Guide
LGBTQ+ Coding Bootcamp Scholarships & Resources in 2023
By Jess Feldman
Last updated on October 18, 2022
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: Tuition discount
The Application Process: This scholarship is funded by Burlington Code Academy's Diversity Initiative. Bootcamp applicants interested in receiving this scholarships should contact Burlington Code Academy's Community Coordinator.
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: $1,750 automatic scholarship for LGBTQ+ students and full tuition scholarship in partnership with NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Michigan Digital Skills Pilot Program
The Application Process: LGBTQ+ students automatically receive a $1,750 scholarship at Grand Circus. Michigan LGBTQ+ students can also apply for the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Michigan Digital Skills Pilot Program, which offers a full tuition 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: $3,000
The Application Process: Applicants should submit a scholarship application form upon admittance to Metis. Metis offers 30 scholarships per cohort.
The Scholarship: Up to $5,000
The Application Process: Five applicants will each receive a scholarship of $5,000, and five runners-up will each receive a $3,000 scholarship. Candidates must have a demonstrated interest or declaration of studying computer science or a related field. Candidates must be students who are currently enrolled or accepted into a full-time, onside cohort in one of these coding bootcamp programs.
The Scholarship: Full tuition scholarship + paid internship
The Application Process: This full ride scholarship is to be used in V School’s Web Development course. The paid internship will be through creative design agency Smash Creative. 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 the Content Manager at Course Report. As a lifelong learner, Jess is passionate about education — She loves learning and sharing insights about tech bootcamps and career changes with the Course Report community. Jess received a M.F.A. in Writing from the University of New Hampshire and lives in southern Maine.
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