OUT Maine Scholarship Fund
Questions? Email scholarship@outmaine.org.
Application Period 2025
- Application (including essay) due April 1st, 2025.
- Student Aid Report and Financial Aid Award Letter copies due May 1st, 2025 (or as soon as available, whichever is sooner).
FAME Assistance for FAFSA
Go to https://www.famemaine.com/events/categories/education/fafsa/ for help with submitting your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at no cost to you!
Purpose of the Scholarship Fund
The OUT Maine Scholarship Fund provides renewable support for Maine LGBTQ+ youth pursuing post-secondary education at an accredited, not-for-profit, non-sectarian college, university, or technical/vocational college in the United States. Applicants must demonstrate a financial need.
Scholarships are varied in size from $1,000 to $25,000 annually, depending on a student’s financial need and application. The applicant may be asked to meet with a representative of OUT Maine to discuss the application.
Eligibility
Applicants for the OUT Maine Scholarship Fund must be an LGBTQ+ Maine resident between ages 17 and 22 planning to attend or currently attending an accredited post-secondary institution or technical vocational/trade school who has a demonstrated financial need. The preferred applicant’s cumulative GPA would be at least 2.8 (on a 4.00 scale). However, we encourage any LGBTQ+ young person to apply regardless of GPA. Applicants in underserved Maine communities and first-generation college students will receive preferential consideration.
OUT Maine wants to foster an ongoing supportive relationship with the recipient as a helpful tool for post-secondary success. If awarded, the applicant must engage in an OUT Maine youth group or check in with an assigned staff person monthly during the term of the scholarship agreement. Current involvement in OUT Maine youth groups is not required for application.
Through its scholarship, OUT Maine supports all students regardless of their race, age, ancestry or national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, or geographical region within the state of Maine.
Application Requirements
- Resident of Maine at time of application. A copy of the applicant’s current state driver’s license or state ID must be submitted with a scholarship application.
- Completed application (linked below).
- Essay. See details and prompts below.
- Two letters of recommendation (teacher, peer or trusted adult that is over the age of 18).
- Unofficial High School transcript or college transcript.
- Student Aid Report from the FAFSA*
- A copy of your financial aid award letter from your chosen college or university.
*We will waive the FAFSA requirement for those students unable to submit a FAFSA because of visa or immigration status.
Preferential Considerations
- Financial need.
- Youth living in underserved regions of Maine.
- First generation college students.
Apply for the Scholarship
Have the following materials ready before you apply:
- A PDF or image file of your current state driver’s license or state ID.
- A PDF or image file of your unofficial High School transcript or college transcript.
- A PDF or image file of your Student Aid Report from the FAFSA*.
- A PDF or image file of your financial aid award letter from the college or university.
- The essay as a PDF or Microsoft Word document (see below for criteria).
- Names and emails of your references. After you fill out the form, you will be sent a link to share with two references.
*We will waive the FAFSA requirement for those students unable to submit a FAFSA because of visa or immigration status.
Essay
This must be a PDF or Microsoft Word format. Do not send as an image file.
Please note that OUT Maine will not accept AI-generated essay submissions, and doing so will automatically disqualify your application. Need help writing your essay? Contact our Communications Coordinator Ellie Roy (ellie@outmaine.org).
Essay questions (500 words or less):
- Please describe your involvement with OUT Maine, a GSTA, another LGBTQ+ organization, or the LGBTQ+ community.
- Tell us about your work, volunteer, and community involvement experiences.
- Why should we pick you? What about this opportunity will change your life to make a difference?
- What drives you? How will you leave your mark on the world?
More Scholarship Opportunities
These scholarships are offered by outside organizations and we cannot answer questions about them.