Global Grant Scholarship application window is now open until March 1, 2026.
What is the Global Grant Scholarship?
Rotary District 5100 participates in the Global Grant Scholarship program through The Rotary Foundation (TRF).
The Global Grant Scholarship program supports professionals with immersive international study at the graduate level, which is aligned with one of Rotary’s Areas of Focus. Global Grant Scholarships fund graduate-level coursework or research for one to four academic years. Rotary District 5100 selects one candidate each year to apply to the Global Grant Scholarship program with up to $30,000 annual support for eligible expenses (see below).
What Defines a Global Grant Scholar?
Global grant scholars plan to pursue a career in an Area of Focus, and their graduate-level educational goals should support this career interest. This means the scholar has a long-term commitment to measurable, sustainable change.
To be eligible, a candidate must:
- Demonstrate that previous work or volunteer experience, academic program, and career plans are strongly aligned with one of the Areas of Focus.
- Have a letter of admission to a foreign academic institution to begin studies in August/September/October.
- Speak the language in which coursework at the institution is taught to fully immerse in the educational opportunity.
- Be involved in coursework at the graduate level (Master’s, PhD, Certificate Program, or Research) with an emphasis in one of the following Areas of Focus
- Peacebuilding and conflict prevention
- Disease prevention and treatment
- Water, sanitation, and hygiene
- Maternal and child health
- Basic education and literacy
- Community economic development
- Environment
- Have a post-education career plan including a long-term commitment to measurable, sustainable change.
In addition, preferred candidates demonstrate:
- Excellent leadership skills and potential
- A proven record of success in their academic field or vocation
- A commitment to community service
- Well-defined and realistic goals
- Concrete ideas for advancing within their chosen field
- Sincerity about maintaining a lifelong relationship with Rotary after the scholarship period
Global Grant Scholarships are NOT short-term exchange programs.
They are for serious, high-level academic study in a long-term program. Successful candidates plan to immerse themselves in their local cultures, including proficiency in the local language, while attending their course of studies.
Who is NOT eligible
- Candidates may NOT be (1) a Rotarian; (2) an employee of a club, district, or any other Rotary entity, or of Rotary International; (3) the spouse, a lineal descendant (child or grandchild by blood or stepchild, legally adopted or not), the spouse of a lineal descendent, or an ancestor (parent or grandparent by blood) of a Rotarian or employee of Rotary. However, the candidate MAY BE a member of a Rotaract Club.
How it works
The final candidate will be linked with a Host Sponsor, a Rotary Club in the district where they will study. District 5100 will assign a local club in Oregon/SW Washington as the candidate’s International Sponsor. Together, the team will assist the candidate in completing the Global Grant Scholarship application through The Rotary Foundation, which is the final approval process.
A scholarship is good for one year at a time. District 5100 reopens the competitive application process each year, and a candidate must reapply for up to four concurrent years.
This grant model builds on the very best of the historical Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, a previous version of this program. Global Grant Scholars are expected to be actively involved with their Host Sponsor Rotary Club during their course of study, and to share their experience with their International Sponsors when they return home.
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED UNTIL MARCH 1, 2026
*Your documentation will be reviewed for eligibility, and a committee member will reply to your email if you are selected for an interview. Please be sure to review all information on this webpage to confirm you are eligible to apply. Thank you and good luck!.
Interested in learning more now?
Contact Tammy Kaufman at [email protected]