LGBT College Grants and Scholarships. By Christina Mae Olson, CFP®
This is the second article in a series about paying for college. In the first article I discussed the benefits of paying for college out of savings. If you are able to pay for tuition and other expenses from savings then you won’t have to take out student loans. It is ALWAYS better to save a dollar than to borrow a dollar to pay for something. If you must borrow money - completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid - http://www.fafsa.ed.gov) is the first step students and parents take in securing financial aid. It is already August and not too early to be thinking about this. Students entering their senior year of high school can start on their FAFSA now. You have until June 30th, 2010 to complete the FAFSA for your first year of college – the 2010 - 2011 academic year. (Note: If you are entering college this fall – you have until September 21st, 2009 to make corrections to your 2009 – 2010 FAFSA.)
This month’s article is about finding LGBT grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Grants and scholarships don’t have to be repaid. Some are based on financial need. Some are based on academic achievement. Some are “affinity” grants/scholarships – offered by unique organizations and directed at particular groups of students.
I found hundreds of links to LGBT grant programs when I did an internet search on “LGBT college grants and scholarships.” One of the most comprehensive data bases available is at the Human Rights Campaign: http://www.hrc.org/issues/youth_and_campus_activism/8644.htm. Here are some of the more prominent LGBT resources to check out if you are looking for grant/scholarship funds to help you pay for college:
The Point Foundation – National LGBT Scholarship Fund – www.pointfoundation.org. The Point Foundation awards grants from at least 20 funds each year. Point invested over $1.1 million last year in their “Point Scholars.” Average grant: $13,600.
Colin Higgins Foundation Youth Courage Award - info@colinhiggins.org. $10,000 to a youth who has demonstrated courage in the face of discrimination and adversity based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
Davis Putter Scholarship Fund - www.davisputter.org. Awards go to students working actively toward peace and justice. Amounts vary depending on the amount of their donations.
Messinger-Anderson Journalism Scholarship and Internship Program - www.thetaskforce.org awards $10,000 scholarships to LGBT journalism and communications students.
National Women’s Studies Association - http://www.nwsa.org/students/scholarships/lcguide.php. $500 from the Lesbian Caucus to graduate students in Lesbian Studies.
Pride Foundation - http://www.pridefoundation.org/scholarships/. Pride has awarded over $1.8 million from more than 50 funds to LGBT students since 1993. Only one application to Pride will put you in the running for all 50+ scholarships. Funds include the APIQS (Asian and Pacific Islander Queer Sisters Scholarship) for Asian/Pacific Islander lesbians, bisexual females, and transpeople (MTF and FTM).
Wisconsin – GSAFE Youth Scholarship - http://www.gsaforsafeschools.org/students_gsa.html. $1000 awarded to high school seniors active in their school’s gay-straight alliance. For attendance at UW schools.
UW Madison – GLBT Alumni Council awards scholarships to students who have demonstrated dedication to the GLBT causes and the betterment of the GLBT community. Representative Tammy Baldwin is a past recipient. Inquire at: glbtac@uwalumni.com.
You should also know about some of the federal grant programs available to all students. Go to www.studentaid.ed.gov for more detailed information about these grants:
PELL GRANTS. Maximum amount for the 2009 – 2010 academic year is $5350. These dovetail with other financial aid and scholarships. PELL grants are usually for undergraduate study but, in some cases, can also be awarded for graduate school.
FSEOG (Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant). The FSEOG awards up to $4000 and is based on exceptional financial need.
TEACH GRANT (Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education). Up to $4000 awarded each year for students who want to become teachers in elementary or secondary schools serving low income students. You won’t have to pay back the money if you meet certain requirements while in college (GPA of 3.2 and specialized study in high need area like Math, Science or Special Ed.) or after you graduate. For each year of grant money you receive – you have to work four years teaching in a low income school. There were 1188 schools in Wisconsin that qualified for TEACH GRANT forgiveness in 2009.
ACG (Academic Competitiveness Grant). $750 awarded in your first year and up to $1300 in your second year. You must be enrolled in an ACG eligible programs meeting “rigorous secondary school program of study” requirements and maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA.
SMART GRANT (Science & Mathematics Access to Retain Talent). Up to $4000 awarded in the third and forth years of college to students majoring in science, computer science, math, technology, engineering or a “critical foreign language.”
The states also offer grants and scholarships. Wisconsin will award up to $2250 each year for the Academic Excellence Scholarship. This is based on academic merit. The Higher Education Grant awards up to $2500 and is mostly based on financial need.
There are billions of dollars available to students who want to go to college but are short on funds. Start early and keep applying until you are awarded enough grants to help you fund your tuition and expenses. Good luck!
Chris Olson is a licensed financial planner with a fee-only practice. You may contact her at CMOney@centurytel.net or 608-525-9818.
If you have comments on this article, please send them to Chris at the email address above, NOT to the LGBT Newsletter.