Talent Search Program

The Talent Search Program grant opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education through its Office of Postsecondary Education. This initiative seeks to identify and support individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in higher education. The goal of the Talent Search Program is to increase the number of youth from low-income families who complete secondary education and enroll in and complete postsecondary education programs. This program is rooted in the Higher Education Act and reflects a broader national strategy to build and sustain America’s talent pipeline by preparing students for college and career readiness through a variety of pathways. The Talent Search Program offers discretionary grants to eligible applicants, including institutions of higher education, public and private nonprofit agencies, community-based organizations, secondary schools, and other combinations thereof. Projects funded under this opportunity must serve a minimum of 500 participants annually, maintaining a per-participant cost of no more than $500 per year. The award ceiling is $10,000,000 annually for a designated state-level applicant or qualifying Indian Tribe and $1,000,000 for all other applicants. The estimated total program funding is $175,152,359 with approximately 175 awards expected. The project period for this grant is 60 months. Funded projects must provide a range of required and permissible services, including academic advising, financial aid application assistance, career exploration, postsecondary enrollment counseling, and reentry support for individuals who have not completed secondary or postsecondary education. Unallowable costs include stipends, direct financial support for participants, financial aid application fees, unrelated research, and construction or renovation expenses. The program encourages the use of innovative tools like learning and employment records and talent marketplaces to connect students with high-demand career pathways including apprenticeships and technical education programs. Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov by 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 1, 2026. There are no pre-application requirements such as LOIs or concept papers. The program requires registration in both SAM.gov and Grants.gov, and applicants must ensure that their Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is active and up to date. The application must include standard federal forms, a project narrative, a detailed budget, and assurances, among other attachments. The review and selection process for this competition involves peer review by panels of three non-federal reviewers who evaluate applications using a 100-point scoring system based on need, objectives, plan of operation, community support, personnel quality, budget, and evaluation plan. Applicants with prior experience may receive additional points based on their documented success in past Talent Search programs. In the event of tied scores and limited funds, awards will be determined by a tiebreaker prioritizing underserved Congressional Districts and educational attainment levels. Contacts for this funding opportunity include ReShone Moore ([email protected], 202-453-7624) and Ben Witthoefft ([email protected], 202-453-7576). Awards are anticipated following the close of the application and intergovernmental review period (ending June 30, 2026), with funded projects expected to begin later in the fiscal year. This opportunity is recurring and aligns with the federal government’s commitment to long-term investment in postsecondary access and success for underserved youth populations.

Focus on need-based evidence, school coordination, and postsecondary access alignment. Follow priority criteria and selection rubric closely.