Since 1923, Zonta International has provided more than 27 million US Dollars to empower women and expand their access to education, health care, economic opportunities and safe living conditions.
Through donations to the Zonta International Foundation, Zonta improves women’s lives, their children’s lives and the communities in which they live and work. Join us in making gender equality a reality for women and girls worldwide
International Service Program
Since Zonta International was founded in 1919, Zontians have been passionate about empowering women in developing countries through international service. In the more than 90 years since its first international service project was funded, Zonta International has contributed more than US$15.5 million to projects benefiting women in 35 countries. Through funding from the Zonta International Foundation, the Zonta International Service Program has provided training, education, health, sanitation, agricultural and micro-credit assistance to women, primarily through projects implemented by the agencies of the United Nations and other recognized non-governmental organizations.
During the 2014-2016 Biennium, three projects are being supported by the International Service Fund:
- Towards Elimination of Obstetric Fistula and Reduction of Maternal and Newborn Mortality in Liberia
- Working Toward an HIV-Free Generation and Effective Prevention and Response to Gender Based Violence in Rwanda
- Gender Responsive Schools Pilot Model in Vietnam
ZISVAW Program: Ending violence against women and girls
The most pervasive and least recognized human rights violation worldwide, gender-based violence affects women and girls of every race, class, culture, ethnicity, age and country. Zonta International strives to promote and protect the human rights of all women and girls and reduce the incidences of violence against them. Through funding from the Zonta International Foundation, the Zonta International Strategies to End Violence Against Women (ZISVAW) Program has provided more than US$5.5 million to support projects to prevent and end violence against women and girls in 39 countries.
During the 2014-2016 Biennium, two projects are being supported by the ZISVAW Fund:
Respecting the Rights and Responding to the Needs of Adolescent Girls in Niger
Training youth leaders to advocate to end gender-based violence with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and UN Women.
Amelia Earhart Fellowship
Fellowship description
Globally, women make up less than 30 percent of the workforce in physics, computer sciences and engineering, according to U.S. News & World Report. In an effort to carry out its mission that women have access to all resources and are represented in decision-making positions on an equal basis with men, Zonta International offers the Amelia Earhart Fellowship.
The Amelia Earhart Fellowship was established in 1938 in honor of famed pilot and Zontian, Amelia Earhart. The US$10,000 Fellowship is awarded annually to 35 women pursuing Ph.D./doctoral degrees in aerospace-related sciences or aerospace-related engineering. It may be used at any university or college offering accredited post-graduate courses and degrees in these fields.
Since the program’s inception in 1938, Zonta has awarded 1,473 Amelia Earhart Fellowships, totaling more than US$9 million, to women representing 70 countries. Our Fellows have gone on to become astronauts, aerospace engineers, astronomers, professors, geologists, business owners, heads of companies, even Secretary of the US Air Force.
Eligibility
Women of any nationality pursuing a Ph.D./doctoral degree who demonstrate a superior academic record in the field of aerospace-related sciences or aerospace-related engineering are eligible. Applicants must be registered in a full-time Ph.D./doctoral program when funds are received in September and must not graduate before April 2017. Please note that post-doctoral research programs are not eligible for the Fellowship. Members and employees of Zonta International or the Zonta International Foundation are also not eligible to apply for the Fellowship. Note that previous Amelia Earhart Fellows are not eligible to apply to renew the Fellowship for a second year.
Application process
The Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship Committee reviews the applications and recommends recipients to the Zonta International Board. All applicants will be notified of their status by the end of April 2016.
Deadline
Applications for the 2016 Fellowships must be received or post-marked by 15 November 2015 to be considered. Applications that are incomplete or late due to postal delays will not be considered. For questions, please contact programs@zonta.org.
Funding
Amelia Earhart Fellowships are made possible by generous contributions to the Zonta International Foundation Amelia Earhart Fellowship Fund.
Jane M Klausman Women in Business Scholarship
Scholarship description
Women have made great strides in the pursuit of education, careers and leadership roles they were once denied. However, they still comprise a minority of leaders in the business world. According to the 202 Gender Diversity Index conducted from 2011-2015, just 19.7 percent of Fortune 500 companies’ board seats are occupied by women.
Because Zonta International believes in gender equality, the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship program helps women pursue undergraduate and master’s degrees in business management and overcome gender barriers from the classroom to the boardroom. The Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship was established in 1998 from a generous bequest by Jane M. Klausman, a member of the Zonta Club of Syracuse, New York, USA, and the 1990-1995 Zonta International Parliamentarian.
The program operates at the Zonta club, district/region and international levels. Zonta annually awards up to 32 scholarships of US$1,000 each at the district/region level and 12 international scholarships in the amount of US$7,000 each. Since the program’s inception, Zonta has awarded 399 Scholarships to women from 50 countries.
Eligibility
Women of any age, pursuing a business or business-related program who demonstrate outstanding potential in the field and are living or studying in a Zonta district/region, are eligible. Note that applicants from geographic areas where no Zonta clubs are located will be considered and also eligible to apply for the district/region scholarship. Online students are also eligible to apply.
Classified members and employees of Zonta International and the Zonta International Foundation, and their family members, are not eligible to apply for the Scholarships.
Application process
The Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship program operates at the club, district/region and international levels of Zonta International. To apply, please contact the Zonta club nearest you. Please note that applicants may not apply to more than one Zonta district. Applicants must be nominated by a local Zonta club. Applications selected by Zonta clubs are sent to the respective Zonta governor/regional representative. A district/region evaluating committee selects one applicant per district/region to submit to Zonta International Headquarters. The Zonta International Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship Committee selects 12 international recipients from the district/region applicants.
Deadline
Applications must be completed and presented to Zonta clubs according to the club’s assigned deadline. A club recipient is selected, and the application is presented to the governor/regional representative by 1 July. The district/region recipient is selected, and the application is presented to Zonta International Headquarters by 1 September. International recipients will be contacted by their Zonta club leader by mid October.
Funding
Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarships are made possible through investment income generated by the Klausman bequest, and by generous contributions from Zontians, Zonta clubs and friends of Zonta.