Scholarships / Education
This page was updated on 12/16/13. If you know of errors please click here to let us know.

  home ~ sitemap
Are you an ADULT? Click here!
     


Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students are sometimes embraced by their families from the moment they come out as sexual minorities. Many parents and guardians however, react initially with shock, disappointment or anger. Some recover from their initial responses and build an even closer relationship with their teen than ever. Sadly, other times, teens are denied long-promised support for their higher education or even banished from their homes to live through the kindness of friends or on the streets. A growing number of organizations want to provide financial support for college bound students, whether they have been thrown away by parents or they just need extra help to complete their education.

NOTE: Many of these scholarships and grants are for youth involved in social activism, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Some are also for students with GLBT parents, again regardless of the student's orientation or identity.

 

Scholarships  Also see (below on this page): Scholarships specifically in and for Washington State and the Pacific Northwest Region 

Directories

College Resource Network's  LGBTQ Scholarships - free scholarship search engine and college planning website includes this section which focuses on LGBTQ scholarships. Availability in Both Spanish and English.

Financial Aid for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Students

The Minnesota GLBT Educational Fund - scholarships for GLBT students and students with GLBT parents in US and Canada.  

Specific Foundations  top of page

The American Anthropological Association - Society of Lesbian and Gay Anthropologists (SOLGA) - offers the Ruth Benedict Prize for outstanding anthropological scholarship on a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered topic; and the Kenneth W. Payne Student Prize for students and scholars of LGBT topics and issues in anthropology.

Astraea Lesbian Foundation For Justice - General Grants, International Fund for Sexual Minorities, Margot Karle Scholarship Fund, Lesbian Writers Fund, Lesbian Visual Arts Fund, International Panel Grants, Social Change Opportunity Fund, International Interim/Emergency Fund, International Collaborative & Philanthropic Grants, International Donor Advised Grants.

AT&T's League Foundation - $1,500-$2,500 scholarships for college-bound GLBT students with GPA's of at least 3.0 and a history of community service. Phone: 703-713-7820; Email: LEAGUE@att.com.

The Colin Higgins Courage Awards and Grants - grants individuals who are either a) LGBTQ or questioning youth who have "bravely stood up to hostility and intolerance" based on their sexual orientation and triumphed over bigotry; b) LGBTQ adults who have made strong impact in the lives of LGBTQQ youth or the overall LGBTQ movement; or c) allies of any age working to end homophobia and discrimination. The Foundation has also established two scholarship programs in memory of Colin Higgins at The Stanford University Department of English, and The UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. These scholarships support graduate students and filmmakers whose work enlightens and enriches the human spirit. The universities, and not the Colin Higgins Foundation, administer these scholarship programs.  Phone: 415-561-6323; Email: info@colinhiggins.org.

The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund - "We provide need-based grants to students who are able to do academic work at the college level and are actively working for peace and justice. Davis-Putter scholars are both graduate and undergraduate students and must be living in the U. S. and planning to enroll in an accredited school. Grantees must receive college credits for the time period covered by their grant. Early recipients fought for civil rights, against McCarthyism, and for peace in Vietnam. More recently, grantees have been active in the struggle against racism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of oppression; building the movement for economic justice; and creating peace through international, anti-imperialist solidarity." Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund, Post Office Box 7307, New York, NY 10116-7307; Email: davisputter@davisputter.org.

Fund for Lesbian and Gay Scholarships (FLAGS) - provides financial assistance to gay, lesbian and bisexual students involved in the community. The scholarship amount varies and depends on financial need. The deadline is mid-September for the current school year. The fund's Youth Project Scholarship Program also awards grants to tenth and eleventh graders who plan to pursue postsecondary education. The scholarship is awarded based on financial need, academic achievement and school or community involvement. The scholarship amount varies. The deadline is mid-January. For more information about either of these programs or an application, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Whitman-Brooks The Scholarship Fund PO Box 48320 Los Angeles, CA 90048-0320 Phone: 1-213-650-5752

The Malyon-Smith Scholarship - an annual fund awarding up to $1000 to selected graduate students in psychology to advance research in the psychology of sexual orientation and gender identity. Applicants must be currently enrolled full-time in a Department of Psychology at the graduate level. Applications from students in allied disciplines, such as social work and sociology, cannot be considered at this time. For answers to questions about applications and to submit a completed application: Dawn M. Szymanski, Ph.D.; Division of Counseling, 469 Marillac University of Missouri-St. Louis; 8001 Natural Bridge Rd.; St. Louis, MO 63121-4499; Phone: 314-516-6086; Email: Malyon[dot]Smith[dot]Award[at]gmail[dot]com

Minn GLBT Educational Fund (P-Fund) Awards - Several monetary grants are offered annually to GLBT post-secondary students, or students from GLBT families. Scholarships are available to students who are residents of Minnesota, or students from elsewhere attending a Minnesota school.

The National Gay Pilots Association Education Fund - offers scholarships to members of the gay and lesbian community who have expressed an interest in an aviation career as a professional pilot.    

PFLAG's (Parents Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) National Scholarship Program - awards $5000 scholarships, $2500 scholarships, and $1000 scholarships. To be eligible: you are a graduating senior entering higher education for the first time (if you graduated and took a year off you are still eligible to apply); you self identify as a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) or an ally; you demonstrate an interest in service to the GLBT community; and you have applied to an accredited higher education institution. NOTE: Some local PFLAG chapters also offer scholarships and may have different qualifications: Local PFLAG Scholarships.

The Point Foundation - College Scholarships for LGBT Students covering up to all student expenses including tuition, books, room and board and living expenses. You do not need straight A's to apply but they are looking for individuals that have proven leadership, scholastic achievements and want to make a difference in the world. All applicants are evaluated on the totality of their situation including, financial, emotional and social need, extracurricular activities, personal circumstances and goals for the future. Phone: 866-33-POINT; Email: info@thepointfoundation.org; Fax: 866-39-POINT; mail: PO BOX 261111, Lakewood, CO 80228.

The Queer Foundation's Effective Writing and Scholarships Program - dedicated to improve the lives of queer youth; raising funds to provide financial and administrative support by offering $1000 scholarships to talented and gifted writers. The scholarships are open to anyone anywhere who hasn't yet graduated from high school and expects to attend college or university in the U.S.. Winners of the annual essay contest promote queer studies to improve the lives of queer youth.. Collected, the essays form queer-the-curriculum materials for use in high schools to benefit all LGBTQ students. Contact person: Executive Director Joseph Dial, Ph.D.; Address: 3213 W Wheeler St., #145; Seattle, WA 98199; Phone: 206-999-8740; Email: queerfoundation@queerfoundation.org.   

Scholarships specifically in and for Washington State and the Pacific Northwest Region top of page

Audria M. Edwards Youth Scholarship Fund - available to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and/or the children of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender persons who reside in Oregon or Southwest Washington. Contact: AME Scholarship Fund, PO Box 11773, Portland, OR 97211. 

The Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) Scholarships - GSBA awards educational scholarships to undergraduate LGBTQ and Allied students who are committed to making a difference in the world. Scholarships range from $3,000 to $10,000 and are meant to provide significant support to students as they pursue their educational goals. Open to current residents of Washington State who are applying to, or enrolled in, an undergraduate program. (The Pride Foundation collaborates on these awards with GSBA.)  

The Pride Foundation, Greater Seattle Business Association and the Inland Northwest Business Alliance - scholarships of up to $10,000 for residents of the Pacific Northwest (AK, ID, MT, OR and WA). Phone: 206-323-3318; Web site: . Pride Foundation coordinates many separate scholarship funds, and the list grows frequently, so check their web site. The scholarships they manage are, in general, for …

  • residents of Alaska, Idaho , Montana , Oregon and Washington

  • who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender and/or  

  • allied or questioning students

  • who were raised by gay or lesbian parents and/or  

  • who demonstrate an ability to promote leadership in the sexual minority community  

Scholarships include some specifically for …

  • Seattle-area gay men of color

  • Latino/Latina youth, especially those involved in athletics

  • students of health sciences; interior, fashion or graphic arts; design; or performing arts

  • current or former TRIO students from a NASP member program 

The Pride of the Rose Scholarship Fund - provides financial assistance for post-secondary education to members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities and their children residing in the Quad-county area of Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA.

The Queer Foundation's Effective Writing and Scholarships Program - dedicated to improve the lives of queer youth; raising funds to provide financial and administrative support by offering $1000 scholarships to talented and gifted writers. The scholarships are open to anyone anywhere who hasn't yet graduated from high school and expects to attend college or university in the U.S.. Winners of the annual essay contest promote queer studies to improve the lives of queer youth.. Collected, the essays form queer-the-curriculum materials for use in high schools to benefit all LGBTQ students. Contact person: Executive Director Joseph Dial, Ph.D.; Address: 3213 W Wheeler St., #145; Seattle, WA 98199; Phone: 206-999-8740; Email: queerfoundation@queerfoundation.org.

University of Puget Sound LGBT Leadership Scholarship - $1,000 a year for currently enrolled UPS students.  Scholarship was endowed by alumni, faculty, and staff. To contribute to the fund, contact Liz Collins. Phone: 253-879-3610; Email: cwise@ups.edu. To apply for the scholarship, contact the UPS Financial Aid Scholarships office in Tacoma. Phone: 253-879-3214.

  top of page

DHTML Menu By Milonic JavaScript