Mission Statement and Purpose

The IFSA Foundation was founded to assist the continuing advancement of international education through direct and indirect support of study abroad by undergraduate students from U.S. colleges and universities. The Foundation seeks to provide financial assistance to U.S. colleges and universities, and governmental organizations and other not for profit 501 (c) (3) organizations with the goal of furthering the international study abroad of undergraduate students.

The Foundation favors proposals that will provide strengthening of semester and year-long undergraduate study abroad by U.S. institutions: scholarship aid to extend opportunities, particularly to underrepresented groups; start-up support for underdeveloped areas, geographic or disciplinary, of semester and full year study abroad; and support for innovative projects designed to broaden the scope of the undergraduate study abroad experience. The Foundation also encourages proposals from recognized universities abroad for projects that directly benefit U.S. undergraduate study abroad students or programs.

Current Interests

The Directors of the Foundation believe that effective study abroad for U.S. students involves minimally a semester length experience and, wherever possible, close academic integration with recognized universities abroad and, in all cases, the provision by the program sponsors of comprehensive student services to maximize the academic and cultural benefit of the experience and provide for the welfare and security of students. The Directors acknowledge a special interest in the work of the Institute for Study Abroad - Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana .

The Directors of the Foundation also express an interest in the strengthening of standards for the field and the development of effective research tools designed to encourage broader support for the field.

The Directors want the Foundation to have a broad and deep impact on strengthening undergraduate study abroad and encourage proposals from all types of institutions public and private, small and large, denominational or secular, as well as other not for profit organizations with a commitment to the mission of the Foundation.