IES Abroad is proud to announce the launch of OpportunitIES in Motion, a five-year, $20-million fundraising initiative designed to expand access to study abroad by increasing scholarship funding, investing in academic innovation, and reducing barriers for students with financial need.
The initiative builds on the momentum of our fifth annual Giving Day, which raised $384,453 through 267 gifts from 231 donors, and reflects a community-wide effort supported by alumni, institutional partners, and donors committed to the future of global education.
A Powerful Investment in the Future of Global Education
The initiative launches with significant support from donors, including:
A $2-million commitment over five years from Richard Landers, an IES Abroad Vienna alumnus, supporting scholarships and academic innovation, including IES Abroad’s Global Pillars courses and annual Global Institute.
- IES Abroad’s Global Pillars courses, offered at nearly 20 locations across Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America, help students explore sustainable living, equitable living, and human well-being through local context. The Global Institute builds on this work by bringing together educators, faculty, and select alumni to reimagine global learning through workshops and collaborative exchange.
A $100,000 gift supporting the Charles Merrill, Jr. Scholarship to expand access for Spelman College and Morehouse College students who have demonstrated leadership potential.
- This gift honors the legacy of Charles E. Merrill, educator and civil rights activist, whose Merrill Scholars program provided full-year study abroad scholarships to hundreds of HBCU students from the 1950s through the 1980s.
