History: In the early 2000s, DGALA created the Bourne Fund, a fund established with the help of DGALA donors, to assist Dartmouth LGBTQIA+ students facing a sudden hardship caused by being financially disowned as result of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The Fund was named (with their consent) for the first student aided by the Fund. From time to time in subsequent years, DGALA has raised money for the Fund and made grants to students in need. In so doing, DGALA has coordinated with appropriate College administrators, looking in the first instance to what support the College may provide, while in DGALA’s case potentially helping to fill in gaps in otherwise available support.
The Bourne Fund Today: In recent years, LGBTQIA+ students have faced increasing stressors in many respects, and DGALA leadership has recognized that there may be increased need for Bourne Fund support during these times. Today, the Fund’s historical threshold of complete parental financial disownment may be unduly inflexible, for example, if parents were to continue to support tuition and general living expenses but not gender-affirming care. In such a case, while the Fund is not intended to address medical expenses, support might be available for ancillary expenses for which other funding were not available. DGALA seeks to be flexible in assessing students’ individual circumstances.
Procedures and Limitations: DGALA intends to consult with appropriate College officials as we collectively evolve procedures for students to request and to potentially receive funds from the Bourne Fund. DGALA envisions reasonable limitations to funding, such as a $500 cap per student per school year and total expenditures being limited to amounts in the Fund.
Application Form: Students seeking a grant from the Fund are requested to complete the application form below and email it to DartGALA@gmail.com, with a copy to LGBTQIAplus.Student.Advising@Dartmouth.edu.
● Grants typically are capped at $500 annually and are subject to funds being available in the DGALA Bourne Fund
● The Fund does not cover medical care
● Students are expected to seek funds from other potentially available resources before requesting support from the Fund. For various expenses: The 4E Fund, and for gender-affirming care: Health Service and/or Affirm.
● All applications will be treated with discretion.
