Educational and Gender Affirming Care Scholarships and Financial Assistance

Palomar College Scholarships

Palomar’s Annual Scholarship Application is open from May to August. The 2025/2026 Scholarship Application will be available beginning May 5th until August 15th.

Kaleidoscope Scholarship

The Kaleidoscope Scholarship supports students of California Community Colleges (CCC) who are making a difference in their communities through a commitment to diversity, inclusivity and social equity. This $500 scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate resilience, leadership and a dedication to creating positive change. It honors those whose unique perspectives and advocacy reflect an understanding of the intersections between race, gender, socioeconomic status, LGBTQ+ identities and other aspects of identity.

This scholarship is designed to support students who are actively fostering an inclusive and equitable campus or community environment.

Promising applicants should demonstrate the following:

  • Resilience and commitment to their education despite personal or systemic challenges
  • Engagement in initiatives that foster inclusivity and support for diverse identities within their college or community
  • An understanding of intersectionality, recognizing how various identities shape experiences and perspectives
  • Advocacy through contributions to social justice, peer support or initiatives that create a more equitable community

ELIGIBILITY

Application is open to all actively enrolled CCC students who contribute to diversity, inclusion and social justice in their communities. This scholarship respects the privacy of applicants, and all information shared will remain confidential unless informed consent is provided. 

IMPORTANT DATES

All applications are due by 11:59 PM on February 14, 2025. Awardees will be notified in March 2025, with announcements made at the 2025 CCC LGBTQ+ Summit in April.

National Rainbow College Fund

Scholarship application due 03/05/2025 by 2pm. Scholarships average $2,500. Empowering LGBTQ+ students to pursue their ambitions for higher education. The first scholarship that supports LGBTQ+ students exclusively – whether they are “out” or not starting with California residents in 2025. The National Rainbow College Fund is powered by San Diego Foundation, one of the largest community foundations in the U.S. and the largest provider of scholarships of any community foundation in California. The mission of the National Rainbow College Fund is to lessen the financial burden for young people who identify as LGBTQ+ or who are grappling with the secrecy of remaining in the closet. The groundbreaking fund addresses the unique challenges LGBTQ+ students face such as social acceptance, mental health issues and family rejection that can hinder their ability to afford college that in turn impacts long-term economic earning power.

Human Rights Campaign (HRC) LGBTQ+ Student Scholarship Database

A list of scholarships, fellowships and grants for LGBTQ+ and allied students at both the undergraduate and graduate-level.

The PFLAG San Diego County Scholarship Portfolio

Scholarship application due 03/15/2025. Since 1998, PFLAG San Diego County has overseen the awarding of over 225 scholarships in the amount of $530,000 to LGBTQ+ students. The scholarships are awarded to LGBTQ+ high school seniors continuing on to higher education or full-time undergraduate and graduate students through a competitive application and essay process. In addition to general scholarships, some are offered for specific areas of study: STEM, Art, Education, Health Services, Community College, and Vocational Studies. The scholarship committee selects recipients based on commitment to their chosen field, financial need, and academic achievement. It is worth noting that one of the earliest recipients of a PFLAG SDC scholarship was Todd Gloria, Mayor of San Diego, who exemplifies the public service we support. “Launching Leaders” serves as both a platform to honor our recipients and a primary fundraiser for future scholarships.

UC San Diego LGBTQIA+ Undergraduate Scholarship Program

The LGBTQIA+ Undergraduate Scholarship Program encourages gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual UCSD students to apply for scholarships made possible by generous contributions from many people, including Chris Arrott, Michael Marx and Donald Marshall, Russ Ty, Dr. Thomas Baker, MD and Dr. Marc Better, PH.D and from funds in memory of Tracee Parsons and Stephen P. L’Italien, Jr. The objective of the undergraduate scholarship program is to recognize and encourage academic excellence and to offer financial support to meritorious students. For questions, contact scholarships@ucsd.edu.

Gender Affirming Care Financial Assistance

Annual Trans Surgery Fund

Point of Pride’s Annual Transgender Surgery Fund is a scholarship-like program that provides direct financial assistance to trans folks who cannot afford their gender-affirming surgery.

Point of Pride’s Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Access Fund

Point of Pride’s HRT Access Fund is a scholarship-like program that provides direct financial assistance to trans folks who cannot afford their gender-affirming hormone replacement therapy (also known as “HRT.”)

Point of Pride’s Electrolysis Support Fund

The Electrolysis Support Fund provides financial assistance towards permanent hair removal services (including electrolysis and laser hair removal) for trans folks who cannot otherwise afford them

Thrive Fund

The Thrive Fund provides small grants to trans people who cannot afford gender-affirming health and wellness needs including wigs, prosthetics, fertility preservation, vocal training, non-permanent forms of hair removal, medical tattooing, and more..

Point of Pride Free Chest Binders

Point of Pride provides free chest binders (specially-designed chest compression garments) to any trans person who needs one and cannot afford or safely obtain one.

Point of Pride Free Femme Shapewear

Point of Pride provides free femme shapewear (specially-designed compression underwear/gaffs) to any trans femme person who needs one and cannot afford or safely obtain one.