IFDA Scholarship Process Now Open for 2026

Applications for this year’s design student scholarships will be accepted in March.

The International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) will start the application process for its annual scholarships between March 1 and March 31.

Since the early years of nearly 80-year-old global design organization, the Educational Foundation of the IFDA has awarded scholarships to high-achieving design students as well as grants to talented professionals, internationally.  This year there are nine scholarships available for a total of $25,500.

“We are honored to support today’s students and enhance awareness of design through educational and philanthropic programs,” said Karen Dzendolet, chairman of the board of the Educational Foundation (EF) of IFDA.  “Investing in students is investing in the future of design.”

Applicants must be currently enrolled, and scholarships are paid to the school for the 2026 fall semester tuition.  Students are not eligible to apply if their graduation date is either the spring or summer semester of 2026. Furthermore, scholarships are for undergraduate and graduate students attending U.S. institutions and all applications must be in English. IFDA membership is not a requirement (with the exception of the IFDA Student Member Scholarship.  

The nine scholarships are as follows and the scholarship application forms may be found here.

Tony Fusco Scholarship – NEW – $6,000. The Tony Fusco Scholarship was established by the New England Chapter to honor the late Tony Fusco, an active and committed IFDA New England member. Open to New England residents currently enrolled in interior design or related programs as either a full-time undergraduate or graduate student.

FBN Leaders Commemorative Scholarship – $3,000. Open to currently enrolled interior design or related program, full-time undergraduate students; extra credit for volunteer work/leadership.

Part-Time Student Scholarship – $1,500.  Open to currently enrolled interior design or related program, part-time students.

IFDA Student Member Scholarship – $2,000.  Open to currently enrolled interior design or related program, full-time undergraduate IFDA student members.  Click here to join IFDA.

Vercille Voss IFDA Graduate Student Scholarship – $2,000. Open to currently enrolled interior design or related program, full- or part-time graduate students.

Ruth Clark Furniture Design Scholarship – $4,000. Open to currently enrolled, full- or part-time undergraduate or graduate students with a course emphasis on Furniture Design.

Barbara Beckmann Textile Design Scholarship – $3,000. Open to currently enrolled full- or part-time undergraduate and graduate students with course emphasis on Textile or related design. 

IFDA Philadelphia Scholarship – $2,500. Open to currently enrolled, two-, three- or four-year interior design or related program students.  Focus rotates annually between design in (2026) Graphic, Furniture, Interior and Textile Design. This year’s focus is Graphic Design. 

Tricia LeVangie Green/Sustainable Design Scholarship – $1,500. Open to currently enrolled interior design or related program, full- or part-time undergraduate students.

As stated, applications for all 2026 IFDA EF scholarships will only be accepted during the month of March. Winners will be notified in July, and winners of a certain scholarship cannot reapply to that particular scholarship.

For details, please consult the Educational Foundation website.  Or for answers to specific questions about these or any of EF’s other scholarships and grants, email Earline Feldman, director of scholarships & grants at ef.ifda@tapestries.org or call (770) 378-7221.

In addition to the scholarships and grants, IFDA offers professional development opportunities for IFDA members and other design industry professionals as well as needed resources for design schools, and IFDA programs for chapters and members.  Visit  ifdaef.org or follow us on instagram.com/ifdaef/ and facebook.com/ifda.educational.foundation/.