Attending a flagship WordCamp, be it WordCamp Asia, US, or Europe, can feel like a dream. If you’ve ever experienced even a small or local WordCamp, you know how energizing and enriching these events can be. Multiply that by ten, and you begin to understand what a flagship feels like: overwhelming in the best way.
But for many of us, the path to attending one isn’t easy.
The truth is, flagship WordCamps can be hard to get to—not because of the ticket price (WordCamps are known for being affordable), but because of everything else: travel, accommodation, visas, time away from work or personal responsibilities, and so on. Many attendees are supported by their companies or organizations; some manage to make it on their own. And then, there are scholarships and sponsorships—lifelines that can make the difference between wishing and attending.
This blog post is a small effort to shed light on the many ways the WordPress community helps people show up.
Before I dive into the list, I want to take a moment to thank the individuals, companies, and community efforts that make it possible for folks (including me) to experience such splendid events. WordCamp Asia 2025 was a feeling, something that wouldn’t be possible for me to attend the way I did, without their support, and I’m deeply, wholeheartedly grateful. As someone who’s been supported, it’s part of my responsibility to pass it on, and one of the easiest ways to do that is by sharing a word.
Scholarships, Funds & Fellowships in the WordPress Ecosystem
If you’re an active contributor, prolly a first-timer, from an underrepresented group, speaking at a flagship maybe, or just someone who needs a little support to make attendance, keep reading. This is a list of programs, grants, and fellowships that may be helpful to you, available in the WP opensource space, not exhaustive, but pretty much covering the major ones. Not all will apply to everyone, and not all are available year-round, but the idea is to share what’s out there, so you can keep an eye out wherever relevant.
FLAGSHIP WORDCAMPS
DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP
Diversity Scholarship was initiated by WordPress Foundation to facilitate attendance in WCAsia 2023, and has now opened gates for WCEU & WCUS too. Given annually to one recipient each.
Eligibility:
- Active contributor to the WordPress project
- Have never attended a flagship WordCamp (Asia, US, or Europe)
- Require financial assistance
- Belong to an underrepresented group in open source
Covers: Event ticket, travel costs & accommodation for the event dates. Mostly they’d help you book the same or reimburse in certain cases.
Attending WordCamp Asia as a Diversity Scholarship Recipient
KIM PARSELL SCHOLARSHIP
Beautiful thing about the WP Community is that it remembers its folks and honors them in ways one can’t anticipate. Kim Parsell Scholarship is one such example. Given annually to one recipient each, & funded by the WordPress Foundation, this Scholarship is applicable to all flagship WordCamps namely WCUS, WCEU, & WCAsia. An incredible tribute to a remarkable woman in WordPress, this is aimed at the following:
Eligibility:
- Identify as a woman
- Active contributor to the WordPress project
- Have never attended the respective flagship
- Require financial assistance
Covers: Event ticket, travel costs & accommodation. You can get more information here.
Automattic Open Horizons Scholarship
A new Automattic-funded initiative designed to support WordPress contributors from underrepresented, underserved, and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. This Scholarship supports individuals to attend flagship WordCamps by covering their cost, including travel costs, visa fees, accommodation, accessibility needs, among other things.
Covers: Visa fees, travel costs & accommodation, accessibility needs, etc. Read more & apply here.
SPEAKERS AT CONFERENCE
YOAST DIVERSITY FUND
Yoast is primarily a Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) plugin, but it’s really much more than that. A wonderful yet specific initiative by Yoast on the lines of the ethos of inclusivity.
If you’re speaking at an event happening anywhere on your continent and are part of a typically underrepresented group, apply for the Yoast Diversity Fund. They offer up to €1,500 per event to cover travel and accommodation expenses. Requirements:
- The conference is in the same continent as you reside in
- you’re from an underrepresented group,
- you’re selected to speak at the conference
Know more about it and apply here.
Covers: Travel, accommodation expenses, visa, child care, any unique need, etc.
I’m thankful to the Yoast Diversity Fund for helping me attend WordCamp Pokhara 2025.
GODADDY FELLOWSHIP
If you’re speaking at a regional or flagship WordCamp, GoDaddy offers:
- covers cost up to $1,500 stipend
- Networking with fellows and professionals
- Promotion and visibility for your work
It’s open to contributors from underrepresented backgrounds, including women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, those with disabilities, and individuals from underserved regions.
SiNC (SUPPORT INCLUSION IN TECH) SPEAKER SUPPORT
SiNC champions inclusivity by assisting underrepresented speakers worldwide with travel and hotel accommodations for WordPress programming. Separate from the contributor grant, this one is specific to speakers. If you’ve been selected to speak and need assistance, this can help cover your costs.
Apply here.
ON CONTRIBUTIONS
YOAST CARE FUND
I’ve become a fan of Yoast for their endeavours outside their job. “We just love to give back to the people that gave us so much!”- I concur. Yoast Care Fund allows one individual to nominate another for their contributions on line of the community spirit.
Eligibility:
- Regularly contribute to WordPress, organize events, or lead Meetups (outside of paid work)
- Not received Yoast Care in the past 60 months
- Nominated by someone else (with three references)
Support: A €500 token of appreciation and an interview on Yoast’s blog.
Nominate somebody or get yourself nominated here.
SiNC CONTRIBUTOR GRANT
Offered by SiNC, this grant supports contributors from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas with a small but meaningful stipend of $240 USD.
Perfect if you’re already attending and just need a bit of support to fill the financial gap.
REGION-SPECIFIC SCHOLARSHIPS
UJWAL THAPA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP- WORDCAMP NEPAL
For contributors from rural Nepal, this one’s close to the heart of the community. It aims to bring more voices into the conversation.
PUNEET SAHALOT- WORDCAMP UDAIPUR
This local scholarship supports deserving attendees in memory of a passionate community member. Read about this here.
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If you think these programs aren’t meant for people like you, they are. If you need help, ask. If you get help, pay it forward. And if you have the means, nominate someone, sponsor a ticket, or just share this link forward.
Because this is our community. And we all make it stronger.