POLICY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
The 2026 ISF Scholarship Application is now closed
PUBLIC POLICY · GOVERNMENT · POLITICAL SCIENCE
Since 2009, ISF has awarded 747 scholarships to scholars studying and working in fields with the greatest impact on public opinion and policy, including political science, government, public policy, international relations, and public administration. Policy-related scholarships range from $3,000-5,000. Our goal: to improve negative portrayals of Muslims in the news, increase Muslim representation in policymaking, and invest in the creation of positive and engaging stories about American Muslims.
ELIGIBILITY
- Active member of the Muslim community
- Enrolled full-time at an accredited university in the U.S. by August; OR employed full-time in an ISF Supported Field and a part-time student at an accredited university in the U.S
- An undergraduate (junior or senior) or of graduate standing (master's, PhD, or law degree)
- Studying an ISF-supported major
- Maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA
- A U.S. citizen, DACA recipient, or permanent U.S. resident
SUPPORTED MAJORS
- International Relations
- International Affairs
- Political Science
- Public Policy (Social Justice & Civil Rights)
- Public Administration (Government)
- Anthropology (PhD only)
- Sociology (PhD only)
REQUIREMENTS
- Application form
- Resume
- Video introduction
- Essay questions
- College transcripts
- Work samples
- Two letters of recommendation by a professor, mentor, religious leader, and/or employer
PAST AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS
In last 16 years, ISF has awarded
700
Scholarships
Granted
$3.46
Million
In 2024, ISF awarded
$221,000
Dollars
Scholarships ranged from
$3,000 - $10,000
Dollars
PROGRAM TIMELINE
DECEMBER TO MARCH - ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
ISF starts accepting applications in December. The deadline to submit a complete application is in March.
APRIL TO MAY - APPLICATION REVIEWS
The Selection Committee will review the applications from April to May.
MAY TO JUNE - VIDEO INTERVIEWS
Finalists will move to the next round and complete video interviews in May to late June.
JULY - SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED
Final decision will be made in July and scholarships will be awarded shortly after.
FAQs
How many scholarships has ISF awarded in the past?
For the last 15 years, ISF has awarded 747 scholarships and grants totaling $3.46 million. In 2024, it awarded $258,000 in scholarships ranging from $3,000 to $10,000.
Is the program open to international students?
The program is only open to students who are U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents, or DACA recipients.
Do you support any majors other than media, policy, law, or film?
To stay focused on our mission, we do not support health, economics, environment, agriculture, food, psychology, engineering, education or business related majors. For example, we don't support public policy with a focus on health or law with a focus on business.
