Acorn Scholarship

Our scholarships are designed to provide financial support for gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender students, allies, or the children of gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender parents. The 2026 scholarships range from $1,000 to $4,000 with up to $40,000 being disbursed in total.

Eligibilit The applicant must retain permanent residence in the Acorn service area, which includes all Illinois counties except Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will, and attend or plan to attend any accredited post-secondary educational institution.

Scholarships will be awarded in six categories:
1) The Acorn Scholarship is based on academics, volunteerism, and community advocacy.
2) The Central Illinois Friends Scholarship is based on academics and a commitment to public health.
3) The Korty & Morton Scholarship is based on volunteerism, community advocacy, and financial need.
4) The Luke Scholarship is based on academics and financial need.
5) The McKeon Scholarship is based on academics, volunteerism, and political advocacy.
6) The Weber-Tucker Scholarship is based on academics and social (or family) hardship.