League Foundation Scholarships: Eligibility and Requirements for LGBTQ+ Students

For LGBTQ+ students aspiring to higher education, the financial burden can be particularly challenging. Fortunately, numerous scholarships are available to help cover the costs of college. Among these, the League Foundation Scholarships stand out as a valuable resource. This article delves into the eligibility requirements, application process, and other essential details about League Foundation Scholarships, along with a broader look at LGBTQ+ scholarships.

Understanding League Foundation Scholarships

League Foundation Scholarships are awarded annually to LGBTQ+ students graduating from high school. These scholarships aim to support students in their pursuit of postsecondary education.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for League Foundation Scholarships, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Identify as LGBTQ+.
Be graduating from high school.
Have a GPA of 3.0 or better.
Be planning to attend a postsecondary institution.
Reside in Downstate Illinois (all counties except Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will).

Award Amount and Deadline

The scholarship awards range from $1,000 to $4,000. The application deadline is in September annually.

Additional LGBTQ+ Scholarship Opportunities

Besides the League Foundation Scholarships, numerous other scholarships cater to LGBTQ+ students. These scholarships often consider financial need, academic achievements, extracurricular accomplishments, and field of study.

General LGBTQ+ Scholarships

These scholarships are available to students who identify as LGBTQ+, are allies, or have an LGBTQ+ parent.

Point Foundation Flagship Scholarship: This scholarship is for LGBTQ+ students who are at least high school seniors and are pursuing a bachelor’s, graduate, or professional degree at a four-year institution. The award amount varies depending on financial need and can last for up to four years. The application typically opens in September and closes in December.
Point Foundation Community College Scholarship: This scholarship supports LGBTQ+ students enrolled or intending to enroll in a community college for an associate degree or cosmetology degree/certificate program. Students must be enrolled at least half-time and have 1-2 years of community college remaining with the intent to transfer to a four-year institution. The award amount is $2,400 per semester, and the deadline is in February annually.
Point Foundation BIPOC Scholarship: This scholarship is for LGBTQ+ students who identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC) enrolled or intending to enroll in an associate, bachelor’s, graduate, or professional degree program. Students must be enrolled in one or more credit-bearing classes per semester. The award amount is up to $1,500, and the deadline is in March annually.
Pride Foundation Scholarships: The Pride Foundation awards several scholarships annually through one application for LGBTQ+ students and student allies from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington who pursue any postsecondary education. U.S. citizenship is not a requirement. The award amount varies, and the application typically opens in October and closes in January.
National Rainbow College Fund Scholarship: This scholarship awards scholarships to 200 California LGBTQ+ students who are at least high school seniors and enroll in at least six credits at a four-year, community college, or trade/vocational institution. The award amount is $2,500, and the deadline is in March annually.
Audria M. Edwards Scholarship Fund: This scholarship is open to LGBTQIA+ students or students with an LGBTQIA+ parent who are pursuing a professional certificate, associate, or bachelor’s degree who’ve lived in Oregon or specific counties in southwest Washington (Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania, and Wahkiakum) for at least one year. The award amount is up to $5,000, and the deadline is in April annually.
The Aritzia Scholarship: This scholarship is available to students identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, or two-spirit who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program studying or planning to work in fashion design, retail management, mental health, or social justice advocacy. The award amount is $5,000, and the application typically opens in early 2026.
Traub-Dicker Rainbow Scholarship: These annual scholarships are awarded to lesbian high school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students. The program supports students who have demonstrated academic excellence and made a difference through community service. The award amount is $4,000, and the application typically opens in early 2026.
PFund Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to LGBTQ+ students who are from or currently enrolled in school in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, or the Native Nations. Students can be enrolled in or admitted to a GED program, community college, four-year college, university, graduate school, trade school, professional certificate program, or apprenticeship program. The award amount ranges from $1,000 to $12,000, and the deadline is in March annually.

Discipline-Specific LGBTQ+ Scholarships

These scholarships are designed for LGBTQ+ students who want to study a specific discipline. Awards usually include merit-based requirements and other restrictions based on an individual’s field or industry.

Out to Innovate Scholarships: Out to Innovate gives out scholarships to undergraduate LGBTQ+ students pursuing careers in STEM fields who have finished two years of college with a 2.75 GPA or higher. The award amount varies depending on the scholarship, and the application typically opens in Spring 2026.
Leroy F. Aarons Scholarship Award: This scholarship awards current or incoming undergraduate and graduate LGBTQ+ students pursuing journalism. Applicants must demonstrate a passion for the field, value fair and accurate news coverage, and show an awareness of issues facing the LGBTQ+ community. Graduates are required to be enrolled in a journalism program. All applicants must be NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists members in good standing. The award amount is up to $5,000, and the deadline is in May annually.
Kay Longcope Scholarship Award: Undergraduate and graduate student applicants must be an LGBTQ+ person of color pursuing a career in journalism. Graduate students are required to be enrolled in a journalism program. All applicants must be NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists members in good standing. The award amount is up to $3,000, and the deadline is in May annually.
Reaching Out LGBTQ+ MBA Fellowship: This fellowship is available to students at participating business schools. Alongside a scholarship, students will receive exclusive benefits to the program. Students will serve as ambassadors of the LGBTQ+ community at large and take an active role in on-campus LGBTQ+ activities.

Additional Scholarship Resources

Better Brothers LA Book Scholarship: Better Brothers LA, an organization that supports the Black LGBTQ+ community in Southern California, provides a national scholarship opportunity to assist with purchasing textbooks. Amounts range from $500 to $1,500 for each recipient. Their book scholarship opens each fall, and awards are made in the early spring term.
GAPA Scholarship: GAPA provides a national scholarship for new and/or returning college students who are involved in Asian/Pacific Islander and LGBTQ+ activism. Amounts range from $1,000 to $5,000 for each recipient, and these funds can also be used for study abroad opportunities. Their scholarship application closes in June of each year.
NOGLSTP Scholarships: NOGLSTP provides two annual scholarships for students enrolled in STEM fields. One of these two scholarships will be granted in the amount of $5,000 to an undergraduate student, and the funds may go towards a student’s educational and/or research costs. This opportunity is only available to students who have completed at least two years of undergraduate work. Their scholarship application closes in June of each year.
PFLAG Scholarship Program: PFLAG hosts a national scholarship program for graduating high school seniors who have applied to an accredited college. While the amounts for their scholarship vary, they also offer chapter-specific opportunities throughout the state as well. Applications are typically due in the spring term.
Stonewall Community Foundation Scholarships: The Stonewall Community Foundation currently hosts multiple scholarship opportunities for students across the country. Their Traub-Dicker Rainbow Scholarship provides support between $1,500 to $3,000 for incoming and/or returning students.
The LGBT Community Center Pride Scholarship: This LGBT community center offers an annual Pride Scholarship for students who are residents of Ohio. While they select one scholarship recipient per year, applicants can continue to apply annually. Applications are typically due in the spring term.
PFLAG of Greater Cincinnati’s Scholarship Program: This program provides multiple opportunities for students either residing in and/or attending college in the greater Cincinnati area. This program awards scholarships of varying amounts to multiple students each June.

Tips for Crafting a Strong Scholarship Application

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Kenyon) recognizes that there are many unique scholarship opportunities available for LGBTQ+ students. If you are a current LGBTQ+ student and would like to discuss how to craft a strong scholarship application to support your academic career, please contact Dean for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Chris Kennerly.

Additional Support for LGBTQ+ Students at Kenyon

Kenyon recognizes that some LGBTQ+ students might require emergency financial support resources to continue their education if they experience a sudden lack of familial support. Students who are in unusual circumstances, including:

Dealing with familial abandonment.
Fleeing an emotionally and/or physically abusive family environment, may be eligible for a “dependency override” on their FAFSA.

If granted a dependency override, such students may be recognized as independent and may have access to larger financial aid packages. Some students who may or may not be eligible for a dependency override may also need access to on-campus housing during winter and/or summer breaks. Finally, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has a number of student success funds for academic needs, internships, professional attire, medical and emergency expenses, and more.

Read also: Decoding GPA for Ivy Leagues

Other Considerations

Participation only in ATHLETIC or MUSIC contests does not qualify a student to apply for a TILF scholarship.

Special Notes: For students who compete in the Cross-Examination Debate contest, they must advance to the second day of competition (octofinals) to be eligible to apply. For students who compete in the Barbara Jordan Historical Essay Competition, Latino History Essay Competition, and/or Young Filmmakers Festival, only students who advance to state finals are eligible to apply.

All applicants must meet the main scholarship criteria and should also consider any additional requirements for individual donors listed on the scholarships page. (Please note, however, that applicants are applying directly to the program and not for a specific scholarship.

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