International ACAC Opportunity Grants

 

The International Association for College Admission Counseling is proud to offer Opportunity Grants. The goal of this program is to support our members in the excellent work being done around the world, assisting students and families in the search for higher education. Projects, programs, and professional development funded by an Opportunity Grant should serve as a role model to the profession.

The International Association for College Admission Counseling is also proud to offer membership dues waivers for the 2024 membership year. Learn more about Dues Waivers here.
 
Eligibility Application Requirements 
& Selection Process 
2023 Recipients
 
Learn About International ACAC Opportunity Grant Recipients!
2019 Recipients 2020 Recipients 2021 Recipients 2022 Recipients
 

2023 Opportunity Grant Recipients

The selection committee believes that the motivation, reach and spirit of these five programs serve as role models within our profession. Thank you to all who applied.

Congratulations to our 2023 Opportunity Grant recipients!

Reachal Ainembabazi - Butemba High School
Helped under-resourced students of Kyankwanzi District of Uganda with the online university application process by hosting a workshop and providing internet access.

Baman Kumar Ghimire - Motherland Secondary School
Led workshops in two Nepalese cities for teachers and students about higher education opportunities abroad.

Arnold Habyarimana - Bridge for Future Academy
Organized admissions counseling workshops for high school counselors in Eastern DRC.

Joan Liu - Second Chance
Support for the Second Chance program, which assists HALI students with U.S. college admissions after the April 1 deadline.

Godfrey Omollo - South Sudan University Link
Purchased solar panels, laptops and internet routers to aid in the online university application process.


The selection committee also awarded 25 membership dues waivers for the 2023 year.
 

Eligibility for Opportunity Grants: 

International ACAC membership is required to apply for an Opportunity Grant, as these are a member benefit. Please note that Opportunity Grants are separate from Conference Bursaries, and thus should not be used to cover the cost of attendance to the International ACAC annual conference or Regional Institutes. Instead, the hope is that these Opportunity Grants will be used to support the innovative programming and thinking of our members.
  • The following membership categories are welcome to apply: high school, university, individual or CBO members.
  • Applicants must be members in good standing of International ACAC for at least one year.
  • Proposed Opportunity Grant applications must align with International ACAC’s Mission hence excluding direct funding of student expenses (eg: tuition, travel, fees, supplies).
  • Although multiple applications may be submitted, members are limited to only one grant award per calendar year. Additionally, the grant may be awarded to only one member per institution/organization per calendar year.
  • Applicants who wish to design a new program or initiative are encouraged to apply; applications containing personal professional development and/or revenue-generating requests will be disregarded.

Application Requirements for 2023 & Selection Process


Requirements

  • Applications must be submitted using the online application system.
  • Applications must be submitted by:
    • April 19 (Notification in early June)
  • Although multiple applications may be submitted, members are limited to only one grant award per calendar year. Additionally, the grant may be awarded to only one member per institution/organization per calendar year.
  • Current members of the Executive Board may not apply for Opportunity Grants.

Application Content

  • Information on the applicant's event or program.
  • A detailed plan outlining how the grant will be used to support the event or program.
  • A detailed description outlining how the funding request will be used to support the event or program - this includes budget information, anticipated expenses, etc.
    • Applicants are encouraged to seek additional funding from their home institution, and/or other sources and include that information on their application. Applicants must notify International ACAC if additional funds are secured after the application has been submitted.

Funding

The goal of the Opportunity Grants selection committee is to distribute the available funds to provide opportunities for as many people and projects as possible. Applicants may access up to $3,000 USD in funding. Members are encouraged to seek additional external funding support, if possible.

Examples of Opportunity Grant Proposals

  • Expenses associated with the development and implementation of special projects such as design, printing, postage, venue rental, audio-visual equipment, transportation, event food, etc.
  • Workshops for counselors in your region to support professional development.
  • Buses to bring students from an under-resourced or under-served school to your college fairs or programming.
  • Programming that aligns with and promotes International ACAC’s Mission and Guiding Principles, and promotes global interaction among counselors and institutions in support of secondary students transitioning to higher education.
  • Scroll down below for examples from previous Opportunity Grant recipients.

Selection

The selection committee consists of a member from the Advocacy & Outreach, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Finance, IAS, and Professional Development Committees, as well as a member from the Leadership Team. The potential positive impact and number of individuals served by the grant will be taken into account, with priority given to applicants who meet the following criteria:
  • The application is complete, detailed, and thoughtful.
  • The application provides a detailed plan for the use of the funds.
  • The applicant has sought additional funding or matching funds from other sources. (Not required, but encouraged).
  • The request provides assistance to under-served constituencies.
  • The application includes details about sustainability of the project or program in future years (if applicable).

Follow-Up

Following selection as an Opportunity Grant recipient (grantee), the grantee must agree to:
  • Use the grant within the calendar year in which it was received.
  • Submit a detailed description of the use of the awarded funds and the outcomes achieved within one month following the event or program.
  • Submit a detailed expense report and receipts of all expenses incurred using the International ACAC Expense Report Form within one month following the event or program. Reimbursement will not be issued until these items have been received by the Opportunity Grants Committee.
  • Submit photos and a written report summarizing the overall experience within one month following the event or program. This information will then be shared with the International ACAC membership on the website, through member communications, and/or through International ACAC’s social media account. Reimbursement will not be issued until these items have been received by the Opportunity Grants Committee.
  • Have a plan in place for any electronic equipment received as a part of the grant following the event or program.

2022 Opportunity Grant Recipients

The selection committee believes that the motivation, reach and spirit of these programs serve as role models within our profession. Thank you to all who applied.

Congratulations to our 2022 Opportunity Grant recipients!

James Akaba - Open Dreams, Cameroon
Accommodate more internally displaced students in our college and career counseling Open Dreams Summer Academy in Cameroon.

Yaw Fosu-KorankyeInternational Community School of Ghana
Provide training to youth on how to properly apply for university.

Baman Kumar GhimireMotherland Secondary School
Give presentations about studying abroad to HALI students in Nepal.

Aileen LeeAffiliated High School of Peking University
Access funds to help refugees in Jordan access higher education.

Solomon Kayiwa MugambeUshindi Education Initiative
Enable support to HALI students and school counselors to access resources relevant for international education.

Tenzin WoselTibetan Children's Village School
To support high school students at Tibetan Children's Village School Golpalpur, India to access higher education in US, India and around the world.


The selection committee also awarded 23 membership dues waivers for the 2022 year.
 

2021 Opportunity Grant Recipients

The selection committee believes that the motivation, reach and spirit of these programs serve as role models within our profession. Thank you to all who applied. 

Congratulations to our 2021 Opportunity Grant recipients!

Gantumur Bat-Erdene - Educational Advising Resource Center
Provide college and career counseling for orphanage children in Mongolia.
Aileen Lee - Affiliated High School of Peking University
Fund the purchase of Tawjihi test preparation materials for refugee students in Jordan.
Emmanuel Moses Kemba - Busolwe Students' Centre
Purchase computers and internet routers to help underprivileged students attend online classes and complete online university applications in Uganda.

 
The selection committee also awarded 18 membership dues waivers for the 2021 year. 


2020 Opportunity Grant Recipients

The selection committee believes that the motivation, reach and spirit of these programs serve as role models within our profession. Thank you to all who applied.

Congratulations to our 2020 Opportunity Grant recipients!

Susana Aguilar de Urruela - APDE Schools in Guatemala
Funding to support lunches for university representatives attending a college fair.
Shannon Bracken - Ontario Tech University in Canada
Hosting a joint Canadian higher education event for counselors in Doha.
Neeraj Mandhana - The Next Genius Foundation in India
Funding virtual webinar series for college counselors in India. 

The selection committee also awarded 15 membership dues waivers for the 2020 year.

2019 Opportunity Grant Recipients

The selection committee believes that the motivation, reach and spirit of these programs serve as role models within our profession. Thank you to all who applied.
 

Congratulations to our 2019 Round II Opportunity Grant recipients!

Gantumur Bat-Erdene (Mongolia): Program providing bus services to bring students from under-resourced schools to a university fair held in Mongolia.
Mabadjam Katawa (Togo): Professional development workshops and training for counselors, teachers, and administrators in five regions of Togo.
Berta Liao (Taiwan): Program providing bus services to bring students from under-resourced schools to a university fair held in Taiwan.
Solomon Kayiwa Mugambe (Uganda): Program to support high achieving low-income students in Uganda with the university application process.
Rebecca Zeigler Mano (Zimbabwe): Purchase of Kindles to load with resources for test prep, deeper reading, and application assistance for students in rural areas of Zimbabwe, allowing students to study at night without a power source for extended periods of time.

 

Congratulations to our 2019 Round I Opportunity Grant recipients!

James Akaba (Cameroon): Professional development workshops for counselors in three cities of Cameroon (Summary 1Summary 2).
Ray Marx (Ecuador): Professional development training in Quito for counselors in local area high schools.
Hilarion Vegba (Benin): Program bringing global university admission information to students, teachers and administrators in six regions of Benin.
The selection committee also awarded 7 membership dues waivers for the 2019 year. 

Questions? Contact [email protected].