The IFA Foundation is committed to cultivating the next generation of franchise leaders. Through scholarships that enable emerging leaders in the IFA community to complete the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) program, we are investing in the talent that will drive innovation and keep the franchise community thriving for years to come.

The CFE is the gold standard for leadership and accomplishment in the franchising community, providing you with powerful learning and resources for all aspects of franchise business so that you can more effectively lead your company, your team and your career growth. This year, the IFA Foundation will award 20 fully-funded Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) scholarships to emerging leaders so that they can elevate their brands to new heights.

Scholarship winners will receive up to $6,000 in coursework and credits, including:
• Foundations of Franchising
• Fran-Guard™ compliance training
• CFE Final Exam
• Additional elective education credits

Through this program, the IFA Foundation expands access to high-quality learning and empowers franchise leaders to use education to scale successfully.
• Strengthen franchisee support
• Build scalable systems
• Improve unit-level performance
• Lead with confidence
• Navigate compliance and operational complexity

The 2026 CFE scholarship application is open to all IFA members, but especially valuable for:
• Emerging franchisor founders & executives
• Brand leaders looking to scale responsibly
• Franchise professionals seeking structured expertise

Individuals from emerging brands are particularly encouraged to apply. Earn a scholarship for the practical learning franchise brands rely on.

To be eligible, you must be an IFA member as of November 1, 2025, and remain a member in good standing throughout CFE coursework.

Apply Now