Foresters Financial Opens Applications for 2025 Competitive Scholarships
TORONTO, March 4, 2025 – Foresters Financial™, a global life insurance provider committed to empowering its members, has launched its 2025-2026 Competitive Scholarship program. The initiative provides financial assistance to outstanding students and encourages community involvement.
Applications for the scholarships, which are available to both new and returning candidates, are now open. The application period began on December 5, 2024, and will close on April 30, 2025.
For the upcoming academic year, Foresters is significantly increasing the number of scholarships offered. The program will award 400 scholarships in 2025, up from 355 in 2024. To facilitate this expansion, each scholarship will provide $2,000 in local currency, increasing opportunities for students across the US and Canada to pursue their educational goals.
Since the inception of the scholarship program in 2012, Foresters Financial has provided over 9,900 tuition scholarships internationally, representing an investment of more than US$19.7 million in education.
Eligibility Requirements
To be considered, applicants must be 24 years of age or younger and be either a current Foresters member or have a parent, legal guardian, grandparent, or spouse who is a member. Additional requirements vary based on applicant status:
- New Applicants:
- Minimum GPA of 3.2 (or an average of 80%)
- 50 volunteer hours completed within two years of the application deadline
- Enrollment in a minimum two-year, full-time undergraduate program at a recognized Canadian or US school
- Returning Applicants:
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 (or an average of 75%)
- 15 volunteer hours within one year of the application deadline
- Full-time enrollment in the academic year for which they are applying
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee selection as a scholarship recipient.
Interested individuals can find more information and apply on the Competitive Scholarship landing page at Foresters.com.
Matt Berman, President and CEO of Foresters Financial, emphasized the organization’s commitment to education, stating, “At Foresters, we believe that education is the most powerful catalyst of a better future—not just for individuals, but for entire communities. The launch of our 2025-2026 Competitive Scholarship benefit reflects our continued commitment to empowering our members and their families to achieve their dreams and make a meaningful difference in the world. It’s more than a scholarship, it’s an investment in the future.”
The selection process is managed by International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc. (ISTS), which forms a Selection Committee comprising representatives from international universities and colleges to ensure impartiality. The committee evaluates applicants based on community service, academic grades, and a submitted essay, with a 50%/25%/25% weighting given to each category respectively.
Applicants can submit their applications through the ISTS portal, which also offers a helpful checklist and a Live Chat feature for accessing support from a Foresters customer service representative.
Applicants will be notified of their award status by mid-June 2025. Scholarship recipients must accept or decline the scholarship by the deadline indicated on the acceptance form. Failure to meet the deadline may result in forfeiture of the scholarship. Scholarship funds will be distributed by August 31, 2025.
Foresters Financial is the trade name for The Independent Order of Foresters, regarded as a respected and long-standing fraternal benefit society that has been serving families for over 150 years. The organization consistently receives high ratings for its financial strength and ability to meet obligations.
