Your gift of any amount will help remove barriers to innovation and discovery – in Washington and around the world. Here are two opportunities to make a difference.
Global Opportunities Fund
Support study abroad scholarships
Study abroad is an essential part of the Husky Experience. Through global study, research or internships, students gain self-knowledge, cultural competency and the skills necessary for success in today’s global workplaces. But what’s more, they come home with cultural appreciation and understanding that would not be possible otherwise. You can help us offer this transformative opportunity to all UW students – especially those who dream of going global but are held back by financial limitations.
In the past, study abroad was seen as a “nice-to-have” experience for the few who could afford to pay for it. Financial barriers, family obligations and a lack of relevant course offerings limited participation by students from low-income backgrounds, underrepresented communities and STEM majors. UW Study Abroad has made great strides in addressing these issues and expanding access to global learning. Offering more short-term opportunities, partnering with faculty to diversify programming and allocating more resources for scholarships has already made an impact – but we still have work to do.
Today, our study abroad community reflects the demographics of our student community. More than 2,200 UW students studied abroad in 2019. 46 percent were students of color and 15 percent were first-generation college students. However, financial constraints still limit many students’ participation. The UW is committed to ensuring every student has access to this critical aspect of the Husky Experience.
Currently, only 30 percent of qualified applicants receive UW Study Abroad Scholarships. We need your help to go further and to make this opportunity permanently available to all eligible students. Together we can give UW students the experience necessary to change the world.
Global Innovation Fund
Seeking to remove financial barriers to global innovation and collaboration, the Global Innovation Fund provides seed funding for international research, partnerships, projects and student experiences. It promotes inclusive innovation and creates global opportunities for our diverse faculty, students and researchers.
Launched in 2014, the fund has so far supported more than 200 remarkable collaborations.
The UW is committed to supporting global engagement for our innovative faculty and promising students. To make that happen, we must grow the Global Innovation Fund and make it a permanent resource. With your help, we can catalyze collaboration across continents and disciplines, promote understanding across boundaries and develop solutions for problems that matter to us all.