About Nuffield

History of the Nuffield Organization

The ethos and focus of the Nuffield Farming Scholarship owes much to its founder, William Morris (who later became Lord Nuffield). Morris, an industrialist and philanthropist in the United Kingdom, made his fortune building bicycles and later launching Morris Motor Company. As part of his journey to learn about building cars, Morris sought out other leaders in the sector to see what they were doing. This curiosity, experiential learning, and transformative travel helped shape his success, and it is the foundation of the journey each Nuffield Scholar undertakes. Morris’s philanthropy established the Nuffield Farming Scholars program in 1947, and the program continues to this day via generous support from scholarship funders from around the world.

Black and white photo of a person in a suit, with arms crossed.

The Nuffield Vision Grows in the United States

In 2005, the executives of the eight member nations created an annual forum for Nuffield Scholars from around the world to gather, exchange ideas, share experiences, build their own global network and explore agricultural issues. Now an annual event known as the Contemporary Scholars Conference (CSC), this week-long event has become a pillar in the Nuffield experience for scholars from as many as 14 countries.

In 2014, the Nuffield International board voted to create the Nuffield International Scholarship. This venture allowed new start-up countries to join Nuffield as Associate members of Nuffield. The new countries have the goal of reaching full-membership status as certain parameters are reached. This action opened the Nuffield Scholar experience to Scholars from Associate Nuffield countries.

The United States has hosted individual scholars for over fifty years and has hosted the Global Focus Program (GFP) groups annually since 2001. Nuffield USA became an associate member-country in 2015. Nuffield USA incorporated as a Not-for-Profit Delaware Corporation in 2016 and was granted U.S. IRS 501(3)(c) tax-exempt status in 2018. The first Nuffield USA Scholar was selected in 2017. From that start, by 2025, twenty five Nuffield USA Scholars have been selected for the $25,000 scholarship.

Nuffield USA is now a full member country in the global Nuffield organization and currently awards state-based and regional scholarships for scholars in California, Iowa, Texas, North Carolina, and the Mid-Atlantic region. We are also actively pursuing funding for additional state and national scholarships.

A group of people standing in a field during sunset. They are smiling and wearing casual and work attire. The field has tall, dry plants, and mountains are visible in the background.
Three people standing in a greenhouse with tall tomato plants, showing red and green tomatoes.
Group of people wearing hard hats standing on grass near large wrapped bale
Group of men in a factory with industrial equipment, wearing casual work attire and holding drinks.
Group of people and Brahman cattle in a farm setting with trees and a barn in the background.
Group of seven people standing outdoors in front of a sculpture with hills in the background, smiling at the camera, dressed in formal and casual attire.
Group of people in jackets and hats standing in a field examining plants, with one person squatting to inspect closer.
Group of people smiling for a photo on a boat with a rocky hill and trees in the background.
Group of people standing in front of a café and brewery entrance with a sign, wearing casual outdoor clothing, stone pavement.
Two people smiling in front of a vintage orange Nuffield tractor, with a building in the background on a sunny day.