Process for Selecting All-Indiana 2026-27 Global Scholar

1. Candidates initially apply for the $40,000 Global Grant Scholarship through an Indiana Rotary Club. After interviewing the applicant, the club will complete a club endorsement form and will send the application and form to the All-Indiana Scholarship Committee at (apply@rotaryglobalscholar.com). The deadline for submitting an application to the District Scholarship Chair is Saturday, December 19, 2026.

2. On Saturday, January 30, 2027, the All-Indiana Scholarship Committee (Committee) will interview finalist Global Grant Scholarship candidates and will select one scholar to be nominated to The Rotary Foundation for a final decision. To be considered, applicants must interview for the scholarship on January 30, 2027.

3. Scholarship Committee members are responsible for selecting the proposed recipient of the All-Indiana Global Grant Scholarship. They will work with the scholar to prepare a grant application that will be submitted to The Rotary Foundation. Once approved by The Rotary Foundation, the selected scholar will receive up to a total of $40,000 for one to four years, starting with the 2027-28 academic year.

4. The Committee will remain in contact with the scholar during the period of study overseas and following his/her return home, including the duration of the grant cycle. They will help to ensure the goals of the grant are met, a grant report is prepared, and all funds are accounted for in accordance with the approved budget.

5. As part of the process, arrangements will be made with a Rotary Host Club in the city where the scholar will attend university. The Host Club members will assist the scholar in connecting with local club, the local community, and the work of Rotary during the period of study overseas.

6. Committee tasks include updating the information on this Global Scholar website and promoting the scholarship program to colleges in Indiana, the Rotary Clubs throughout Indiana, and to other sources of candidates. The committee expects to recruit a pool of outstanding applicants by the Saturday, December 19, 2026 deadline.

7. This site provides information about Rotary’s Global Grant Scholarship Program, eligibility requirements, documents and forms, and a description of the application process.

8. Candidates must be endorsed by an Indiana Rotary Club. To find a club in your area, go to www.rotary.org and click on “club finder”, or they can contact the committee at apply@rotaryglobalscholar.com to request assistance.

9. Applications must be submitted to the Committee at apply@rotaryglobalscholar.com by December 19, 2026. In addition to the official form, applications must include:

    • Two letters of recommendation
    • A preliminary budget (not to exceed $40,000)
    • A signed Club Endorsement form
    • A Letter of Acceptance from the overseas university of the candidate’s choice

In lieu of a Letter of Acceptance, an applicant can submit a Letter of Affiliation from the university indicating that the applicant has applied and meets the institution’s minimum qualifications, but that a final decision has not been made.

The Committee Chair will review all applications to make sure they are complete. The accepted applications will then be distributed to members of the Committee for review. The Chair is responsible for resolving all issues raised by Committee members.

10. The Committee will convene on Saturday, January 30, 2027 on Zoom to interview finalists.
Candidates who are not available to interview will not be eligible for further consideration.

11. After holding interviews, the Committee will select the candidate it wishes to nominate for the Global Scholarship and document for The Rotary Foundation (TRF) the process by which applications were generated, candidates were selected, and how/why the nominee was chosen.

12. The application will be submitted to TRF for preliminary review and approval. Most Global Scholarship applications that are not approved by TRF are rejected because an applicant's plan of study or stated career goals is not sufficiently centered on one of Rotary's Seven Humanitarian Areas of Focus.

13. Changes to application after award could impact eligibility and will  be evaluated against factors such as: changing circumstances, the need to maintain a level playing field for all applicants, and the administrative impact.

14. After a nominee is approved by TRF, the Committee Chair will contact a Rotary District over the city where the scholar will study and arrange for a local Rotary Club to be the scholar's host.

15. The Committee Chair will work with the scholar to prepare a Global Grant application for submission to TRF, who will review the grant request and make a final decision in authorizing funding for scholarship.

16. Typically, within three weeks of receiving a scholar’s application material and the authorizing signatures of the All-Indiana Rotary officials and representatives of the Host Rotary Club/District, The Rotary Foundation notifies the scholar of its decisions.

17. The Global Grant Scholarship application to TRF is the funding process. No additional funding support is requested of an endorsing Rotary Club. $16,000 of the $40,000 that funds the Global Scholarship is provided by TRF World Fund and $24,000 comes from the three Indiana Districts’ Designated Funds ($8,000 from each district).

Scholarship funds are transferred by TRF to a bank account in Indiana designated specifically for Global Scholarship and overseen by the Chair.

The Committee Chair is responsible for disbursing funds are distributed to the scholar and ensuring timely and accurate reporting. At the end of the scholar’s study experience, the scholar is responsible for submitting a final narrative and financial report to TRF. It is always possible that an audit will ensue.

18. It is expected that Global Scholars will participate in the life of their Host Rotary Club and host district and, after returning home, will be willing to share their experiences as a Global Scholar with Indiana Rotary clubs and to become a Rotarian.