Skip to content

Grant Sources for Student Hackathons

These programs specifically fund student-run hackathons or tech events. Listed in order of ease of access.

Last verified: 2026-03-30. Grant programs change terms, amounts, and deadlines. Verify all details directly with the program before applying.

Tier 1: Apply immediately (low barrier, fast turnaround)

HackClub Bank

  • Amount: Up to $500 (event grants) + fiscal sponsorship for larger funds
  • Who qualifies: Student-run events, any school level
  • What you get: Cash grant + nonprofit fiscal sponsorship (lets sponsors donate tax-deductibly to your event)
  • Apply: See hackclub-bank.md
  • Turnaround: 1–2 weeks

MLH Member Event Grants

  • Amount: Varies (typically covers some venue/food costs)
  • Who qualifies: Events that apply for MLH membership
  • What you get: Financial support + official MLH branding + hackathon support
  • Apply: mlh.io/event-membership
  • Note: Requires committing to MLH's code of conduct and guidelines; worth it for the support network

GitHub Education Grants

  • Amount: GitHub credits + swag + sometimes direct funding
  • Who qualifies: Student-organized events at accredited educational institutions
  • Apply: education.github.com/events
  • Turnaround: 2–4 weeks

Tier 2: Apply 6–8 weeks out

Google Developer Student Clubs (GDSC)

  • Amount: $500–$2,000 in Google Cloud credits + event support
  • Who qualifies: Schools with an active GDSC chapter; if you don't have one, starting one unlocks this
  • Apply: developers.google.com/community/gdsc

AWS Educate / AWS Community Events

  • Amount: AWS credits + sometimes direct event support
  • Apply: aws.amazon.com/education
  • Note: Easier to get credits than cash; use them as prizes

Microsoft TEALS / Student Developer Events

Tier 3: Local and regional sources (require research)

Local Community Foundations

Most cities and counties have a community foundation that funds youth STEM programming. Search: "[your city] community foundation" STEM grant. Applications are typically 1–3 pages and fund $500–$5,000.

State CS/STEM Education Grants

Many state education departments have competitive grants for CS enrichment. Search: "[your state] department of education" computer science grant. Turnaround is slow (1–3 months) but amounts are larger ($1,000–$10,000).

Local Tech Companies

Not a grant program, but local tech companies — especially those without a big HR department — often say yes to $200–$500 sponsorships. They're not on any list. You have to ask them directly. See cold-start sponsor outreach.

What to say in a grant application

Most small grants ask the same questions:

What is your event?

A one-day student hackathon at [SCHOOL NAME] on [DATE]. [NUMBER] students will form teams and build technology projects in [NUMBER] hours. Projects will be judged on technical achievement, creativity, and real-world impact.

Who benefits?

Students at [SCHOOL NAME], [brief description — e.g., "a Title I high school in [city] with limited access to CS programming"]. [X]% of our students are [first-generation college students / from underrepresented groups in tech / from low-income households] — use whatever is accurate.

How will you use the funds?

Food and beverages for participants ($[amount]), prizes for winning teams ($[amount]), printed materials ($[amount]).

What's your organizational structure?

We are a student organization supervised by [FACULTY ADVISOR NAME AND TITLE] at [SCHOOL NAME]. [If using HackClub Bank: "We use HackClub Bank for fiscal sponsorship, which allows us to receive tax-deductible donations."]

Part of the Zero-Budget Guide.