Thank you for your interest in the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) and its programs!
USGIF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational foundation dedicated to promoting the geospatial intelligence tradecraft and developing a stronger GEOINT Community with government, industry, academia, professional organizations, and individuals who develop and apply geospatial intelligence to address national security challenges. USGIF achieves its mission through various programs and events by building the community, advancing the tradecraft, and accelerating innovation.
Browse our opportunities below. To submit an application, you'll need to create a Submittable account.
USGIF will also host two virtual information sessions for interested scholarship applicants during the 2026 open application timeframe. Scholarship applications will open January 18, 2026 and close April 5, 2026.
The information sessions are optional and intended to provide applicants with direct insights from USGIF’s education staff regarding things like application requirements, award eligibility, and best practices, and feature open Q+A with the team. These sessions are not recorded.
The first session will be held on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 12 p.m. ET.
The second session will be held on Monday, March 16, 2026, at 12 p.m. ET.
Please use an email address you check to sign up - this is how the meeting link will be shared.
Additional information about USGIF scholarships can be found here.
Click here to learn more about USGIF's 2025 scholarship cohort.
USGIF's 2026 Scholarships
As you complete the application, please ensure that you carefully read each section's requirements and complete/upload the requested information.
Incomplete applications will be automatically rejected without review.
Application deadline is April 5, 2026*
*Edits to applications and answers to emails will not be available after 3 p.m. ET on April 3, 2025.
Application Requirements Overview
To complete an application, you will be required to:
- Provide full contact information and some demographic information
- Compose detailed responses to short-answer questions
- (OPTIONAL) Craft responses to sponsored scholarship questions
- Secure recommenders and have them supply letters of recommendation
- Submit school transcripts and/or a current resume/CV
- Compose and submit a short essay (undergraduate - Ph.D. candidates only)
All applicants must complete a general application to be considered for any of USGIF's named scholarship awards. Awards are not combinable, meaning, awardees will only receive one award each. By completing the general application, applicants are automatically considered for USGIF's general awards ($1,000 - $3,000). Named awards ($5,000 - $15,000) are optional. To be considered for them, complete the extra portion of the application for named awards.
Application Timeline
January 9, 2026 : Applications open
April 5, 2026: Applications close
April 13, 2026 : Scholarship review begins
May 17, 2026 : Scholarship review closes
Late June 2026 : All applicants are notified of their award status
USGIF's statement on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The use of AI is at the applicant’s discretion. USGIF supports the use of AI only as an aid for improving thoughts and ideas, not a shortcut to securing an award. USGIF reserves the right to disqualify applicants or dock points for answers or essays that are clearly AI generated and do not embody the applicant’s perspective, voice, or original ideas.
Thank you for your interest in participating in the Student Poster Competition during GEOINT Foreword at the USGIF GEOINT Symposium 2026. Applications will close February 18, 2026. The Symposium is slated for May 3 - 6 at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora, Colorado. Poster sessions take place on Sunday, May 3rd.
What is the Student Poster Contest?
During GEOINT Foreword – the Symposium’s pre-conference day focused on the intersection of science, technology, security, and innovation, USGIF gives students from a wide array of disciplines the chance to present their GEOINT-related research. Student presenters share their ideas with GEOINT leaders and professionals, network with fellow students and academics, and are invited to attend panel and keynote sessions. Students whose posters are selected for presentation receive complimentary registration to GEOINT Foreword and Symposium. Presenters are responsible for their own travel and lodging.
Students are expected to showcase their work during designated poster sessions at GEOINT Foreword. A panel of Subject Matter Experts review and judge the posters, and the top three posters are recognized at the end of the day on the Main Stage. The winner of the poster competition is awarded the opportunity to present their research on stage at the GEOINT 2027 Symposium during Foreword and receives complimentary registration to the Symposium.
Eligibility:
- This opportunity is only available to current students
- No requirement to attend a USGIF-accredited schools
- No need to hold or pursue a GEOINT-specific degree
Next Steps
Applicants will be notified about the status of their proposals by the end of February 2026. Those accepted will be expected to complete their Symposium registration by Mid-March.
Once selected, poster requirements and presentation details will be sent to each presenter.
For more information, please contact: education@usgif.org
*Applicants should expect to receive primary communications from USGIF about the status of their submissions through USGIF's Submittable account.