For the past 8 years, MLH has had one mission: empowering hackers. The team at MLH is excited to share that as part of that goal, our friends at GitHub Education are partnering with us to support a diverse community of hackers by providing up to $1000 USD in grants to official MLH Member Event Hackathons. With these funds, hackathon organizers can be empowered to bring much needed resources and education to underrepresented groups and regions. In partnership with GitHub Global Campus, we will be awarding these grants to hackathons throughout the remainder of 2022.
As we grow, we continue to find new and innovative ways to empower our community at MLH Member Events and beyond. In order to do this, we create relationships with companies with similar goals and develop partnerships to provide the resources and tools for them to be successful. GitHub’s partnership with MLH has been monumental in bringing these resources to hackers worldwide.
This is very exciting news because we know exactly what it takes to put on a quality hackathon! Fundraising is a critical component of planning a hackathon and ensuring that the needs of hackers are met during the event. Hackathons have historically been an incredible tool to pave the way for hackers from different backgrounds to learn and grow their skills.
If you are a hackathon organizer, you’ll need to submit an application. Keep reading for additional details.
How do I apply?
In order to qualify, your hackathon must be an MLH Member Event. Not sure how to do that? Check out our Member Event page and submit an application:
To start the GitHub Education Grant process, you’ll need to fill out a separate application within your MLH Member Event application. You will not be able to view the GitHub Education Grant application until we have reviewed and selected your MLH Member Event application (and you have completed all required steps) to move forward for this season’s membership. Our team will review your GitHub Education Grant application and let you know if your event has been chosen or not. Please fill out the application in its entirety. The more information we have, the better!
- What is an MLH Member Event? Why do I need to be one to qualify for a GitHub Education Grant
- An MLH Member Event is a hackathon that Major League Hacking has verified as a high quality event by evaluating the event’s progress in key areas such as sponsorship, marketing, logistics, and more.
- The GitHub Education Grants program is a partnership between GitHub Education and Major League Hacking. MLH verifies the applications and distributes the funds as part of our partnership with GitHub Education.
- What if my MLH Member Event application was rejected? Can I still apply for the GitHub Education Grant?
- The GitHub Education Grant is tied to your membership as an MLH event. If your application was rejected, you will not be able to apply for the GitHub Education Grant.
How long will it take to process my GitHub Education Grant application?
Applications for the GitHub Education Grant will be reviewed a couple of times per week. You should hear back about the status of your application within 3-5 business days. If you don’t hear from us within a week of your application submission date, please contact us at league@mlh.io.
How is MLH evaluating applications?
We are specifically looking to award these funds to events that are focused on bringing in new hackers from underrepresented background like women and non-binary hackers, LGBTQ hackers, historically black universities, and events that focus on reducing the gender parity in tech. We are also looking to empower hackathons in regions where tech resources are limited so your event may not be focused on a specific group but your region may be lacking in technological resources. This funding is there for you as well.
How much funding will my event receive?
We award funding on an as-needed basis up to $1000 USD. The amount your hackathon receives will depend on your budget, how you’ll spend the money, etc. Additionally, we’ll adjust grant values based on the purchasing power in your country.
Can I apply more than once and receive additional funds?
No. Each MLH Member hackathon is allowed to submit one application for the GitHub Education Grant for this season to receive up to $1000 USD of funding. Additional applications will not be reviewed.
How do I receive funding?
If your hackathon is selected, you will receive an email with details and next steps. After you’ve been approved for a grant, we will generate an invoice and form for you to fill out. Funds are disbursed however your organization prefers them as indicated in the form. This could be by check, wire transfer, or credit card. If your organization prefers a check, please keep in mind that the time it takes to mail and process could be several weeks.
Your hackathon will receive 75% of the funds upfront, prior to your event. To help your hackathon kick off the next event, 25% balance will be disbursed after your post-event data and summary post are submitted back to MLH. We will send out an email with the instructions the week before your event so keep an eye out for that!
Applications are now open! If you have any questions, please contact us at league@mlh.io.