Step 1 Scholarship Grant FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the Step 1 Scholarship Service Grant?

Step 1 School Grants are awards provided by ICAN to help Iowa high schools expand scholarship access, strengthen financial aid support, and increase FAFSA completion.

The program supports schools in listing local scholarships on Step 1 Scholarship Search and encouraging students to use the free platform to explore local, regional, and national scholarship opportunities.

Year 2 includes both new school grants and renewal grants for Year 1 recipients.

2. What are the goals of the grant?

The primary goals are to:

Encourage schools to list local scholarships on the Step 1 Scholarship platform
Increase student use of Step 1 Scholarship Search
Strengthen financial aid planning and support for students and families
Increase FAFSA completion

3. Who is eligible?

New school grants: All Iowa high schools are eligible, regardless of enrollment size. The enrollment size restriction from Year 1 no longer applies.

Renewal grants: Schools that received a Year 1 Step 1 grant are eligible to apply for renewal funding.

Grants are awarded to the high school counseling program, not to individual counselors.

4. How much funding does the school receive?

New school grants: ICAN will award up to 25 grants of $2,000 per school.

Renewal grants: ICAN will award up to 10 renewal grants for the 2027 calendar year. Eligible schools may request up to $2,000.

5. What is the funding period?

New school grants: The funding period runs from November 2026 through December 2027.

Renewal grants: Funding covers the 2027 calendar year.

6. When can schools apply?

New school grants: Applications open Wednesday, October 7, 2026, and are due Friday, November 6, 2026.

Renewal grants: Year 1 recipients may apply as part of their grant report in December 2026. A separate renewal application opens January 1, 2027, and must be submitted by January 15, 2027.

Visit www.icansucceed.org/step1grant for application information.

7. Does receiving a Year 1 grant guarantee renewal funding?

No. Renewal funding requires an application and is not automatic. ICAN will award up to 10 renewal grants for the 2027 calendar year.

8. When will schools be notified of grant awards?

New school grants: Schools will be notified during the week of November 9, 2026.

Renewal grants: Schools will be notified on January 31, 2027.

9. How will grant funds be distributed?

Once ICAN receives the completed and signed grant agreement, a grant check will be mailed directly to the school. The check will be addressed to the grant submitter listed on the application.

10. How can our school use the grant funds?

Grant funds may be used for activities aligned with the grant objectives, including:

Staff time dedicated to collecting and submitting local scholarship information
Student outreach or events promoting scholarship searches
FAFSA completion initiatives or workshops
Materials that support student participation in scholarship and financial aid planning
Food at grant-related events or celebrations recognizing progress toward grant goals

Grant funds cannot be used for prizes or to pay school staff to attend after-school events.

Schools should follow the spending requirements outlined in their grant agreement. If you are unsure whether an expense is allowable, contact ICAN before using grant funds.

11. How do we submit local scholarships to the Step 1 Scholarship database?

Schools may submit scholarships in one of two ways:

Complete the online scholarship submission form provided by ICAN
Email a spreadsheet that includes all required fields from the submission form, fully completed for each scholarship to bmorey@icansucceed.org.

ICAN staff will review submissions and assist with uploading scholarships to the platform.

12. What information is required for each scholarship submission?

Each submission must include all required fields from the Step 1 Scholarship submission form, including eligibility criteria, award amount, deadline, application requirements, and contact information.

Submissions with missing information may be delayed.

13. When should scholarships be submitted?

Schools are encouraged to submit scholarships as soon as possible so students can explore opportunities before application deadlines. Ongoing submissions throughout the school year are welcome.

14. How do students access the Step 1 Scholarship Service?

Students and families can visit www.Step1Scholarships.org to explore local, regional, and national scholarship opportunities.

Step 1 is free for schools, students, and families. Schools do not need to receive a grant to use the platform.

15. Are schools required to meet specific participation targets?

ICAN does not require specific participation quotas. However, grant recipients are expected to make a good-faith effort to submit local scholarships, encourage student use of Step 1 Scholarship Search, and support financial aid planning and FAFSA completion.

Schools should follow the commitments outlined in their grant agreement.

16. Is reporting required as part of the grant?

Yes. Grant recipients must complete the reporting requirements outlined in their grant agreement. Reports document school efforts related to scholarship submissions, student engagement, financial aid support, and FAFSA completion.

Year 1 recipients will complete their grant report in December 2026 and may apply for a renewal grant as part of that report.

17. Where can we learn more about the grant opportunities?

Visit www.icansucceed.org/step1grant for grant details, application information, and the recording of the grant information session.

18. Who should we contact if we have questions or need support?

Contact your ICAN advisor or reach out directly to Brittania Morey at bmorey@icansucceed.org.