Financial aid promotes and supports students' access to and success in higher education. This is especially true at community colleges. Whether students are seeking job training, a certificate or an associate degree, many rely on consistent and meaningful sources of financial support to advance their educational aspirations. Without these resources, community colleges would be fundamentally unable to fulfill their open-access missions. The information provided in this guide assists community college leaders in being better informed when advocating for community colleges and financial aid to both state and federal policymakers throughout the year and at the annual Community College National Legislative Summit in Washington, D.C. This guide contains the following sections: (1) Financial Aid's Role in Paying for College; (2) Understanding Grants and Scholarships; (3) Understanding Student Loans; (4) Understanding Work-Study and Other Forms of Financial Aid; and (5) Understanding Institutional Participation in Federal Financial Aid Programs.