The Employment and Training Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor (Labor), is soliciting applications in support of the administration of the Talent Search Program (TS) on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education (ED).
Donor Name: Employment and Training Administration
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/01/2026
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 5 Years
Details:
The purpose of the Talent Search Program is to identify qualified individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds with potential for education at the postsecondary level and encourage them to complete secondary school and undertake postsecondary education. Talent Search projects publicize the availability of, and facilitate the application for, student financial assistance for persons who seek to pursue postsecondary education, and encourage persons who have not completed programs at the secondary or postsecondary level to enter or reenter and complete these programs.
Priorities
- Absolute Priority— Expanding Education Choice
- Competitive Preference Priority— Returning Education to the State
- Invitational Priority— Talent Marketplaces
Funding Information
- For an applicant that has not been designated by their Governor as the state-level applicant, the annual maximum award is $1,000,000.
- For one state-level applicant that has been designated by their Governor as the state-level applicant, or for any Indian tribe receiving points under the competitive priority, the maximum annual award amount is $10,000,000.
- All projects must serve a minimum of 500 participants annually, and have an annual per-participant cost of no more than $500.
Project Period
60 months.
Uses of funds
The Talent Search program authority specifies a list of required and permissible services. The program regulations identify unallowable costs in the Talent Search Program. Costs that are unallowable under the Talent Search program include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Stipends and other forms of direct financial support for participants.
- Application fees for financial aid.
- Research not directly related to the evaluation or improvement of the project.
- Construction, renovation, and remodeling of any facilities.
Eligibility Criteria
The following entities are eligible for a grant to carry out a Talent Search project:
- An institution of higher education.
- A public or private agency or organization, including a community-based organization with experience in serving disadvantaged youth. Note: State educational agencies may apply as a public organization.
- A secondary school. Note: Charter Schools may apply as a secondary school.
- A combination of the types of institutions, agencies, and organizations described in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this section.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
