Double Your Impact.
Expand Opportunity.
Made possible by a generous $100,000 two-year commitment, from an anonymous Trustee, the Trustee Matching Fund is designed to expand opportunities to American students studying abroad. This year, up to $50,000 in matching funds is available to multiply the impact of eligible gifts to the American Councils Opportunity Scholarship and Dan E. Davidson Fellowship.
Every eligible dollar you give is matched with an additional dollar — helping more U.S. students overcome financial barriers and access meaningful international experiences.
New Donors
Make a first-time gift of $2,500 or more.
Returning Donors
Increase your 2026 giving by at least $2,500 over your total 2025 giving.
Dollar-for-Dollar Match
Eligible new giving — or the qualifying increase for returning donors — is matched dollar for dollar.
Together, these matched gifts help expand the American Councils Opportunity Scholarship and Dan E. Davidson Fellowship, supporting U.S. students with demonstrated financial need in accessing American Councils study abroad programs.
"My study abroad experience was definitely crucial in my professional development. There is no way I would have been able to become fluent in Turkish and Azerbaijani without being able to study abroad."
Opportunity Scholarship Recipient
See how your gift can go twice as far
You give $2,500
Your gift receives a $2,500 match
Your $2,500 gift is matched dollar for dollar
You gave $5,000 in 2025
You give $7,500 in 2026
Your $2,500 increase is matched
For returning donors, previous giving is not matched; only the qualifying increase is eligible for the match.
Name an Opportunity Scholarship
Qualifying donors may also be eligible to establish a named scholarship for a single scholarship award cycle under the American Councils Opportunity Scholarship.
Naming recognition celebrates the donor's commitment to expanding access to international education. It does not create a permanent or endowed scholarship, and American Councils retains responsibility for scholarship eligibility, recipient selection, and award decisions.
Ask About Scholarship NamingQuestions About the Match
1. What is the Trustee Matching Fund?
The Trustee Matching Fund was established through a generous anonymous commitment to expand access to international education and encourage new and increased support for study abroad scholarships.
For this campaign, up to $50,000 is available to match eligible gifts to the American Councils Opportunity Scholarship and Dan E. Davidson Fellowship, helping qualifying contributions go twice as far for students facing financial barriers to studying abroad.
2. Who qualifies, and how does the match work?
New donors: Make a first-time gift of at least $2,500. The full qualifying gift is eligible for a dollar-for-dollar match.
Returning donors: Increase your total 2026 giving by at least $2,500 over your total 2025 giving. Only the amount above your 2025 giving level is eligible for matching.
Eligible gifts are matched dollar for dollar.
3. Where does my gift go?
Gifts made through this campaign support the American Councils Opportunity Scholarship and Dan E. Davidson Fellowship, helping U.S. students with demonstrated financial need participate in American Councils study abroad programs.
The Opportunity Scholarship helps students for whom the cost of studying abroad might otherwise put these experiences out of reach, while the Dan E. Davidson Fellowship supports students pursuing intensive language study and deeper engagement with the regions and cultures they study.
4. Can I name a scholarship?
Qualifying donors may be eligible to establish a named Opportunity Scholarship for one scholarship award cycle.
Scholarships generally follow the naming convention:
“The [Donor Name] Opportunity Scholarship”
Named scholarship recognition does not create a permanent or endowed scholarship. American Councils retains responsibility for scholarship eligibility, recipient selection, and award decisions.
Not sure whether your gift qualifies? American Councils maintains donor giving records and will determine eligibility based on the Trustee Matching Fund guidelines. For questions about your previous giving, the amount that may qualify for a match, or named scholarship recognition, contact Era Mziu at emziu@americancouncils.org .