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Spouse Education Fund

Founded in 1985, the Spouse Education Fund (SEF) awards grants of $100 to $500 to enable international spouses or partners with financial need to take advantage of local academic and professional-development opportunities.

2025-2026 CCIS Spouse Education Fund grantees and the SEF Committee

2025-2026 CCIS Spouse Education Fund grantees and the SEF Committee

Internationals:

The grants are intended to provide spouses with encouragement and financial support to take a class or to pursue a personal or professional interest. Applications are restricted to spouses or partners of current Stanford international students, postdocs and visiting scholars on F‑2 and J‑2 visas. Spouses of Stanford employees are not eligible.  Neither the applicant nor the spouse can hold American citizenship. Grants are available only to those who have not received a grant in the past, and grantees must be at Stanford when the grant is used during the 2027 calendar year. Grant award criteria include: financial need, relevance, future impact, and motivation. List of institutions from which a course choice may be made: Learning Opportunities at Local Institutions (PDF)

How to participate

  • You will need to have a Google account to access the application.
  • The application is available November 4, 2026 through November 12, 2026 at noon. Check back here at that time for a link to the application.
  • Mandatory interviews of eligible applicants will be held in person November 16-18 in Bechtel International Center.
  • More details regarding the application process for 2026 awards will be published on this page in October.

Donors:

Committee members Gwyn Dukes, Ann Fathman, Dolly Verplank (Chairwoman), and Ann Brady
Committee members Gwyn Dukes, Ann Fathman, Dolly Verplank (Chairwoman), and Ann Brady

Many Stanford international spouses put their careers on hold while their spouse pursues academic studies at Stanford. The Spouse Education Fund program awards grants toward supporting one course to enrich the experience of the spouse professionally or personally while they are at Stanford.

 

Last year the SEF program celebrated its 40th year and has now provided nearly $250,000 educational grants to over 650 international spouses/partners.  Thanks to your generosity in 2025, we were able to give grants to 31 recipients from 19 countries. 

The Spouse Education Fund is the only CCIS program inviting specific funding. Each summer the SEF program solicits donations from CCIS members and the community. These funds are distributed as grants late in the Fall term to spouses who have applied to and have been interviewed by the Spouse Education Fund Committee. The recipients will complete their classes by December 31, 2027.

It is a privilege to know these accomplished and interesting spouses, and to learn about and support their interests and goals. The impact of SEF grants on the lives of the recipients goes far beyond the monetary value of the award.

How to participate

For more information contact: sefcomm@CCISstanfordU.org