Talent Search Program
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- ED-GRANT-26-022
- Agency
-
Department of Labor
- Applications due
- Award size
- $250,000 to $10,000,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
-
- 84.044 TRIO Talent Search
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Employment, Labor and Training
- Eligible applicants
-
- Tribal Organizations (Not Federally Recognized)
- Other
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- State Governments
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- Independent School Districts
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- Points of contact
-
- Ben Witthoefft ben.witthoefft@ed.gov (202) 453-7576
- ReShone Moore reshone.moore@ed.gov (202) 453-7624
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The U.S. Department of Labor, on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education, is soliciting applications for the Talent Search Program with an application deadline of July 9, 2026 and an Intergovernmental Review deadline of September 7, 2026. This is a limited reopening for eligible applicants in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands affected by the federally declared major disaster (Super Typhoon Sinlaku, DR-4910-MP); applications from applicants not affected by this declaration will not be accepted.
Eligible applicants include higher education institutions (public and private), independent school districts, state governments, tribal governments (federally recognized), tribal organizations (not federally recognized), 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and other public or private agencies and organizations. No cost share is required. Awards range from $250,000 to $1,000,000 per year for standard applicants, with up to $10,000,000 annually for state-level applicants or Indian tribes receiving competitive preference priority points. Approximately 175 awards are anticipated from $175.152 million in estimated available funds.
Projects must serve a minimum of 500 participants annually, with at least two-thirds being low-income, first-generation college students. Annual per-participant cost cannot exceed $500. The period of performance is 60 months (five years), with continuation awards approved annually subject to fund availability and satisfactory progress toward objectives.
Talent Search projects identify qualified individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds and encourage completion of secondary school and postsecondary enrollment. Projects must publicize student financial assistance, facilitate aid applications, and collaborate with other Federal TRIO projects, GEAR UP, or similar programs to minimize service duplication. Locations must be accessible to the target population. Selection criteria award up to 24 points for need, 30 points for plan of operation, 16 points for applicant and community support, 9 points for personnel quality, 8 points for objectives, 8 points for evaluation, and 5 points for budget. One absolute priority (Expanding Education Choice) and one competitive preference priority worth up to 5 points (Returning Education to the States) apply. Indirect costs are limited to the negotiated rate or 8 percent of modified total direct costs, whichever is less.
CFDA 84.044.
Synopsis
3 versions
Update #3 · Latest ·
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). 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.We encourage prospective applicants and interested parties to use the Grants.gov subscription option to register for future updates provided for this particular Announcement Notification and Instructions.
Update #2 ·
The revised deadline for Intergovernmental Review is September 7, 2026 at 11:59:59 Eastern Time. We are reopening the FY 26 Talent Search Program competition for eligible applicants in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands due to a major disaster declaration caused by Super Typhoon Sinlaku (DR-4910-MP).We are not reopening the application period for all applicants. Thus, applications from applicants not affected by the federally declared major disaster declaration will not be accepted as part of this limited reopening. -
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). 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.We encourage prospective applicants and interested parties to use the Grants.gov subscription option to register for future updates provided for this particular Announcement Notification and Instructions.
Update #1 ·
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). 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.We encourage prospective applicants and interested parties to use the Grants.gov subscription option to register for future updates provided for this particular Announcement Notification and Instructions.
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