GrantSift for students: official grants and scholarships, without the noise
GrantSift is live for students in Canada and the US. Find official student grants, aid programs and scholarships, with clear links to the source.
GrantSift is live, and students are part of the community we want to serve. Paying for college or university is one of the biggest financial decisions most people make, and the official information is often harder to find than the ads promising free money. GrantSift helps you start from official sources.
Start with government student aid
The largest sources of grant money for most students are government programs, and they are free to apply for.
In Canada:
- Provincial and territorial student aid, such as OSAP in Ontario. When you apply through your province, you are also assessed for federal aid.
- Canada Student Grants, which do not have to be repaid. The Government of Canada lists grants for full-time and part-time students, students with dependants and students with disabilities.
- Scholarships for international study and study in Canada, listed on EduCanada.
In the US:
- The FAFSA, the application for federal student aid, which opens the door to the Federal Pell Grant, the FSEOG and federal loans and work-study. Many states and schools also use FAFSA information for their own aid.
- State grants, such as California's Cal Grant and New York's Tuition Assistance Program.
- Scholarships from schools, employers, community groups and foundations. Federal Student Aid has guidance on finding scholarships.
How GrantSift helps students
Official links first. GrantSift points you to official program pages so you see the real rules, not a summary of last year's version.
Browse student funding. Start at scholarships and student funding and education.
Plain-language guides. Our student guides explain how programs work and link to the official sources for amounts and deadlines.
Deadlines. Some student aid has priority deadlines. Missing them can cost you money. Track them early.
Grants first, loans second, scams never
- Apply for government aid first. Grants do not have to be repaid.
- Look for scholarships and bursaries from your school and community.
- Understand loans before you accept them, including interest and repayment.
- Never pay to apply for aid. The FAFSA is free. OSAP is free. Legitimate scholarships do not charge application fees to get money.
Student guides on GrantSift
Canada:
- How OSAP works
- OSAP grants vs loans
- Canada Student Grants explained
- Scholarships and bursaries in Canada
US:
For parents and adult learners
Parents often help complete applications. In the US, parents who are FAFSA contributors need their own StudentAid.gov account. Adult learners returning to school can qualify for aid too; Federal Student Aid has information for adult students. In Canada, part-time students may qualify for part-time grants and loans.
Talk to your financial aid office
Your school's financial aid office is one of the best resources you have. Staff can explain your award, tell you about school bursaries and scholarships, and help if your circumstances change. Use GrantSift to understand your options, then confirm with them.
Frequently asked questions
Is GrantSift a scholarship application site? No. GrantSift helps you find official programs and links you to apply directly.
Do I need to pay to apply for government student aid? No. Government student aid applications are free.
Does GrantSift cover my province or state? Our guides cover major programs and link to official provincial, territorial and state sources. Always check your own government's site.
Paying for school is stressful enough. GrantSift is live to help students start from official sources and find the grants they are entitled to.
How we keep GrantSift trustworthy
A funding database is only useful if you can trust it, so we hold ourselves to a few simple rules.
- Every listing points to its source. We link to the official funder page so you can check eligibility, amounts and deadlines yourself before you apply.
- Official sources first. We build from public sources such as Grants.gov and Government of Canada open data rather than copying third-party lists.
- No promises we cannot keep. We never guarantee that you will receive funding, and we never charge a fee to receive a grant. Funders make their own decisions.
- Plain language. Our guides explain programs in everyday words and link to the official rules for the details.
- Your search stays yours. Searching GrantSift does not send your details to funders.
If you ever spot an outdated detail or a broken link, tell us and we will fix it. Program terms change often, and the official page is always the final word.
Your first 20 minutes on GrantSift
- Write one sentence about your project: what you will do, where, and roughly what it costs.
- Pick your country and region, then the sector that best describes the work.
- Scan eligibility first. Skip anything your organization type cannot apply to.
- Save three to five programs that fit closely, and open each official page.
- Note the deadlines and any registrations you will need, then add them to your calendar.
- Contact one program officer with a short, specific question.
That short routine turns a vague search into a working shortlist you can act on this week.
Come back each month, because new opportunities open and old ones close throughout the year. A regular check, even fifteen minutes, keeps your pipeline full and stops a good deadline from slipping past unnoticed.
Keep exploring on GrantSift
Find the programs that fit you
Official program pages are the source of truth, but finding them is the slow part. GrantSift pulls grants and funders from official sources such as Grants.gov and Government of Canada open data into one searchable database covering the US and Canada across every sector. Each listing links back to the official page, and paid plans unlock funder contacts, deadlines you can track, and filters that match programs to your business or organization. Search grants on GrantSift or see plans and pricing.