Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation Education Support Scholarship

The Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation Education Support Scholarship provides financial assistance for college or graduate school to low-income mothers. In 2026, the Foundation will offer five Education Support Awards of up to $5,000 each to assist low-income women with children who are pursuing education or training and who meet all stated criteria below. Awardees are notified by phone or email in late fall. Shortly after recipient notification, the list of awardees will be posted on the Awardee page of this site. Awards are disbursed in two separate installments (one each semester) over the academic year, and may be used for direct school expenses or for living expenses while enrolled in an educational program. 2026-27 Applicant Criteria: - Must be a woman, at least 17 years of age. - Must be a mother, with minor children. - Must be low-income, with total annual family income less than $21,640 for a family of 2; less than $27,320 for a family of 3; less than $33,000 for a family of 4 (see HHS Poverty Guidelines for larger family sizes and for Hawaii and Alaska variations). - Must be currently enrolled in a program pursuing a progressive degree at a postsecondary level of education that does not duplicate a degree level already completed. A "postsecondary education" is a formal education beyond high school to obtain certification for an occupation or earning an academic credential: vocational, associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral, etc. "Progressive" means enrolled in a program that is more advanced than any prior level of education obtained. "Does not duplicate" means the Foundation cannot consider applications seeking support for a level of degree the applicant already holds (e.g., a second associate degree, a second bachelor's, etc.), regardless of disciplinary focus. - Pursuit of degree/certificate must be at an institution that does not discriminate on the basis of sex/gender, race/ethnicity, LGBTQ+ status/identity, religion, disability, or immigration status. - Must be residing in the U.S. and enrolled full time for the 2026-27 academic year in a not-for-profit, accredited institution or program located in the U.S. with a program completion date on or after April 1, 2027. Awardees are selected based on: financial need; personal circumstance; educational path; vocational or occupational goals; and service, activist, or civic goals. The Foundation will contact awardees only and is not able to contact each applicant about application status or grant extensions to stated deadlines.