The Graduate Ready to Achieve Degree (GRAD) Last Mile Fund is an innovative grant program designed to provide financial support to undergraduate students nearing college graduation. The Fund is for students on track to graduate who experience an unexpected financial roadblock or emergency.
Created in 2018 by the Frieze family in partnership with the City of Boston and The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI), the GRAD Last Mile Fund aims to increase college completion and help graduates transition into successful careers. From 2018 to 2025, the Fund has supported 1,644 students with over $2.2 million in support. 78% of recipients graduated within one year of receiving their GRAD Fund support – a powerful return on a modest investment. Students may receive up to $3,000 in support from the GRAD Last Mile Fund. In 2024–25, the average award was just $1,159 per student – proof that even modest support can change lives.
Managed by The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI), the GRAD Last Mile Fund partners with 15 colleges and universities across Massachusetts to provide aid to students for unexpected expenses related to housing, food, transportation, and essential school materials such as textbooks and laptops. It can also help cover tuition, fees, and outstanding balances when students have exhausted all other sources of financial aid or when non-academic expenses prevent them from paying these costs. Each year, schools receive allocations based on projected need and administer the application and award process locally. TPI convenes partners twice a year to share insights and track impact.
The GRAD Last Mile Fund is administered by the Boston Foundation, a 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit EIN 04-2104021. All donations to the fund are tax deductible.
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