Society News
Industry foundation throws lifeline with funding for aviation charities and student scholarships
RICHARD GOODHEAD CEng MRAeS, a Trustee of the ISTAT Foundation and Chair of its Promotions and Communications Committee, explains how aviation museums, not-for-profit organisations and students, can tap into funding from the global aviation industry organisation International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT).
With many aviation charities and museums struggling to survive this year due to the Covid-19 crisis, there is welcome news from the ISTAT Foundation, the charitable arm of ISTAT, which is now seeking to expand its generosity further internationally to support individuals and institutions that promote the advancement of commercial aviation and humanitarianism.
Founded in 1983, ISTAT is the premier international, not-for-profit organisation currently representing more than 5,000 members worldwide who are involved in operating, manufacturing, maintaining, selling, purchasing, financing, leasing, appraising, insuring, or other activities related to the commercial aviation sector. ISTAT is committed to providing its members with the highest quality and bestvalue networking and education opportunities in commercial aviation, administering the industry’s leading appraiser programme, and investing in the future through the ISTAT Foundation.
Royal Flying Doctor Service Beechcraft Super King Air B200C, VH-MSZ, at Wagga Wagga Airport. The Royal Flying Doctor Service Victoria received a 2020 ISTAT Foundation Humanitarian Aid Grant. Bidgee.
Founded in 1994, the ISTAT Foundation fosters the future of aviation across the globe by supporting individuals and institutions that promote the advancement of commercial aviation and humanitarianism. Annual grants from ISTAT itself and contributions from individuals and companies, support the ISTAT Foundation’s five programmes – Scholarships, Grants, Internships, ISTAT University and Humanitarian Aid. Over the past ten years, the ISTAT Foundation has provided over $7.5m in support to nearly 800 students and 75 not-for-profit organisations worldwide. Alone in 2020, this amounted to approx $1m, with the average grant size typically being in the region of $7,000. Despite the pandemic, the ISTAT Foundation is committed to remain relevant as a provider of educational and grant financial support.
The five programmes foster interest in, create opportunities for, and provide assistance to, the global aviation community through:
- Scholarships to academically-qualified students pursuing an aviation-related degree at universities worldwide;
- Grants to global, not-for-profit organisations, such as educational institutions and museums that promote the advancement of the commercial aviation industry;
- Humanitarian Aid to charities worldwide that use the power of aviation to help save lives, promote human welfare and alleviate suffering;
- ISTAT University, which offers qualified university students the opportunity to participate in a certificate programme focusing on aviation finance and
- Internships offering opportunities at ISTAT member companies through the ISTAT Foundation Internship Portal for students seeking careers in aviation.
The ISTAT Foundation has made a significant impact in the British aviation community by providing scholarships to aviation-focused students at British universities and grant funding to aviation-focused British educational institutions, museums and humanitarian organisations. Universities supported by the Scholarship Programme include Cambridge University, Cranfield University, Imperial College London, University of Leeds, Loughborough University, University of Bath and more. The ISTAT Foundation has also provided funding through the Grants and Humanitarian Aid Programmes to the Brooklands Museum, Aviation Without BordersUK, Aerobility, Mission Aviation Fellowship, London Air Ambulance, Lucy Air Ambulance, Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust and Wings Like Eagles.
In recent years, the ISTAT Foundation has prioritised the expansion of its international reach outside of the US and I’d strongly encourage other UK-based aviation museums and educational institutions to apply for grant funding in 2021. The Grants Programme offers aviation-related funding to nongovernmental, not-for-profit organisations around the globe that promote the commercial aviation industry through inspiration and education.
The application to apply for grant funding will be available on the Grants Programme website (https://foundation.istat.org/Programs/Grants) in early February and will close in May. An example of a successful candidate is 2019 recipient Aviation Without Borders UK which received $5,000 in grant funding to support its ‘On Track’ programme that took place at Stansted Airport College in November 2019. The programme was organised to promote a variety of careers in aviation to participants between the ages of 12 and 15.
For more information on the ISTAT Foundation’s impact on the global aviation community and ways to support, please visit foundation.istat.org or email istatfoundation@istat.org.
