The SMART program benefits from local and federal funding, with the federal government identifying historically and intentionally excluded groups in STEM as African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and American Indian/Alaska Natives. While open to all applicants, SMART specifically aims to support students from historically underserved backgrounds. This includes students of any race or ethnicity who are living with disabilities, are among the first in their families to attend college, are eligible for Pell grants, or have faced extraordinary challenges.