PRSA Foundation

05/01/2026

The deadline to apply to PRSA Foundation scholarships has been extended! You now have until Friday, May 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT to apply for more than $50,000 in scholarships and grants, including some exclusive to Public Relations Student Society of America - PRSSA members. Some PRSA Chapter scholarships may have different deadlines. Learn more and apply at https://prsa.awardspring.com/Home/Scholarships.

04/22/2026

Today, the PRSA Foundation announced the 2026 class of the Foster the Future fellowship program. Foster the Future is a collaborative initiative between Mission North, communications agency partners, and the PRSA Foundation to mobilize the public relations and communications industry for transformative change.

Launched in 2022, the Foster the Future program is expanding its impact with the support of 12 leading PR and communications agencies, including six new partners this year. In addition to a paid internship at each participating agency, a total of $102,000 in scholarships and stipends will be awarded to fellowship recipients through the PRSA Foundation, establishing a new record and exceeding last year’s award value by more than $9,000. To date, $356,500 has been awarded to 32 students.

This year’s fellowship recipients are:
• AGEAN Public Relations Fellowship: Desiree Lawrence, Rutgers University
• EvolveMKD Fellowship: Sophia Jreij, New York University
• Greenough Communications Fellowship: Audrey Lee, Boston University
• Hannah Cranston Media Fellowship: Aliza Nanku, William Paterson University and Uma Surampudi, New York University
• Hirsch Leatherwood Fellowship: Sofia Gonzalez Bernier, Boston University
• Kite Hill Fellowship: Olivia Merced, University of Delaware
• LaunchSquad Fellowship: Laura Leonel, Stockton University
• Mission North Fellowship: Alexia Soriano, University of Florida
• Scout Lab Fellowship: Grace Velazquez, Montclair State University
• SolComms Fellowship: Emma Alexander, Cornell University
• The Key PR Fellowship: Teairra Brown, San Jose State University
• V2 Communications Fellowship: Ariel Lee, New York University

The fellowship recipients will complete a five-to-13-week paid internship this summer, using a curriculum developed by Mission North in 2022. Fellowship recipients will also receive professional development training from Muck Rack, Strong Professional, and Brian Simon Associates to accelerate their careers.

“Congratulations to this year’s Foster the Future fellows,” said Natan Edelsburg, president of the PRSA Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “Programs like this are critical to opening doors and creating real pathways into the industry. It’s especially exciting to see the program continue to grow, with more agency partners and greater investment in these students’ futures."

The fellowship recipients will be recognized with other PRSA Foundation scholarship and grant recipients at the PRSSA awards ceremony at ICON 2026 in Orlando, Fla.

04/06/2026

New 2026 Fellowship Opportunity!

We're excited to introduce the MikeWorldWide Fellowship in parnership with MikeWorldWide! This fellowship will award one student with a $2,500 scholarship and a paid ten-week full time internship with MikeWorldWide in Los Angeles, CA or New York, NY this summer..

Rising seniors and graduating seniors who are pursuing a major in public relations, communications, journalism, marketing, or related fields and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher are encouraged to apply.

Applications are due April 14, 2026.

Learn more & apply at: https://www.prsafoundation.org/scholarships-awards/mikeworldwide-fellowship

02/11/2026

The second annual FINN-PRSA Foundation Networking Mixer was held at the New York headquarters of FINN Partners in late January. The event was co-hosted by FINN’s Global Chief Diversity Officer Helen C. Shelton, MS, PRSA Foundation Trustee and Muck Rack’s Chief Partnership Officer, Natan Edelsburg, 2026 PRSA Foundation Board President.

Students and faculty from The City College of New York, Hofstra University, Montclair State University, New York University, Seton Hall University, St. John's University, and William Paterson University of New Jersey met with professionals from FINN Partners, Hannah Cranston Media (HCM), Mission North, Muck Rack, Relations Society of America (PRSA), and the PRSA Foundation to learn about internship, fellowship, and grant opportunities and entering the public relations profession. FINN Partners also introduced the 2026 Excellence Award at The City College of New York winner, Shefa Giash.

“We are delighted to further our collaborative partnership with the PRSA Foundation, PRSA and PRSSA,” says Helen Shelton. “Education is a major pillar of FINN’s inclusion and impact work. And, together with the PRSA Foundation, we are committed to fostering the next generation of industry leaders.”
Following a successful launch in 2025, this year’s mixer continued to bridge classroom learning and career opportunities while encouraging meaningful connections for the students.

“Creating real access to the industry is at the heart of the PRSA Foundation’s mission,” adds Natan Edelsburg. “By bringing students face to face with agency leaders and hiring managers, this mixer helps turn classroom learning into real career momentum. We are proud to continue this partnership with FINN Partners and to support students as they build the relationships that will shape their futures in communications.”

Senior PRSA staff, including Susan Belanich, Amber Shaverdi Huston, CAE, and Jeneen Garcia were on hand to facilitate the event, along with FINN’s Elizabeth Ferreira and Dawn Frederick, as well as Education practice executives Patricia Stapor and Alyx Bowles.

01/15/2026

Applications to the 2026 Foster the Future Fellowships are now open!

Foster the Future is a collaborative initiative between Mission North, communications agency partners, and the PRSA Foundation to mobilize our industry for transformative change. Together, we're providing opportunities for the next generation of PR leaders, and this year is our biggest year yet.

In 2026, we're awarding $99,000 across twelve fellowships for public relations and communications students, each with some combination of scholarships, stipends, and paid summer internships.

The 2026 awards include:

Agean Public Relations Fellowship: $2,500 scholarship, 5-week remote internship.

EvolveMKD Fellowship: $5,000 scholarship, 12-week internship in New York, NY.

Greenough Communications Fellowship: $3,500 scholarship, 8-week internship in Boston, MA.

Hannah Cranston Media (HCM) Fellowship: $3,000 scholarship, 12-week internship in New York, NY.

Hirsch Leatherwood Fellowship: $2,500 scholarship, 8-week internship in New York, NY.

The Key PR Fellowship: $10,000 scholarship, $4,000 stipend, 8-week internship in San Francisco, CA.

Kite Hill Fellowship: $1,500 scholarship, 3-month internship in New York, NY.

LaunchSquad Fellowship: $15,000 scholarship, $4,000 stipend, 8-week remote internship.

Mission North Fellowship: $32,000 scholarship, $6,000 stipend, 12-week internship in New York, NY or San Francisco, CA.

Scout Lab Fellowship: $2,500 scholarship, 3-month remote internship.

SolComms Fellowship: $5,000 scholarship, 13-week internship in New York, NY.

V2 Communications Fellowship: $2,500 scholarship, 8-week internship in Boston, MA.

Fellowship recipients will also receive professional development training from Muck Rack, Strong Professional, and Brian Simon Associates to accelerate their careers.

Applications are open until February 17, 2026. Learn more and apply:

Foster the Future is a collaborative initiative between Mission North, communications agency partners, and the PRSA Foundation to mobilize our industry for transformative change. In 2026, the PRSA Foundation will award 12 fellowships, totalling $99,000 in awards and paid internship opportunities wit...

10/30/2025

Yesterday, we presented Bill Imada with the Paladin Award at the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Celebration at ICON 2025 in Washington, D.C. We recognized Bill for his legacy in advancing diversity and inclusion in the PR profession. Congratulations, Bill!

10/21/2025

The 2025 Paladin Award will be presented to Bill Imada, Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Connectivity Officer at IW Group. The annual award, which will be presented at PRSA ICON on the evening of October 29 at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., honors communications leaders who have made a significant and measurable impact on the advancement of diversity and inclusion in the public relations sector.

For more than three decades, Bill and his team have played a critical role in engaging the growing Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. IW Group has offices in Los Angeles, Dallas, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. Bill and his agency represent some of the most recognized brands globally, including BeamSuntory, Bristol Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, Lexus, MARVEL, McDonald’s, MGM Resorts, NBCUniversal, Nielsen, Northwestern Mutual, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Walmart Stores, Walt Disney, Warner Bros. Pictures, Wells Fargo, and many others.

“I am delighted the PRSA Foundation will recognize Bill Imada with the Paladin Award during the PRSA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Celebration at PRSA ICON in Washington, D.C.,” said Thomas Bennett, president, PRSA Foundation. “It goes without saying that Bill is very well-respected and known within the PR and communications profession. He has made a significant impact throughout his career and particularly when it comes to making the profession more diverse, inclusive, and a profession where everyone feels they belong. He is very deserving of this recognition and award.”

10/08/2025

The PRSA Foundation has named Darrel Ng as the 2026 President-Elect of the Board of Trustees.

Darrel Ng is a seasoned strategic communications and marketing executive, leading a team of 40+ at a Fortune 25 health care company. He is currently the Vice President for Communications and Marketing at Health Net and co-leads PRSA’s AANHPI Affinity Group.

“I’m deeply honored to be chosen by my peers to lead the PRSA Foundation in 2027,” said Ng. “Our industry has made meaningful progress in embracing diverse voices, but true inclusion means more than just a seat at the table. It means feeling welcomed. I look forward to working with the Foundation, PRSA, and our industry partners to build a larger table where everyone is heard and valued.”

10/01/2025

Join the Conversation That Can Shape the Future of Our Industry

Hispanics make up nearly 20% of the U.S. population and drive one of the most powerful consumer markets in the world, yet they remain significantly underrepresented in public relations and communications. If U.S. Latinos were a country, they’d rank among the top 5 economies in the world ($4.1 Trillion). Hispanic outreach is no longer a nice add-on; it’s a business imperative. These numbers make one thing clear: Representation matters.

This inspiring virtual summit brings together industry titans to discuss:

Proven strategies to attract and retain more Hispanic professionals.
The power of mentorship and allyship in advancing careers.
How Hispanic voices strengthen the future of communications.
Panelists:

Isabel Abislaiman, senior vice president and senior partner, FleishmanHillard
Michael Estevez, vice president, communications, Bristol Myers Squibb
Rosemary Mercedes, senior vice president, global communications, BBC Studios
Moderator: Stephen Chavez, president and CEO, ChavezPR

Presented by the PRSA Foundation. All proceeds from registration fees will benefit the PRSA Foundation.

Register at https://www.prsa.org/event/2025/10/08/default-calendar/prsa-foundation-presents-advancing-hispanic-representation-in-pr-and-communications-wbfnd2502

09/26/2025

The energy at our Morgan State University Student Summit yesterday was incredible!

We started the day with at the Morgan State University School of Global Journalism and Communication, where we learned about their strategic communication initiatives and student media production. We also toured the Bear TV and podcast studios, WEAA radio station, Interactive Communication Center, and digital newsroom.

In the evening, we had an insightful panel discussion covering experiences as HBCU students, entering the public relations profession, personal branding, unspoken rules, and more. Thank you to our incredible speakers, Trisch Smith (Edelman), Quiana Pinckney (Comcast), and our board president Thomas Bennett (FleishmanHillard) for sharing their experiences and valuable perspectives with the next generation of public relations professionals.

Thank you to all the talented and motivated students who attended, especially PRSSA Bears—your energy made the day a success!

We also extend our sincere gratitude to Morgan State University School of Global Journalism and Communication, Jana Duckett, and all the dedicated faculty and staff who graciously hosted us and helped coordinate the event.

This was our first student summit, and we’re already looking forward to next year’s.

08/22/2025

We're hosting the first PR & Communications Student Summit on the campus of Morgan State University, an HBCU in Baltimore, MD on September 25 at 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm. All students from MSU's School of Global Communications & Journalism are invited to attend this free event. The summit panel speakers are:

Trisch Smith, Global Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, Edelman
Quiana Pinckney, Senior Vice President, Division Communications, Comcast
Moderator: Thomas Bennett, Senior Vice President, FleishmanHillard

The panelists, all HBCU graduates and public relations leaders, will share with students about their journey and how to get prepared, navigate, and be successful in the profession.

Learn more and RSVP here: https://www.prsafoundation.org/events/morgan-state-university-student-summit/