Important note: Programs like Open Horizons are made possible by the WordPress Foundation. Ongoing legal action by WP Engine threatens the Foundation’s ability to continue supporting scholarships, education programs, and community initiatives like this one.
The Open Horizons Scholarship aims to increase equitable access to flagship WordPress events (WordCamp Asia, Europe, US, and India) by providing financial support to active contributors from underrepresented, underserved, or economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
The scholarship program launched in May of 2025 thanks to an $18,000 founding gift from Automattic and an additional $28,000 from several of the company’s employee resource groups: Cocoamattic, Neurodiverseomattic, PDARG, and Queeromattic.
As of April 2026, 15 contributors from 8 countries have received Open Horizons funds, and they’ve kept showing up for the WordPress community ever since.
What the scholarship covers
Each scholarship covers up to $3,000 USD and is meant to make the trip work end-to-end:
- ✈️ Travel (flights, trains, and buses)
- 🏨 Lodging
- 🎟️ Event registration
- 🛂 Visa application fees
- 🍽️ A $60/day stipend for meals and local transport (included in the $3,000 limit)
- 👶 Childcare related to attending
- ♿ Accessibility needs (mobility support, interpreters, and similar)
Funds cover the period from one day before the event to one day after.
Who should apply
You’re a great fit if you:
- Are an active contributor to the WordPress open source project, with activity within the last 12 months
- Have a track record of impact or leadership in the WordPress community
- Have a clear plan for how you’ll continue contributing
- Have a confirmed role at a flagship WordCamp as an organizer or speaker (Volunteers are welcome to apply, but will be selected only if budget remains after organizers and speakers)
We give preference to contributors from underrepresented or underserved groups and regions, including people from areas with limited access to global tech opportunities, LGBTIQ+ communities, neurodivergent contributors, and people with disabilities.
What we’re looking for: ongoing contributions, demonstrated impact, alignment with the program’s mission, and a mix of geographies and backgrounds across each cohort.
When to apply
Application windows open 4 months before each event and close 2 months before the event starts. This leaves time for review and for recipients to apply for a travel visa if they need one.
| Window | Timing |
|---|---|
| Applications open | 4 months before the event |
| Applications close | 2 months before the event |
| You’ll hear back | Within 2–3 weeks of the close date |
How to apply
Confirm your role with the WordCamp organizing team. We can’t review applications without a confirmed role, so apply once it’s official.
- Fill out the application form
- Submit the application before the close date, which is at least 2 months before the event.
- Wait for a decision. We review everything together after the window closes, so applying earlier doesn’t give you priority, but it will give you more time to apply for a visa.
- Hear back within 2–3 weeks after the close date. If selected, someone from the WordPress Community Team will contact you with funding instructions and a small request: tell the community about your experience after the event.
If you’re picked
Recipients agree to:
- Fulfill your role as the organizer, speaker, or volunteer you signed up to be
- Attend the event in full
- Represent WordPress with respect and follow the WordPress Community Code of Conduct
- Tell your story in a short post-event blog post that mentions the scholarship
- Check back in a few months after the event with notes about how you’ve been contributing since
We love sharing what recipients do next, both because it’s genuinely cool and because it shows the program is doing what it’s supposed to do.
Common questions
Do I need my role confirmed before I apply? Yes. We can only review applications with a confirmed role from the organizing team. If you apply early without it, we’ll ask you to come back once it’s confirmed.
Can I apply for an event outside my region? Yes. There are no regional restrictions.
What if I need a visa? Apply as early as you can in the open window. The 4-month timing is meant to leave room for visa processing, but we can’t promise visa outcomes. If you receive a scholarship, we can provide a support letter for your application.
Can I apply again if I’ve already received a scholarship? You can, but new applicants and people who haven’t won within the past year get first priority.
How does the review process work? Several independent reviewers read every application and recommend, approve, or reject. Applications with three recommendations go to a final decision-maker. Reviewers consider impact, ongoing contribution, alignment with the program’s goals, and the overall cohort’s geographic and demographic mix.
What if I’m not picked? The two most common reasons we say no: under 12 months of documented contribution history, or no confirmed event role. Both are fixable, so please apply again next round.
Want to support the next cohort? If your company believes in a more diverse, open, and accessible web, we’d love to talk. Support a scholarship, sponsor a contributor, or help us grow the program. Email us at
✉️ scholarships@wordpressfoundation.org.