NASPA Emergency Aid Microgrant Initiative

Unexpected and emergency expenses remain a persistent barrier to on-time college completion and student success. A staggering number of students, particularly those enrolled in public 2-year and most Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), report they would be unable to come up with $500 within a month. NASPA has a deep commitment to addressing basic needs of college students, and we recognize the importance of emergency aid grants in supporting the persistence of students facing unexpected financial crises. This year, NASPA is awarding 2-and 4-year accredited institutions with emergency aid microgrants. Sponsored by TIAA, NASPA is awarding selected institutions with up to $10,000 to provide emergency aid resources directly to students. 

Important Dates

Application Opens: March 25, 2025
Application Closes: 11:59pm ET on April 8, 2025
Award Notifications: Award recipients will be contacted in June 2025

How to Apply

TIAA - Microgrants Graphic

The request for applications form is now closed. Please submit your application using the unique link sent to you or your senior leader's email address. 

We request that a senior leader or their designee serve as the main point of contact for all application correspondence. One application per institution will be accepted. To help prepare a strong application, institutions should consider developing responses with a team of professionals who are involved with emergency aid efforts at the institution. 

A PDF copy of the application questions can be downloaded HERE.

Eligibility Requirements

This application is open to non-profit accredited two- and four-year institutions of higher education that have emergency aid programs in place. Institutions that are currently under a Request for Proposal (RFP) with TIAA are not eligible for the award. RFP means their institution is accepting proposals for their retirement provider. Institutions with ERISA regulated retirement plans may self-elect to not accept the award, but that is their decision.

Institutions are expected to:  

  • Submit only one application 
  • Indicate point of contact who leads or supports those leading emergency aid efforts at the institution 
  • Indicate application support from a senior level leader or their designee who is responsible for student services at the institution 
  • Develop and manage the process to provide microgrant funds directly to students (up to $500 per student) for emergency aid purposes and spend down funds by the end of May 2026 
  • Engage in two virtual follow-up interviews towards conclusion of the project 

Application Guidelines

Applications will be assessed based on a range of criteria. Below are four considerations for institutions to focus on when completing their application:

  1. Completeness of the Application: To what extent does the institution demonstrate commitment and attention to detail as evidenced by completeness of the application?
  2. Institution and Student Demographics: To what extent does the institution’s emergency aid approach identify and address needs of first-generation and low-income students?
  3. Impact Potential: To what extent does the institution demonstrate that the use of the microgrant will advance its emergency aid efforts? How well can the institution gather and use data needed to understand the microgrant impacts on student success? 
  4. Institutional Readiness (Distribution Capacity): To what extent does the institution have the necessary processes and policies in place to directly provide microgrant emergency aid funds to students? Does the institution have a communications plan to inform students and campus constituencies about the emergency aid microgrant?

Frequently Asked Questions

About TIAA

This Student Emergency Grant was made possible by the generous sponsorship from TIAA. TIAA is a leading provider of secure retirements and outcome-focused investment solutions to millions of people and thousands of institutions. It is the #1 not-for-profit retirement market provider.

If you have any questions regarding this application, please contact research-policy@naspa.org