Zonta Foundation for Women

Zonta International seeks to empower women worldwide by improving the legal, political, economic, educational, health and professional status of women at the global and local levels through service and advocacy.

During the 2023-2024biennium Zonta International, through the Zonta Foundation for Women has allocated $4.573 million to:
• Reduce the incidence of early marriage for girls in twelve countries
• Respond to the health needs of adolescents—especially girls—in a timely manner and preventing violence in schools in Peru
• Ensure that all women and girls in Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste live a life free from violence and providing quality services to those who experience violence
• Support girls to learn in a safe and inclusive environment and empower them to build climate-resilient communities in Madagascar.
• Provide scholarships and awards to encourage young women on their way to becoming future leaders in traditionally male-dominated fields

For the 2022-2024 biennium Zonta International has established the following funding priorities:

Support International Service Projects in cooperation with UN Agencies:

Ending Child Marriage:
Promoting the right of girls to delay marriage and providing care for girls who are already married in 12 countries.
Funding: US$1.2 million

Strengthening Response to GBV Survivors
Delivering a survivor-centered response to gender-based violence survivors in Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste
Funding: US$750 thousand

Adolescent Girls’ Health and Protection in Peru
Responding to the health needs of adolescent girls and preventing violence in schools in Peru
Funding US$750 thousand

Engaging Girls on Climate Change in Madagascar
Supporting girls and a generation of children and adolescents by providing environmental education in Madagascar through child-friendly schools.
Funding: US$500 thousand

Education:
Annually award:
350 Amelia Earhart Fellowships of US$10,000 each

37 international Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarships of US$5,000

37 international Young Women in Public Affairs Awards of US$5,000

Also, award 32 Women in STEM Scholarships of US$5,000 each once during the biennium

Since our first service project, Zonta has contributed more than US$35.9 million to our international service projects. This has allowed us to improve women's health, provide better economic opportunities and prevent gender-based violence in 71 countries.

Zonta has awarded 1,704 Amelia Earhart Fellowships, totaling more than US$11.3 million, to 1,275 women from 76 countries.

Since the inception of the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship, Zonta has awarded 676 scholarships, totaling more than US$1.6 million, to 522 women representing 66 countries.

The Young Women in Public Affairs Award was established in 1990. Zonta has given 1,054 awards, US$1,303,750, to 882 young women from 60 countries.

The Women in Technology Scholarship was offered was introduced as a pilot program in 2019 and 2021 to encourage women to pursue education, career opportunities and leadership roles in information technology. In June 2022, the Zonta International membership voted to continue the program with an expanded focus on all STEM fields, not only technology. With this change, the Zonta International Board approved a name change and will offer the Zonta International Women in STEM Scholarship for the third cycle of the scholarship program.

The program operates at the Zonta club, district/region and international levels. Each Zonta district/region may submit one applicant for consideration for an international scholarship. A single candidate from each of Zonta’s 31 districts and one region will receive an award of US$5,000 from Zonta International.

PROGRESS - BIENNIUM TO DATE
Our projects were voted on in June 2022 and MOUs with our partner agencies have been signed for the following projects:
Ending Child Marriage:
Strengthening Response to GBV Survivors
Adolescent Girls’ Health and Protection in Peru
Engaging Girls on Climate Change in Madagascar


EDUCATION:
Amelia Earhart Fellowships - The 2023 application is available and must be submitted by 15 November 2022. Applicants will be notified of their status by the end of April 2023.

Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship - The deadline to apply for the 2022 Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship has passed. The 2023 application materials will be available in January 2023.

Young Women in Public Affairs Award - The 2022 Young Women in Public Affairs (YWPA) Awardees were recently announced. These 31 women—from 18 countries—have demonstrated outstanding leadership skills and commitment to public service and civic causes. Ten international YWPA Awardees were awarded US$6,500, while 21 district and region recipients received US$1,500 to be used to support their continued service or their academic endeavors.
The 2023 application is now available. Applications must be received by Zonta clubs by their deadline.
Club recipients selected and applications received by governor/region representative by 1 April. District/region applicant selected and applications received by Zonta International Headquarters by 1 May.
Official announcement of international recipients will be made by 1 July.