P.E.O. Sisterhood

The P.E.O. Sisterhood' is an international women's organization of about 250,000 members with a primary focus on providing educational opportunities for female students worldwide. The Sisterhood is organized with chapters throughout the United States and Canada, headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa.

To date (2014) more than $235 million has been awarded to over 90,000 women from the organization's six educational grants, loans, awards, and stewardship of Cottey College. P.E.O. has awarded Educational Loan Fund (ELF) dollars totaling more than $143.6 million, International Peace Scholarships (IPS) are more than $29 million, Program for Continuing Education (PCE) grants are more than $43 million, P.E.O. Scholar Awards (PSA) are more than $16 million and P.E.O. STAR Scholarships (STAR) are more than $2.6 million. In addition, 8,500 women have graduated from Cottey College.

Cottey College (est. 1884) is an independent, liberal arts and sciences college for women. Located in Nevada, Missouri, its residential student capacity of 350 students typically represents 40 states and 25 countries annually.

The Educational Loan Fund (est. 1907) makes loans available to qualified American and Canadian women with financial need.

The International Peace Scholarship Fund (est. 1949) provides scholarships for international women to pursue graduate study in the U.S. and Canada. Since 1949, IPS has awarded scholarships to 5,605 women from 174 different countries.

During the 2014-2015 academic year, 164 exceptional women will be studying toward graduate degrees at 90 different universities in 32 states and 4 Canadian provinces. Of this year's recipients, 47 are from Africa, 28 from Asia and 23 each from the Middle East, South America and Europe. The remaining 20 come from Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Central America and the Caribbean.

The Program for Continuing Education (est. 1973) provides need-based grants to women in the U.S. and Canada whose education has been interrupted and need to return to school to support themselves and/or their families through continuing education programs.

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