Scholarship and Grant Programs

Out To Protect offers four scholarship and grant programs that are all funded by generous gifts from our donors.  We accept applications for all four programs on a continuous basis and typically make awards in June and December.

To apply for a scholarship or grant, click the program title below that best fits your need.  You can learn more detail about the program criteria and access the online application on the same page.

John Reinert Student Scholarship
Kevin Burke LGBT Community Liaison Development Grant
LGBT Awareness Training Grant
Library Grant


About Chief Kevin Burke

Chief Kevin Burke began his career in Southern California as a prosecutor and then as a Los Angeles Police Officer.  He was promoted to sergeant before returning to Northern California in 2006 to serve as Chief of Police in Lakeport, California.  In 2011, Kevin was appointed chief of police in Healdsburg, California and served there for 10 years before retiring at the age of 55.  Kevin Burke passed away in March of 2022.  He was best known for his commitment to community policing and building trust between law enforcement and the people it serves.  Chief Burke was an “out” gay man who gave his personal time to a wide variety of community organizations including working as an HIV test counselor at Strut in San Francisco.  He also shared his personal story with new law enforcement recruits on the LGBT law enforcement training panel provided by Out to Protect.  Chief Burke exemplified and modeled what LGBT Community Liaisons are all about.  We hope his example will serve others and that his legacy will be expanded through the grant program in his name.

About Officer John Reinert

Officer John Reinert started his law enforcement career in 1996 with the San Jose Police Department.  It was a time when being “out” as a gay man in law enforcement was difficult.  John loved law enforcement and sacrificed happiness in his personal life for the job.  He worked in the department’s video unit and loved creating media for the department and profession he loved.  In 2012, Officer Reinert came out as one of the first openly gay officers on the department  He made it his personal mission to be a role model and to help others by sharing his story and lending his support.  Officer Reinert participated multiple times on our LGBT law enforcement training panel sharing his personal story with future law enforcement officers.  He demonstrated being the kind of role model our scholarship program rewards.  Our hope is that young and aspiring LGBTQ+ law enforcement recruits will share their own stories becoming role models and leaders in their agencies. Officer Reinert’s legacy will continue with this scholarship program in his name.