LGBT is an initialism that stands forlesbian,gay, bisexual, and transgender. The initialism LGBT is intended to emphasize a diversity of sexuality and gender identity-based cultures and is sometimes used to refer to anyone who is non-heterosexual or non-cisgender instead of exclusively to people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.
The LGBT community faces so much discrimination and there are organizations that strive for their rights and work their hearts out to make sure these individuals are not left retarded by the community. Below is the list of some of the organizations that award scholarships and grants to these individuals for their higher education.
1. Human Rights Campaign
HRC envisions a world where lesbian, gay, bi sexual and transgender people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community. The campaign provides a list of all the available scholarships for LGBT students in their respective states.
http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/scholarship-database
2. FinAid
The most concrete source of student financial aid information and the link below illustrates on some of the scholarships available to lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender students.
http://www.finaid.org/otheraid/lgbt.phtml
3. Fastweb
Fastweb is the premier online resource for paying and preparing for college. Their mission to excel in providing students with the resources to realize their educational pursuits especially to those who are discriminated on the basis of gender is commendable.
http://scholarships.fastweb.com/u-gay-or-lesbian-students
4. College Scholarships.org
Collegescholarships.org strives to serve people who are interested in college funding. A list of braod array of opportunities can be found on the website and for those who represent minority genders, here’s a quick guide:
http://www.collegescholarships.org/scholarships/lgbt-students.htm
5. Pride Foundation
Pride Foundation is a regional community foundation serving the Northwest region of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Pride Foundation inspires giving to expand opportunities and advance full equality for LGBTQ people across the Northwest.
http://www.pridefoundation.org/what-we-do/scholarships/scholarship-funds/
6. Our True Colors
One True Colors offers a complete guide to some of the grants and scholarships available to LGBT students including some of the Ally Youth Scholarships.
http://www.ourtruecolors.org/Programs/LGBT-and-Ally-Youth-Scholarships.pdf
7. Safe School Coalition
Safe School Coalition organized a unique archive of resources for Scholarship and Grants of LGBT student which can be found here:
http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/RG-scholarships.html
8. Student Debt Relief
Students from gender minority community are discriminated for gender and they tend to face economic hardship. Student Debt Relief has listed some of the organizations that ease the burden of student loan upon these individuals.
http://www.studentdebtrelief.us/knowledge-base/scholarships-grants-lgbt-students/
9. Nerd Wallet
Nerd Wallet has listed some of the top available scholarships available to LGBT students who wish to achieve their higher education dreams.
http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/nerdscholar/2012/great-lgbt-scholarships/
10. American Atheists
American Atheists has been the premier organization fighting for the civil liberties of atheists and the total and absolute separation of government and religion. The organization has taken up initiative to help LGBT individuals in funding their higher education.
http://atheists.org/scholarship
11. League Foundation
The LEAGUE Foundation provides financial resources for America’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender high school seniors entering their first year of institutions of higher learning.
http://www.leaguefoundation.org/league-foundation-scholarships/
12. Live Out Loud
Live Out Loud inspires, nurtures and empowers LGBTQ youth to build a successful future by connecting them to positive role models and affirmative experiences in the LGBTQ community. Their unique scholarship program has helped numerous LGBT students in their academics.
http://www.liveoutloud.info/programs/scholarship/
13. Scholarship Experts
ScholarshipExperts is a fast and easy way for students and their families to get matched with scholarships to help pay for college.
http://www.scholarshipexperts.com/blog/scholarship-opportunities/lgbt-scholarships
14. Point Foundation
Point Foundation is the nation’s largest scholarship-granting organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) students of merit. Point promotes change through scholarship funding, mentorship, leadership development, and community service training.
http://www.pointfoundation.org/page.aspx?pid=393
15. UNC-Chapel Hill
LGBTQ Center is committed in policy, practice, environmental design, and staff/volunteer behavior to provide an inclusive and welcome environment to community members of all sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, socio-economic or educational backgrounds, racial or ethnic backgrounds, ability/disability statuses, religious/spiritual affiliations or non affiliations, creed, genetic information, and veteran’s status.
https://lgbtq.unc.edu/resources/scholarships-fellowships-grants-and-awards
16. Financial Aid Finder
Financial Aid Finder believes that in today’s economic market students need all the help they can get in finding and evaluating college financial aid options to help them pay for their college and university education.
http://www.financialaidfinder.com/student-scholarship-search/scholarships-personal-characteristics/scholarships-lgbt-students/
17. Accredited Schools Online
Accredited Schools Online provides a complete list of all the scholarships and grants available to LGBT students who are facing financial difficulty in higher education.
http://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/resources/college-scholarships-for-minority-students/
18. About.com
Scholarships for LGBT students are available and About.com gives a list of top national and regional scholarships but that can only be opted for if the college you are trying to reach is accredited with these scholarships.
http://lesbianlife.about.com/od/youth/tp/Scholarships.htm
19. American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA is the world’s largest association of psychologists, with nearly 130,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students as its members.
http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/research.aspx
20. COLAGE
COLAGE unites people with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer parents into a network of peers and supports them as they nurture and empower each other to be skilled, self-confident, and just leaders in our collective communities.
http://www.colage.org/programs/academic/leedubin.htm
21. The Task Force
The National LGBTQ Task Force advances full freedom, justice and equality for LGBTQ people. The task force is working so effectively for the rights of LGBT community.
http://www.thetaskforce.org/creating-a-path-to-citizenship-is-an-lgbt-issue/
22. Parents and Families of Lesbian and Gays
PFLAG is the nation’s largest family and ally organization. Uniting people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) with families, friends and allies.
http://community.pflag.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=370&srcid=194
23. Skadden Foundation
The aim of the foundation is to give Fellows the freedom to pursue their interests in public interest work. Their fellowship programs have helped LGBT students in achieving everything required for their higher academics.
http://www.skaddenfellowships.org/
24. Zami
Zami is an organization of its own kind being one of the premier organizations for lesbians of African Descent discriminated on color. These scholarships are especially awarded to those who are making significant contributions in their communities.
http://www.zami.org/scholarship.htm
25. National Women Studies Association
The National Women’s Studies Association has as one of its primary objectives promoting and supporting the production and dissemination of knowledge about women and gender through teaching, learning, research and service in academic and other settings.
http://www.nwsa.org/content.asp?contentid=16
26. Suffolk
The Office of Diversity Services is at the center of Suffolk’s efforts to maintain a welcoming climate on campus for everyone. Suffolk is the primary resource for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) students, students of color, and allies.
http://www.suffolk.edu/diversity/