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Scholarships in Washington State  and the Pacific Northwest Region
This page was updated on 07/26/08. If you know of errors please click here to let us know.


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.

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.

Also see: General Scholarships

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