Scholarships and Awards

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi currently awards fifty Fellowships of $8,500 each, six at $20,000 each, and two at $35,000 each to members entering the first year of graduate or professional study. Each active Phi Kappa Phi chapter may select one candidate from among its local applicants to compete for the Society-wide awards.

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi annually awards ten Dissertation Fellowships of $10,000 each to active members who are doctoral candidates and are completing dissertations. The fellowship supports students in the dissertation writing stage of doctoral study. Awards are for 12 months of dissertation writing. All pre-dissertation requirements should be met by the application deadline, including approval of the dissertation proposal.

Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants are designed to help support undergraduates as they seek knowledge and experience in their academic fields by studying abroad. Seventy-five $1,000 grants are awarded each year.

Love of Learning Awards help fund post-baccalaureate professional development for active Phi Kappa Phi members to include (but not be limited to): Graduate or professional studies, doctoral dissertations, continuing education, career development, travel related to teaching/research/learning, etc. Recipients of the Fellowship award are not eligible to apply. Two hundred awards, at $500 each, are distributed each year. 

The competition is open to all active (dues current) Phi Kappa Phi members who:

• Have completed their baccalaureate studies by application submission deadline.
• Have not yet received a Fellowship or Award of Excellence grant

The Literacy Grants program was initiated to mobilize members and resources of Phi Kappa Phi and the higher education community to champion literacy initiatives. Grants of up to $2,500 are available to Phi Kappa Phi chapters and individual members to fund ongoing literacy projects or to create new initiatives. The Society's commitment to the cause of literacy grows out of and is consistent with its mission, which was expanded to include "…and to engage the community of scholars in service to others."

The Ray Sylvester Distinguished Service Award honors an individual who has provided sustained, non-compensated volunteer service to others beyond the realm of academia. The award recipient receives a $1,000 honorarium, a life membership and a recognition citation. The award is given once per biennium.

The Phi Kappa Phi Scholar Award and Phi Kappa Phi Artist Award honor those individuals who demonstrate the ideals of the Society through their activities, achievements, and scholarship. Awardees receive an honorarium, a life membership and a recognition citation. Each award is given once per biennium.

First presented in 1974, the Scholar Award recognizes excellence in teaching, research, and public service. In 1983, the Artist Award was established to recognize the achievements of those who, in addition to their outstanding scholarship, have displayed talents in the broad realm of the arts–creative, graphic, performing, visual, and/or fine arts.

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi established its Excellence in Innovation Award in 2014 to recognize colleges and universities for their achievements in finding powerful answers to important local, regional, national, or global challenges, as well as to raise awareness of the importance of encouraging innovation in higher education. 

The biennial award, valued at $100,000, is awarded to an institution that:

• demonstrates best practice in implementing and assessing innovative programs or services, irrespective of resources needed;
• uses innovative and substantive solutions to achieve meaningful, measurable, outcomes to improve the lives of others and create systemic large-scale change; and 
• has a sustained model program or service that both demonstrates transformative results and reflects the values of Phi Kappa Phi.