DENVER, June 2, 2016—The Institute of International Education received the GoAbroad Foundation’s Innovation in Philanthropy award for the IIE Emergency Student Fund and Scholar Rescue Fund during the NAFSA Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado. IIE most recently awarded 91 emergency grants to Syrian and Yemeni students on U.S. college and university campuses facing urgent financial need due to on-going crises in their home countries, and since its inception in 2002, the IIE Scholar Rescue Fund has assisted 643 scholars from 55 countries, placing them at over 350 host partner institutions in 41 countries around the world.
In response to the Syrian Refugee crisis, IIE has lead efforts to provide emergency assistance and educational opportunities to Syrian students and scholars. The IIE Syria Consortium for Higher Education in Crisis is a network of colleges and universities providing scholarships for Syrian students who have had their education disrupted by the conflict. This network has provided support to more than 300 Syrian students. To date IIE has awarded more than 140 emergency grants to Syrian students through the Emergency Student Fund, and the IIE Scholar Rescue Fund has awarded 130 fellowships to Syrian professors and researchers, placing them at nearly 70 safe-haven universities and research centers in 12 countries.
IIE has a long history of providing emergency assistance to students and scholars facing emergencies around the world. In response to specific emergencies, IIE issues calls for nominations to the Emergency Student Fund. Emergency grants are awarded to post-secondary international students matriculated at accredited educational institutions outside their home countries whose sources of support have been impacted by natural disaster or other crises. In June 2015, the Emergency Student Fund also awarded 165 grants to Nepalese students at 122 U.S. college and university campuses who faced urgent financial need due to the devastating earthquake that struck Nepal in April. Through the Scholar Rescue Fund, IIE selects outstanding professors, researchers, and public intellectuals for fellowship support and arranges visiting academic positions with partnering institutions of higher learning and research, enabling scholars to pursue their academic work in safety and to continue to share their knowledge.
Both funds are made possible in part by the generosity of donors. IIE is recognized regularly by charity rating agencies and publications, including GuideStar, Crain’s New York Business and the NonProfit Times for its growth, efficiency and dedication to mission. For the eighth year in a row, Charity Navigator awarded IIE four out of a possible four stars for excellence in non-profit management. Only 2% of charities have received at least eight consecutive 4-star rating, indicating that IIE outperforms most other charities in America. To make a donation to IIE, please visit the Give to IIE section our website.
Each year, GoAbroad hosts the prestigious Innovation Awards during the Annual NAFSA Conference to recognize innovative organizations, individuals, and projects in the field of international education. In 2015, the Innovation in Philanthropy category was added, sponsored by the GoAbroad Foundation, in order to highlight many of the great philanthropic efforts in international education.
This award recognizes philanthropic efforts that have impacted an individual or group, the global community, or a local community and seeks to honor organizations that demonstrate innovative corporate responsibility and philanthropy. GoAbroad encourages submissions that profile significant charitable donations, corporate volunteer programs, unique philanthropic campaigns, or any event or program that demonstrates an organization’s philanthropic commitment(s). Nominations are evaluated based on originality and the estimated impact on an individual or group, the global community, or a local community.
About the Institute of International Education
The Institute of International Education is a world leader in the international exchange of people and ideas. IIE designs and implements programs of study and training for students, educators, young professionals and trainees from all sectors with funding from government agencies, foundations, and corporations. An independent, not-for-profit organization founded in 1919, IIE has a network of 19 offices and affiliates worldwide and over 1,400 member institutions.
About the GoAbroad Foundation
The GoAbroad Foundation was developed with the purpose of connecting individuals with good intentions to sustainable development initiatives around the world, in order to facilitate sufficient funding for projects in need. Today, The GoAbroad Foundation is devoted to raising awareness about unique projects around the world while bringing to life the people behind the need. Our mission is focused on storytelling, as a means to educate, inspire, and bring about sustainable change in the world.
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