Acorn Equality Fund Acorn Scholarship

Award Amount
Application deadline
Awarded By:

Acorn Equality Fund

Number of Awards & Eligibility: Approximately four awards offered annually.
In order to qualify, students must meet the following criteria:
  1. Must demonstrate service to and advocacy for the LGBT community.
  2. Must have permanent residence in the Acorn Equality Fund service area (all counties in Illinois except Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will).
  3. Must be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident.
  4. This award is for U.S. students.
  5. Must identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, LGBT ally, or must have a parent who is LGBT.
  6. Must be accepted or enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student at the time of application.

In order to qualify, students must meet the following criteria:

Description: The Acorn Scholarship is available to LGBT students, allies, and the children of LGBT parents who have a permanent residence in the Acorn Equality Fund service area (all counties in Illinois except Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will). Applicants must demonstrate service to and advocacy for the LGBT community.

Application requirements for the Acorn Equality Fund Acorn Scholarship are:

  • Essay
  • Recommendation letter
  • Application form
Additional Information: Acorn Equality Fund scholarships are designed to provide academic financial support for gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered students, allies or the children of gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered parents. Each year, the Acorn scholarship is provided to a student who shows an exceptional commitment to community service and public advocacy on behalf of the LGBT population. Award selection will be based on academic merit in addition to a proven record of activism and participation.

Award Amount: $1,000 to $4,000, up to $35,000 offered annually, non-renewable.  The total dollars awarded for this scholarship is $35,000.

Deadline Information:

Deadline for this scholarship is Friday, November 20

Deadline Information:

Deadline for this scholarship is Friday, November 20

Applications and information about this award are available online at the Acorn Equality Fund website using the link provided. To apply for the Acorn Scholarship, students must submit the following materials: a completed application form including biographical information, educational history, and the confidentiality section; three sealed letters of reference as described on the application form; and an essay of up to 500 words addressing the applicant's service to and advocacy for the LGBT community. The essay should include specific areas of issues addressed, as well as any awards, recognitions, or honors received. All new applicants must also submit two additional essays of up to 500 words, each. The first essay must describe how being gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, or allied has affected the applicant's life. The second essay must describe where the applicant sees his/her self in ten years. Previous scholarship recipients must submit one essay of up to 500 words describing how the previous scholarship award and involvement in the Acorn Equality Fund has impacted his/her life. Applications, essays, and reference letters must all be sent to the provided address, and must be postmarked by the deadline date. Materials postmarked after that date will not be considered.
About Acorn Equality Fund:
Contact Information: Jon Neidy, Scholarship Chair
Address: P.O. BOX 6286 Peoria, Illinois 61601

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