Assist international students in times of crisis

Make a gift to IIE's Emergency Student Fund

The Challenge

COVID-19. An earthquake in Haiti. Ongoing conflict in Ethiopia, Lebanon, Yemen, and Afghanistan. When emergencies hit, people feel it in all parts of their lives, including education. Yet during a crisis, very few organizations offer support to students whose education is suddenly thrown into jeopardy.

Our Approach

IIE’s Emergency Student Fund (ESF) provides grants to international college students in the U.S. when natural disasters, war, or other crises threaten their education. Many face financial pressure to return home or drop out because their family circumstances have changed dramatically. IIE helps these students cover essential needs, including basic living expenses.

In August of 2021, ESF issued a call for nominations to support international students threatened by the security emergency in Afghanistan and the earthquake in Haiti. Most recently, in November 2021, in response to the disastrous conflict and ethnic violence in Ethiopia and the financial collapse of basic services in Lebanon, we broadened the call to provide critical resources to imperiled students from these regions.

We are a critical resource for students in crisis when they have no other safety net. From 2010 through 2020, IIE awarded 1,800 ESF grants, providing over $5 million in critical financial support to students from around the world. In 2021, IIE has so far awarded 202 ESF grants to international students impacted by the global pandemic, 130 grants to Afghan and Haitian students, and now plans to award additional grants to Ethiopian and Lebanese students in crisis.

What You Can Do

IIE-ESF depends on the generosity of those who share our commitment to supporting students when disaster strikes.

Please make a gift to help IIE prepare for the next crisis, so we can aid more students when they need us most. All gifts, of any amount, are welcome.