IBEW Founders' Scholarship
Offered by International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
About This Scholarship
Established in 1966 to mark the IBEW's 75th anniversary, the Founders' Scholarship is unusual among union education awards: it goes to working members themselves, not their children. The union pays up to $200 per semester credit hour (or $134 per trimester hour) toward an associate, bachelor's, or postgraduate degree, with a lifetime maximum of $24,000 per person spread over as many as eight years of part-time or full-time study.
Eligibility is limited to IBEW members in continuous good standing — spouses and children are not eligible — and the degree must be in a field that advances the electrical industry, such as engineering, business, safety, or labor studies. Members in both the United States and Canada may apply.
Applications are accepted year-round, with May 1 as the annual cutoff for that year's round of funding. Candidates submit transcripts, three letters of recommendation (one from their local's business manager), and a 250-500 word essay on how the scholarship will benefit the IBEW and the electrical industry.
Eligibility
- Must be an IBEW member in continuous good standing (the union's rules require multi-year standing; check the current rules for entry)
- Open to working members only — spouses and children of members are not eligible
- Must pursue an associate, bachelor's, or postgraduate degree in a field of study that benefits the electrical industry
- Members in the U.S. and Canada may apply
How To Apply
- Download the rules for entry and application from ibew.org/foundersscholarship
- Gather transcripts and three letters of recommendation, including one from your local union's business manager
- Write the required 250-500 word essay and submit by May 1 for that year's funding round (applications accepted year-round)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my child apply for the Founders' Scholarship?
No. This award is exclusively for IBEW members themselves. Family members can instead look at the Union Plus Scholarship, which covers IBEW households.
How is the money paid out?
The scholarship pays up to $200 per semester credit hour as you complete coursework, up to a lifetime maximum of $24,000 over no more than eight years.