The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation was created by the Congress in 1986 to help ensure the United States of America has the continuing talent pool of researchers in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics, that it needs to maintain its global competitiveness.  Research capabilities strongly influence economics, as reflected by the fact that 85% of the increase in the US per capita income has been enabled via research-driven advances in technology.  More than ever this Nation’s capacity in scientific research, engineering and mathematics is crucial to its economic success and its position as a world leader.  The US must continue to develop scholars with the core intellectual strength needed to lead advances in technology and scientific research that fuels our global influence.

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation meets its central objective of identifying and supporting a significant pool of highly-qualified undergraduates who are subsequently obtaining advanced degrees and going on to become this country’s leading scientists, engineers and mathematicians.

Over its history, the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation has supported thousands of high-achieving science, engineering, and mathematics students.  A 2016 survey of past Scholars revealed that:

• 99% of all Goldwater Scholars completed a bachelor’s degree;
• 49% earned PhDs in science, mathematics or engineering and another 20% were still in school working on PhDs, bringing the total percentage receiving PhDs to nearly 70%;
• 8% had completed other doctoral degrees (e.g., MDs); and
• 72.6% of Goldwater Scholars reported current involvement in ongoing scientific, mathematics and engineering research.

With results like these, the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation is clearly meeting its core mission of identifying and supporting a significant pool of highly-qualified undergraduates who subsequently obtain advanced degrees and have then gone on to become some of this country’s leading research scientists and educators.

However, every year the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation reviewers identify hundreds more outstanding, highly-creative undergraduates who should be recognized and supported than the Foundation’s funds can accommodate.

Because there remains a larger opportunity to increase scholarships to other promising research scholars, the Barry Goldwater Educational Support Fund was created.  It provides an essential funding opportunity through which foundations and individual donors can donate and increase scholarship for hundreds of other promising students.  

Goldwater Scholars receive $7500 per year for one to two years. Supporting just one scholar represents one of the best investments that an individual or an organization can make.  The $7500 – $15,000 invested in each scholar yields years of incalculable return in impacting students through teaching, new and enhanced discoveries through research and multiple service contributions to our states and nation.  A donation of $65,000 (five scholars), $750,000 (50 scholars) or $1,000,000 (67 scholars) provides unlimited potential to keeping our Nation as the international leader in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics.

The Barry Goldwater Educational Support Fund (BGESF) is a qualified 501(C)(3) and all donations are tax deductible (consult your tax preparation professional for details). Donations are converted into scholarships for promising scholars in math, science and engineering or used to support the Goldwater Scholar Community. There are several options to provide monetary support.