Second Option for Financial Aid: Private Businesses or Foundations in Your Country
Monday, June 15th, 2009The second option for financial aid is businesses or private foundations in your country. Sometimes such organizations will fund students to study at foreign universities (including those in the United States) in order to achieve their own goals.
For example, the Kokallis Foundation is a charitable foundation active throughout Southeastern Europe. The mission of the Kokallis Foundation is “the promotion of a peaceful, democratic and prosperous Southeastern Europe through the development of public, cultural and scientific life in the region.” One program they administer in order to achieve that goal is the Kokallis Program at Harvard, which sponsors students for Master’s Degrees in Public Administration or Public Policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. It’s important to note that the Kokallis Foundation doesn’t give scholarships to students because the students really really want them; rather, it gives very specific support to particular students in order to achieve its own mission.
When looking for support from private businesses or foundations, you need to keep the missions of those organizations in mind. A foundation might offer you a scholarship if and only if you can show that your university program in the U.S. will somehow help achieve the foundation’s own goals.
Private businesses are generally even more driven by their own goals, which tend to be the maximization of their profit. Many businesses do indeed sponsor employees to study at foreign universities, but generally they require that the employee sign some kind of contract promising to work with the employer after the completion of his or her studies. If you are currently working for a business, you may want to ask if they offer support to their employees for study at foreign universities. If you’re not working for a business, you might want to ask around and see if any businesses offer students scholarship support in exchange for a promise to work for the business upon graduation.
When looking for support from both businesses and domestic foundations, you’ll need to conquer any shyness you may have about asking for help. Businesses and foundations that offer support don’t always publicize it, and so you may have to do talk to a lot of different people. No one will know that you’re looking for help unless you tell them, so don’t be shy. Also, network with other students who are trying to study abroad. What are their experiences? Have they heard of any scholarships offered by private businesses or foundations?
Chances are, there is some private organization in your country that offers students financial assistance. If you are serious enough and dedicated enough, you’ll find it.
Posts in this Series
- Your Education is an Investment - 08 Jul
- Researching Scholarship Opportunities - 07 Jul
- How to Ask Questions About Financial Aid - 28 Jun
- Ninth Option for Financial Aid: Loans - 27 Jun
- The Difference Between Scholarships and Fellowships - 26 Jun
- Eigth Option for Financial Aid: U.S. Universities - 25 Jun
- Seventh Option for Financial Aid: Ethnic Communities in the United States - 24 Jun
- Sixth Option for Financial Aid: Private Organizations in the U.S. - 23 Jun
- Fifth Option for Financial Aid: U.S. Government Programs - 22 Jun
- Fourth Option for Financial Aid: Scholarships from International Organizations - 20 Jun
- How to Ask for Support - 18 Jun
- Looking for Support in Your Country: Why it Makes Sense - 17 Jun
- Third Option for Financial Aid: Individuals in Your Country - 16 Jun
- Second Option for Financial Aid: Private Businesses or Foundations in Your Country (This post)
- First Option for Financial Aid: Government Programs in Your Country - 14 Jun
- The Third Step in Financial Aid: Find What's Available - 11 Jun
- The Second Step In Financial Aid: Identify Your Assets - 10 Jun
- The First Step In Financial Aid: Identify Your Needs - 09 Jun
- Finding Financial Aid for your U.S. Education - 08 Jun
