Hey future innovators! Are you passionate about STEM and want to see more girls, women, and gender-diverse individuals making waves in science, technology, engineering, and maths? While the FREE STEM Fund Bursary 2025 isn’t a direct bursary for individual students, it’s a game-changer for organisations and initiatives that empower them!
If your non-profit, educational institution, or community group is actively working to bridge the gender gap in STEM, this could be the funding opportunity you’ve been waiting for. This pioneering global initiative, with foundational support from the Optiver Foundation, aims to ensure that gender-diverse individuals are not just represented but also empowered to thrive, lead, and innovate in STEM. Let’s dive into how this incredible bursary can fuel your mission to create inclusive STEM pathways!
Who Can Apply?
The FREE STEM Fund Bursary is specifically for organizations and initiatives dedicated to advancing gender equity in STEM. This means if you are:
- An organization empowering girls, women, transgender, and non-binary individuals in STEM.
- Based in or serving communities with limited access to STEM education or career opportunities.
- Using intersectional, inclusive, and participatory approaches.
- Committed to building long-term, systemic change in the STEM ecosystem.
- Led by or actively engaging underrepresented groups in STEM.
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, community groups, and grassroots initiatives with proven experience or innovative ideas to advance inclusion in STEM. Remember, this bursary supports organizations, which in turn benefit many students and individuals!
What Does It Cover?
The FREE STEM Fund Bursary invests in projects that:
- Promote access to quality STEM education and training for underrepresented groups.
- Create pathways for women, transgender, and non-binary individuals to enter, remain, and excel in STEM careers.
- Support mentorship, leadership, and visibility of gender-diverse STEM role models.
- Engage communities and institutions to challenge stereotypes and structural barriers.
- Foster innovation, research, and collaboration within inclusive STEM networks.
The Fund recognizes that true equity requires addressing not only educational access but also the social, economic, and cultural environments that shape participation in STEM fields. By supporting a holistic approach, this bursary helps create supportive environments, increases representation, and builds equitable systems.
How to Apply?
Ready to apply for the FREE STEM Fund Bursary 2025? Organizations should prepare a clear proposal outlining:
- Your project goals and target beneficiaries (e.g., the students and individuals you aim to help).
- The strategies and methods you will use to promote gender inclusion in STEM.
- The expected outcomes and long-term impact of your initiative.
- Your organizational structure and leadership composition, highlighting inclusion practices.
Applications must be submitted by 1 December 2025 through the official FREE STEM Fund application platform. Make sure your proposal is compelling and clearly demonstrates your commitment to empowering gender-diverse individuals in STEM.
[Please Note: The original content did not provide a direct link to the application platform. Applicants should search for the ‘FREE STEM Fund application platform’ online or visit the official Optiver Foundation website for the exact application portal.]
If your organization is dedicated to empowering gender-diverse individuals in STEM and meets the criteria, don’t miss this incredible opportunity! The FREE STEM Fund Bursary 2025 can help scale your impact and create a truly inclusive future for STEM. Apply now through the official platform! And for our amazing students, remember to keep checking Bursaries Room for direct bursary opportunities that these kinds of foundational funds help bring to life!