PFUND Foundation Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by PFUND Foundation
Overview
PFund’s scholarship program awards financial support to LGBTQ+ students from the Upper Midwest at any stage of their education.
Program timeline
The 2025 application cycle is closed. Applications will reopen in January 2026. PFund accepts scholarship applications once per year.
Who can apply
To be eligible for a PFund scholarship, applicants must:
- Self-identify as LGBTQ+.
- Be at least 17 years old on or before June 1, 2026.
- Live in or attend school in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, or the Native Nations within those states.
- Be enrolled in or admitted to a GED program, community college, four-year college or university, graduate program, trade school, professional certificate program, or apprenticeship for the 2025–2026 academic year.
Important tax note: Any scholarship funds sent directly to a student require submission of IRS Form W-9, which requests a Social Security number or other taxpayer identification number.
Application period
There is a single application window each year, typically opening in mid-January and closing in mid-March. The next application round opens in January 2026. Follow PFund on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn for the latest announcements about scholarships and other funding opportunities.
How to apply
PFund manages scholarship submissions through Submittable. You will need to create a Submittable account to begin, save, and edit your application. That account also lets you check award status and contact PFund staff with questions. Visit PFund’s Submittable page to confirm whether the current application window is open and to view full application instructions.
Selection and award details
A volunteer review committee made up of LGBTQ+ people and allies carries out a community-driven review of applications. Volunteers score submissions, choose finalists, and make funding recommendations to PFund’s board of directors. After board approval, all applicants are notified by email and mail. Individual awards vary each year; past scholarships have ranged from $1,000 to $12,000.
Resources
- PFund provides a short online course to help applicants craft their scholarship essays and to explain how applications are scored.
- The application evaluation rubric is available to prospective applicants and reviewers; it can be accessed from the Submittable page or via the link/button provided there.
Funding
PFund scholarships are made possible by donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations.