaluation
• Policy opportunities, barriers, and potential funding mechanisms

Statewide Convening

Each state will receive support to plan and host a convening of key stakeholders. The convening will help participants build a coalition, consider program and policy options, establish guiding principles, and develop a strategy for advancing emergency aid.

The project will cover the cost of the state convening separately. Applicants should not include convening costs in their proposed grant budgets.

Ongoing State Support

National partners will provide tailored assistance as each state refines and advances its strategy. Support may include policy design, data analysis, stakeholder engagement, communications, facilitation, and implementation planning.

The project will tailor its support to each state’s policy environment, organizational structure, existing emergency aid activity, and path toward statewide adoption.

Eligible applicants include:

• State agencies
• Nonprofit organizations
• Community-based organizations
• Partnerships of organizations positioned to lead a statewide effort

Applicants must pursue work in a state that does not currently operate a statewide emergency aid grant program. The presence of emergency aid programs at individual colleges or universities does not make a state ineligible. For a full list of eligible states and jurisdictions, refer to the LOI Guidelines and Instructions here. 

Applicants should demonstrate statewide reach or present a plausible plan for developing the relationships needed to lead a statewide effort.

A letter of intent (LOI) may connect emergency aid to broader work addressing student financial needs, including basic-needs supports, public-benefit connections, or improved data sharing. Each applicant, however, must commit to pursuing a statewide emergency aid grant program.

Selected applicants will be expected to:

• Designate a permanent staff member to serve as project lead.
• Develop and carry out a strategy for advancing a statewide emergency aid grant program.
• Work with an assigned national partner to complete a state landscape analysis.
• Produce a brief report on existing data infrastructure and a plan for future evaluation.
• Complete a data and evaluation readiness assessment.
• Meet regularly with an assigned national partner and provide ongoing updates.
• Engage institutions, students, state leaders, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Plan and host a statewide convening.
• Develop a plan to sustain the work beyond the grant period.
• Participate in cohort learning and share lessons that can inform other states.
• Report how grant funds were used, including any subgrants.

Project partners will support policy development but will not conduct or fund direct lobbying related to specific legislation.

In addition to evaluating individual applications, the project partners will select a cohort that reflects a range of state contexts and offers opportunities for shared learning. Final selection may consider geographic, political, fiscal, governance, and emergency aid conditions, as well as where project support could add the greatest value.

Applicants do not need to have secured state funding or completed a final program design before applying. Selected states will use the landscape analysis, stakeholder engagement, and assistance from national partners to examine options and refine their program and policy strategies.

Must a state agency submit the proposal?

No. State agencies, nonprofit organizations, and partnerships may apply. The lead applicant must have statewide reach or a plausible plan to build the relationships needed to advance a statewide strategy. For coalition applications, one organization must serve as the primary grantee and assume fiduciary responsibility.

Can a state apply if individual colleges already operate emergency aid programs?

Yes. A state remains eligible if individual institutions operate emergency aid programs, provided the state does not currently have a statewide emergency aid grant program.

Does the proposal need to include a final program design?

No. Applicants should present an initial vision, a plausible policy opportunity, and a strategy for advancing the work. The project will help selected states analyze existing programs, explore design options, and refine their approaches.

How may states use the grant funding?

States may propose to use funds for project staffing, coalition building, research and analysis, convening, communications, stakeholder engagement, and other activities that directly support the proposed work. Funds cannot be used for lobbying nor can they be used to award emergency aid grants. Review the LOI Guidelines and Instructions for allowable-use requirements.

Can the work address other student basic needs?

Yes. Emergency aid may be part of a broader strategy that includes basic-needs supports, benefits connections, data sharing, or related policies. Each selected state must commit to pursuing a statewide emergency aid grant program.

Is participation in an evaluation required?

Selected states will participate in a data and evaluation readiness assessment and work to establish practices that support future evaluation. States do not need an existing emergency aid dataset or a commitment to conduct a specific impact evaluation to apply.

Does the project require states to enact a program during the grant period?

The project seeks to help each state establish a program or build a strong foundation and plan for doing so. Progress may include developing a preferred program design, identifying a funding mechanism, building a durable coalition, preparing a policy roadmap, improving relevant data practices, or securing policy adoption.

For questions about the opportunity or application process, contact:

Brenae Smith
Associate Director, HCM Strategists
brenae_smith@hcmstrategists.com

Apply Now

Register for the Informational Webinar on Thursday, October 22