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Fellowships and Grants Requiring Nomination

Truman Scholarship

Initial campus deadline: Sunday, November 16, 2025

*Important note: Interested applicants must submit the campus application using this Google Form by the initial campus deadline to be considered for nomination. Late submissions will not be accepted.

If you are selected as a nominee, you will work with the Fellowships and Grants team to prepare your application materials for the national deadline:
National deadline: February 3, 2026

Eligibility requirements:    

  • US Citizens, US National residents of American Samoa, or expecting their citizenship by the date of the award;
  • Currently enrolled at a US-based accredited institution;
  • In their penultimate year of school (for candidates graduating in four years or more) or in their final year of school (for candidates graduating in three years or fewer);
  • Nominated by either their current institution of study or their former institution of study for transfer or community college applicants. Schools are limited to four nominees plus three additional transfer nominations; and,
  • Planning to attend graduate school in pursuit of a career in public service. The Foundation encourages time between undergraduate and graduate school, so candidates need not commit to going immediately.

Applicants can be pursuing any major likely to lead to a public service career; any age; interested in any graduate degree other than the MBA; and, considering either domestic or international programs for their graduate education.


Summary: The Truman Scholarship is meant to celebrate and prepare the nation's next generation of public service leaders. Scholars receive up to $30,000 for graduate school as well as access to extensive Scholar programming, priority admission and financial support from public service graduate programs, advising and mentoring from other public service leaders, and preferred hiring with the federal government. Scholars are required to work in public service for three of the seven years following completion of a Foundation-funded graduate degree program as a condition of receiving funding. 

The Foundation defines public service as employment in government at any level, uniformed services, public-interest organizations, nongovernmental research and/or educational organizations, public and private schools, and public service-oriented nonprofit organizations such as those whose primary purpose is to help needy or disadvantaged persons or to protect the environment.

The Foundation provides:

  • Up to $30,000 in support for graduate studies toward a public service-related degree. The Foundation has supported Truman Scholars in many fields of study, including agriculture, biology, engineering, environmental management, physical and social sciences, and technology policy, as well as traditional fields such as economics, education, government, history, international relations, law, political science, public administration, nonprofit management, public health, and public policy;

  • A number of programs designed to help Scholars on their path in public service:

    • Truman Scholars Leadership Week (TSLW): Is required of all Scholars and serves as the introduction to the Truman Scholar community.
    • Summer Institute (SI): Is optional and open to Scholars the year after selection and provides a summer opportunity in Washington, DC.
    • Truman Albright Fellows: Is open to Scholars working in public service in Washington, DC between undergraduate and graduate school.  This program can be repeated for several years.
    • Truman Democracy Fellows Program: Is open to Scholars planning to run for public office at any level. Scholars apply to this program which runs in odd-numbered years.
    • Truman Governance Fellows Program: Is open to Scholars who aspire to high level appointed positions within the federal government.  Scholars apply to this program which runs in odd-numbered years.

Application process: Applicants must be nominated to apply. To be considered for a nomination, applicants must complete and submit this Google Form by the initial campus deadline (November 16). If nominated, you will be registered on the Truman application site. 

Campus representative: Dr. Jess Hernandez, Director for Fellowships and Grants (hernand2@whitman.edu)

For more information, visit: https://www.truman.gov/

Fellowships and Grants