The Graduate Ready to Achieve Degree (GRAD) Last Mile Fund is an innovative grant program designed to provide financial support to students nearing college graduation. The Fund is for students on track to graduate who experience an unexpected financial roadblock or emergency.
Launched in 2018 by the Frieze Family in partnership with the City of Boston and The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI). The Fund seeks to increase college completion without stoppage and onramp them to successful careers. Since its establishment, 981 students have received $1,398,199 in GRAD Fund grants to support the last mile of their studies. As of September 2023, 82% of grad fund recipients graduated during the semester they received the grant or within 1 or 2 semesters after receiving their GRAD fund grants.
Current participating colleges and universities include Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology, Bunker Hill Community College, Mass Bay Community College, Northshore Community College, Roxbury Community College, UMass Boston, UMass Dartmouth, and Urban College of Boston.
The fund is managed by The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI) at The Boston Foundation, in collaboration with the partner colleges and universities. Annual allocation of the GRAD Last Mile Fund to the colleges and universities generally occurs in July / early August. The partner colleges and universities are responsible for the primary marketing of the scholarship, recruiting of students who meet the eligibility requirements, and tracking of the awards and funds.