Guide
LGBTQ+ Coding Bootcamp Scholarships & Resources in 2023
Written By Jess Feldman
Last updated on June 6, 2023
Written By Jess Feldman
While some tech companies like Slack and Apple have shared that ~7-8% of their US workforces identify as LGBTQ, visibility for LGBTQ+ folks in the tech industry remains a struggle. Diversity in entrepreneurship and in the workplace is essential – it ensures different perspectives and experiences are represented within a team and encourages new ideas and better problem-solving. With 700,000 tech jobs open in the U.S. today and 87% of IT executives admitting that it has been challenging to fill those vacancies, coding bootcamps are uniquely designed to prepare a new, diverse generation for the tech workforce.
From LGBTQ+ scholarships to affinity groups to meetups, we’re rounding up resources for LGBTQ+ folks researching coding bootcamps or for bootcamp graduates who now want to contribute to the LGBTQ+ tech community.
The Scholarship: Full tuition ($15,500)
The Application Process: This full-tuition scholarship is awarded to one transgender veteran per cohort. Candidates should apply online.
The Scholarship: Tuition discount
The Application Process: When completing the bootcamp application, applicants should notifiy Codesmith of their interest in this scholarship.
The Scholarship: Scholarship worth 50% of Designlab's UX Academy tuition or $1,000 tuition scholarship
The Application Process: Applicants must either have previous design experience with an application to Designlab's UX Academy submitted, have completed the prerequisite with Designlab, or be actively enrolled in Designlab's UXA Foundations and working towards finishing the course.
The Scholarship: 50% off tuition
The Application Process: Scholarship to be used for the Salt Lake City Full-Time ProEd Web Development and Salt Lake City Part-Time Web Development courses. Previous coding experience is not required to apply. Candidates must complete an online application and answer essay questions explaining why you are the best candidate.
The Scholarship: Partial scholarship up to $2,000
The Application Process: The Access Scholarship is for those underrepresented in tech, including LGBTQ+ folks. Candidates should submit an online application and then will undergo an interview process with the Admissions team.
The Scholarship: $1,500 tuition discount towards Immersive bootcamps (Software Engineering, Data Science, Data Analytics, or UX Design)
The Application Process: General Assembly's Diversity Tuition Discount is aimed at students who self-identify as a woman, transgender person, genderqueer, gender non-conforming, or nonbinary person. Apply for the Diversity Tuition Discount here!
The Scholarship: $2,500 tuition scholarship for LGBTQ+ students
The Application Process: Apply for the bootcamp and then speak with the admissions team about this scholarship.
The Scholarship: Up to half of coding bootcamp tuition scholarship
The Application Process: The Edie Windsor Coding Scholarship can be used at one of Lesbians Who Tech’s 18 partner bootcamps, such as Codesmith, Springboard, CareerFoundry, and Fullstack Academy. The scholarship also gives recipients mentorship and networking opportunities through Lesbians Who Tech.
The Scholarship: $13,175 scholarship towards tuition
The Application Process: Enroll in the bootcamp and then complete the online scholarship application form. Applications must be received 7 weeks prior to your cohort start date.
The Scholarship: $10,000 scholarship
The Application Process: Applicants must be accepted & enrolled full-time in the Front End, Back End, or Launch program at Turing School. Applicants should first complete the scholarship application form, and then submit a portfolio, and upload a 10-15 minute video submission about how they want to impact the tech industry. Applicants will also need to submit 3 letters of recommendation.
The Scholarship: Full tuition scholarship
The Application Process: Interested candidates should apply online.
“I’ve had great opportunities by just volunteering my time and connecting with people through organizations like Out in Tech and Lesbians Who Tech.” Alex, Flatiron School
“I spoke at the Lesbians Who Tech conference about the machine learning project we have been working on with our data science team. It’s a triaging algorithm to figure out how severe each texter’s crisis is when they texi into the Crisis Text Line. The other event was an Out in Tech event, which was an LGBTQ+ event focused on health tech, so Crisis Text Line was invited. I spoke about how 46% of our texters identify as LGBTQ+, even though we have never marketed ourselves as service specifically for that community.” Mariya, Grace Hopper Program
Lesbians Who Tech & Allies is a community of LGBTQ women, non-binary, and trans individuals in around the tech world. Lesbians Who Tech’s mission is to increase visibility of queer, female, trans, GNC, and POC individuals in tech.
The LGBTQ in Technology Slack channel is a safe space for LGBTQ individuals in tech to network and support one another.
Since the 1980s, the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals (NOGLSTP) is well-known in the U.S. for its collaborating with organizations and agencies in promoting LGBTQ+ visibility and equality.
The non-profit Out In Tech unites the LGBTQ+ tech community through networking, events, mentorship, and leveraging tech for social change. Mentor techie, LGBTQ+ youths with Out In Tech U’s Mentorship Program or support LGBTQ+ activists with the Out In Tech Digital Corps.
Headquartered in Montreal, QueerTech is committed to empowering Queer people to claim space within the tech community. QueerTech works to break down barriers in order to create opportunities for Queer people to enter tech, and providing resources such as skill development to allow Queer people already in tech to thrive. QueerTech also provides resources to companies and holds workshops to foster more inclusive workspaces and hiring practices.
TransTech Social Enterprises is an incubator for LTBTQ talent, and offers members workshops, training, events, drop-in days, and amenities at its Chicago and Washington, D.C. offices.
Since 2014, Unicorns in Tech has united an international LGBTQ+ tech community around monthly events and networking opportunities.
QueerTech NYC (NYC)
Queer Tech Club (Chicago)
StartOut Austin (Austin) and many other locations
LGBTQ in Tech (London)
The Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index 2020, rating workplaces on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Equality
We keep this list updated as new scholarships are announced; notice a new scholarship is missing? Mention it in the comments!
Jess Feldman is an accomplished writer and the Content Manager at Course Report, the leading platform for career changers who are exploring coding bootcamps.
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