Brigade Scholarship Opportunities

There are several opportunities for you and your Chapter to receive scholarships to go towards your Donation Goal. Chapter Leaders, Healthcare Professionals (HCPs), and university faculty play an important role in empowering volunteers and growing the Global Brigades movement. To show our support and incentivize Brigade participation, scholarships are available for those who meet specific eligibility criteria.

The following apply to all scholarships awarded by Global Brigades USA

Program-Wide Scholarship Requirements

To be eligible for any Chapter Leader Recognition Scholarship, Chapter Leaders must also meet the following requirements:

• Meet Brigade Planning Deadlines: Your Brigade must remain in good standing by meeting the Initial Donation, Travel, and Final Donation Goal deadlines.
• Complete a Succession Plan: Before your Brigade concludes, you must either identify the next Chapter Leader or submit a succession plan demonstrating how leadership will transition for the coming year.

Chapter Leader Recognition Program

Recognizing Leadership. Celebrating Growth. Expanding Impact. Leaving legacy.

The Global Medical Brigades Recognition Program celebrates Chapter Leaders who grow their Chapters, create opportunities for more students to participate, and strengthen our long-term partnerships with communities around the world.

Rather than focusing solely on volunteer numbers, the Recognition Program recognizes the leadership, commitment, and impact behind every milestone. As Chapters grow, more future healthcare professionals gain meaningful experiences, more communities are reached, and the collective impact of Global Medical Brigades continues to expand.

Below you'll find answers to our most frequently asked questions about our program.

General Eligibility

1. Who is eligible for the Recognition Program? Recognition is available to eligible Global Medical Brigades Chapters that successfully meet the requirements outlined for each milestone.
   
   
2. When are scholarships awarded? Scholarships are awarded at the final Donation Goal deadline and are based on confirmed volunteer participation. And all eligibility requirements have been verified.
   
   
3. What counts toward volunteer totals? Volunteer totals are based on confirmed participants who successfully travel on Brigade. Students who register but do not ultimately participate are not included in final volunteer totals.

Founding Chapter Leader Scholarship

• Who is eligible? New Chapters that successfully launch and travel within one year of starting their Chapter.
  
  
• What do I receive? A Full Donation Goal Scholarship, including roundtrip airfare.
  
  
• Why does this milestone matter? Launching a new Chapter requires vision, perseverance, and leadership. This scholarship recognizes the commitment required to build something that creates opportunities for future students long after your first Brigade.

Growth Leader Scholarship

• Who is eligible? Existing Chapters that recruit 5 or more additional volunteers, reaching 14–25 total volunteers on Brigade.
  
  
• What do I receive? A $1,000 Donation Goal Scholarship.
  
  
• Why does this milestone matter? Leadership isn't measured only by size; it's measured by growth. Every additional student represents another future healthcare professional whose life and perspective will be shaped through service.

Impact Leader Scholarship

• Who is eligible? Chapter Leaders who recruit the minimum number of volunteers required to earn the first leadership scholarship (14 volunteers for most countries; country-specific minimums apply).
  
  
• What do I receive? A Full Donation Goal Scholarship, including round-trip airfare. 
  
  
• Why does this milestone matter? Every Brigade begins with one leader willing to inspire others to serve. Reaching this first milestone demonstrates your ability to build a committed team and create meaningful opportunities for volunteers while expanding access to healthcare alongside our partner communities.

Legacy Leader Scholarship

• Who is eligible? Existing Chapters traveling with 26 or more volunteers.
  
  
• What do I receive? A Full Donation Goal Scholarship, including roundtrip airfare. In addition, Chapters earn one additional Full Donation Goal Scholarship (including roundtrip airfare) for every 20 volunteers beyond their first 26.
  
  
• Why does this milestone matter? Growing a Chapter creates opportunities for more students to become future healthcare professionals while expanding Global Medical Brigades' long-term impact alongside partner communities.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What if a volunteer registers but doesn't travel? Only volunteers who successfully participate in the Brigade count toward Recognition Program eligibility.
  
  
• Can independent volunteers count toward our Chapter total? If the volunteer is officially traveling with your Chapter they count toward Chapter Recognition totals.
  
  
• How are scholarship recipients determined? Each scholarship has specific eligibility criteria. Please review the milestone requirements carefully or speak with your Success Advisor if you have questions.
  
  
• Can Chapters qualify for more than one recognition milestone? Yes. Depending on Chapter growth and total volunteer participation, Chapters may qualify for more than one Recognition Program milestones.
  
  
• Who can answer additional questions? Your Success Advisor is happy to help! Reach out anytime if you'd like to review your Chapter's progress or discuss eligibility before your Brigade.

Beyond Numbers

Every volunteer represents so much more than a number.

They represent another future healthcare professional who will gain leadership experience, develop greater cultural humility, and work alongside partner communities to strengthen sustainable healthcare systems around the world.

The Recognition Program exists to celebrate the leaders who make those opportunities possible.

Recognition celebrates leadership, not just participation. While scholarships recognize important milestones, the true impact is measured by the lives changed, the leaders developed, and the long-term relationships built alongside our partner communities.

Additional Scholarships

Student Advisory Board Scholarship

 A Chapter volunteer currently serving on the GMB Student Advisory Board may be eligible to receive a $1,000 USD scholarship to cover their Donation Goal for up to one Brigade per school year for a Brigade at their own university. 

• • Student Advisory Board meetings: Attend at least 90% of all monthly SAB meetings.

• • Demonstrate impact: SAB members must relay how they helped grow Global Brigades on their campus this year (larger Brigades, new Chapters, conferences, etc).
  • Achieve personal goals: Must demonstrate progress towards or achievement of the personal goals that were submitted to Global Brigades as a part of the SAB application. 

HCP Scholarships

A Medical or Dental Chapter that recruits Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) to participate in their Brigade may be eligible to receive a $400 USD or $100 USD Chapter Scholarship per HCP to support Donation Goals for their Brigade.

Eligibility Criteria

• • Licensed Professionals Eligible to Provide Clinical Consultations: Undergraduate University Medical & Dental Chapters are eligible to receive $400 Chapter Scholarships for any eligible HCPs who can practice on their Brigade. Host country regulations and scope-of-practice guidelines determine eligibility. Please confirm qualification requirements with your Program Advisor before travel.
  • Eligible Licensed Healthcare Professionals: Medical and Dental Chapters earn a $100 scholarship for each licensed Healthcare Professional (HCP) they recruit from the categories listed below. All listed professionals qualify for the $100 scholarship. Host country regulations determine clinical responsibilities during the Brigade.

• • Meet volunteer minimum: The Brigade must meet at least the volunteer recruitment minimum for their Program and country.

• • Meet Brigade Planning Deadlines: Your Brigade must remain in good standing by meeting the Initial Donation, Travel, and Final Donation Goal deadlines.
    
    

HCPs eligible for scholarships: The HCPs listed below are eligible to get a scholarship. However, this does not mean that they will be able to practice during the Brigade based on each country’s regulations. Here is a list of licensed healthcare providers who can practice during the Brigade. Please reach out to your Program Advisor for more information.

Faculty Scholarships

A University Chapter that recruits a university faculty member to participate in their Brigade may be eligible to receive a $400 USD Chapter Scholarship per faculty to go toward Donation Goals for their Brigade.

• • Meet volunteer minimum: The Brigade must meet the minimum number of volunteers required for its program.

• • Meet Brigade Planning Deadlines: Your Brigade must remain in good standing by meeting the Initial Donation, Travel, and Final Donation Goal deadlines.

TeleBrigades Chapter Scholarship

Upon completing a TeleBrigade, the Chapter receives a $500 USD scholarship to be put towards a future In-Person Brigade at the discretion of their leadership.

• • Telebrigade completion: Any Chapter that completes a TeleBrigade is eligible to count towards a $500 scholarship for the Chapter, which will be documented and provided to the Chapter at the conclusion of the TeleBrigade.

• •  Within one year of receiving the scholarship, the Chapter can apply their Chapter Scholarship towards an In-Person Brigade. After one year, the scholarship will no longer be valid.

Thank you to all the volunteers, professionals, and leaders who work to achieve Global Brigades’ shared mission and values. If you have any questions regarding our Brigade Scholarships, please contact your Program Advisor. 

Not sure who your Program Advisors and Success Advisors are?

Contact admin@globalbrigades.org