{"id":39030,"date":"2025-01-07T00:21:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-07T05:21:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-01-17T11:52:13","modified_gmt":"2025-01-17T16:52:13","slug":"iie-emergency-student-fund-micro-grants-big-impact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.iie.org\/blog\/iie-emergency-student-fund-micro-grants-big-impact\/","title":{"rendered":"IIE\u2019s Emergency Student Fund: Micro Grants with a Big Impact"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

IIE Has Awarded 3,000+ Grants Since 2010, Allowing Students to Quickly Meet Their Immediate Educational Expenses<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

above:<\/strong> With an ESF grant, Taseen Iqtider of Bangladesh is able to continue earning a B.S. in Computer Science at Tennessee Tech University: \u201cThis emergency fund came at the perfect time, right when financial issues were starting to impact my studies. It helped ease the burden, allowing me to focus on my academics without the constant stress. I\u2019m truly grateful to IIE for the support.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The ESF award provided me with highly valuable support… It helped to cover essential educational expenses… ensuring I had the resources needed to succeed academically. Additionally, the award helped mitigate financial burdens by assisting with health expenses, transportation costs, clothes, rent, and food, allowing me to focus on my studies with reduced stress and greater peace of mind.<\/em>“<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2023 IIE Emergency Student Fund Grant Recipient from Morocco<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

There are more than 1 million international students earning degrees in the United States, according to the 2024 <\/em>Open Doors Report<\/a>. But before they can become leaders and innovators, they face unique financial burdens when crises such as climate disasters, instability, and war strike in their home countries. With tuition money often redirected for immediate recovery needs at home, many international students \u2013 who\u2019ve worked so hard to gain admission \u2013 quietly face two bleak prospects: either return home or drop out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s where IIE\u2019s Emergency Student Fund (ESF)<\/a> comes in. When international crises emerge, IIE considers several factors when deciding whether to launch an ESF funding opportunity, including the duration, severity and number of crises, the population of international students in the United States from the countries we are considering, and resources available. We then turn to the IIENetwork<\/a>, our global membership association of over 1,500 U.S. colleges and universities. These institutions nominate international students to receive immediate funding. After reviewing nominations and making selections, IIE offers grants that cover critical costs like tuition books, and cost-of-living expenses when there is no other safety net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Khadija Zakki, who is pursuing a master\u2019s degree in geography and planning at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), received the ESF grant after the devastating 2023 earthquake in Morocco. Above, she attends the Women in Mathematics, Science, and Technology summit at IUP.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Fifteen Years of ESF<\/strong> <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Since 2010, IIE has awarded more than 3,100 impactful grants. The importance of this rapid distribution of funds cannot be overstated. Sarah Y. Carrier, Associate Director of Global Learning at Virginia Commonwealth University shares, \u201cIIE’s Emergency Student Fund has helped to alleviate the financial burden of numerous VCU students over the year….This financial assistance has provided our students with the ability to more fully focus on their studies, research, teaching, and other career-building opportunities.\u201d And we\u2019ve received numerous notes of gratitude from the students themselves: <\/p>\n\n\n\n