eQuality Scholarship Collaborative

How to Apply

1. Check Eligibility

Applicants for all scholarships must have demonstrated service to the LGBT+ community. Applicants of all sexual orientations and gender identities are eligible.

For 2025, we are offering scholarships for three types of students. The eligibility requirements are somewhat different for each type. If you have questions, please email us before spending time on the application or deciding not to apply because you're unsure whether you're eligible.

Scholarships for Graduating High School Seniors and Recent High School Graduates

Applicant must:

  • be a resident of or attend a high school in northern or central California (see map of specific counties);
  • have completed or expect to complete high school (or equivalent) between 1 Jul 2020 and 30 Jun 2025; and
  • plan to attend or began attending a U.S. accredited post-secondary institution (college, university, or vocational/trade school) for the first time in 2025.

In 2025, we expect to award about 10 scholarships to assist with post-secondary educational expenses. In 2024, we received about 90 applications for these scholarships.

Scholarships for Community College Transfer Students

Applicant must:

  • be a resident of or attend a community college in northern or central California but may study elsewhere (see map for specific counties);
  • have graduated or expect to graduate from community college between 1 Jul 2020 and 30 Jun 2025; and
  • plan to attend or began attending a U.S. accredited 4-year college or university for the first time in 2025.

In 2025, we expect to award one or more of these scholarships. In 2024, we received 10 applications for these scholarships.

Scholarships for Medical Students

Applicant must be:

  • enrolled or accepted by the interview date in an accredited medical/graduate school in northern or central California;
  • pursuing a MD, DO (osteopathic), DNP (nursing practice), or MPA (physician assistant) degree;
  • in good academic standing;
  • not be completing your degree in Spring 2025; and
  • not have received an eQuality graduate student scholarship before.

In 2025, we expect to award one or more scholarships to assist with medical/graduate school expenses. In 2024, we received 10 applications for these scholarships when they were open to students throughout California.

We may ask you to establish your residency by providing a copy of:

  • a utility, phone, or cable bill with your name (or parent/guardian's name) and address
  • your California driver's license or ID

2. Apply

Apply online by clicking on the button above. You will need to create an account at GrantInterface.com; please use your preferred name for your account - we will ask for both your legal and preferred names on the application itself.

Note that we plan to use an AI-detection service to check parts of submitted applications.

Deadline
The application deadline is January 31, 2025.

3. Wait

Volunteers will review each application and score them based on the selection criteria (see below). Each application is typically reviewed by at least 10 volunteers.
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All applicants will be notified whether or not they have been selected as a finalist to be interviewed by the end of February.

4. Interview

Finalists will be interviewed by Zoom videoconference or phone. Interviews are expected to be held on Sunday, 16 March 2025, and Saturday, 22 March 2025.

All finalists will be notified whether or not they have been selected as an eQuality Scholar by the end of April.

Selection Criteria

The criteria on which scholarship recipients will be selected include:

  • Service to the LGBT+ community
  • Leadership
  • Hardship or special circumstances
  • Academic achievement

Frequently Asked Questions

Students of all sexual orientations and gender identities are eligible.

​It depends on which scholarship you are interested in applying for:

  • Scholarships for high school graduates - you are not eligible. If you only took college classes before graduating from high school, you are eligible.
  • Scholarships for community college transfer students -  if you transferred from a community college to a four-year college/university and started in the fall, you are not eligible. If you only took classes at a four-year school before transferring, you are eligible.
  • Medical student scholarships - you are eligible as long as you will continue beyond Spring 2025.

We do not ask for Social Security numbers nor citizenship/residency status. If you meet the residency or school requirements above and are accepted to and attend an accredited post-secondary school, you may apply.

No, eQuality Scholarships may only be used at accredited post-secondary educational institutions in the U.S. The medical student scholarships may only be used at accredited medical schools in northern or central California.

No, scholarship checks will be made payable to your school and credited to your student account.

eQuality Scholarships may be used for any education-related expenses that can be charged to your student account. Note that if you use scholarship funds for expenses other than tuition, fees, books, and required supplies, they may be considered taxable income. You should consult with your tax advisor or your school's financial aid office.

Yes, students at any accredited medical school in northern or central California, regardless of accreditation status, are eligible to apply. The U.S. Department of Education maintains a list of accredited schools at www.ed.gov/accreditation.

The medical student scholarships are only available to students pursuing MD, DO, DNP, and MPA degrees at accredited medical/graduate schools in northern and central California. In past years, eQuality awarded scholarships to graduate students in some other health-related fields and students at schools in southern California, but we are no longer doing so.