Talent Search Program Launched
The U.S. Department of Labor announced a Talent Search Program intended to broaden the nonprofit and public board talent pool with targeted recruitment and outreach. The federal notice signals an expanded pipeline of board‑eligible candidates for public and nonprofit vacancies. (federalregister.gov)
The Employment and Training Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor is soliciting applications to administer the FY2026 Talent Search competition on behalf of the Department of Education. (dol.gov) The Departments announced availability of more than $175 million for the Talent Search grants and set the application deadline for 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern on May 1, 2026. (ed.gov) Awards for this competition will be issued through DOL’s GrantSolutions grants-management platform as part of the new ED–DOL postsecondary partnership announced in March 2026. (ed.gov) The solicitation (ED‑GRANT‑26‑022) allows prime grantees to award subgrants to local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, secondary schools, and other public or private entities suitable to carry out project activities. (simpler.grants.gov) The notice caps per‑project minimum service at 500 participants annually with a per‑participant cost ceiling of $500, sets a maximum annual award of $1,000,000 for most applicants, and raises the maximum to $10,000,000 for a Governor‑designated state‑level applicant or qualifying Indian tribe. (federalregister.gov) The Department will award prior‑experience points to applicants that conducted Talent Search projects during budget periods 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25, a scoring element that favors incumbent grantees with recent performance histories. (federalregister.gov) National TRIO stakeholders have flagged that the FY2026 application structure and DOL administration may reduce the number and size of awards available to current community‑based providers, a shift that could concentrate funding with larger state‑level grantees and alter the profile of nonprofit grantees that typically recruit board members. (coenet.org)
