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Professional Development Grant Program

Help yourself get to the Annual Conference!

EACE Professional Development Grants help defray costs for individual members who would not otherwise be able to participate in professional development events such as the EACE Annual Conference. 

Are you committed to becoming involved or more involved with EACE? Are you interested in applying knowledge and skills learned from the conference to your work? Do you need financial assistance to help you get there? If you answered, "yes" than the Grants & Scholarships Committee encourages you to apply for a Professional Development Grant!

"Thank you, EACE! The Professional Development Grant allows for the best newcomer experience...EVER." 

Do you want your logo featured on all Professional Development Grant materials and on every page of the EACE website? Learn more about sponsorship opportunities (coming soon).

Benefits

Each grant recipient may receive up to $1,000 to cover necessary expenses for EACE Annual Conference attendance, including but not limited to:
  • Conference registration ($619 value)
  • Lodging at the EACE host hotel at the group rate ($235 per night plus taxes)
  • Travel expenses (e.g., airfare/train/taxi mileage expense)
  • All applicants will be provided with guidance and resources on connecting with professional mentors within EACE between the end of the selection process and the Annual Conference

Recipient Requirements

  • Applicants must be EACE members. Not a member? Find out how to join.

  • EACE Blog Submission or Video for EACE Social Media: Following the event, the recipient is required to write a blog post that includes information both about the event and the impact of being a grant recipient. This post should be completed and submitted via online form within two weeks following the event. View an example.

  • Committee Involvement: Grant recipients are required to serve on an EACE Committee of choice for the following year. Click here for a listing of committees.

  • Reimbursement Procedures: EACE reimbursement policies and procedures must be followed and Expense Report must be submitted within two weeks following the Annual Conference. Click here for reimbursement policies and to access the Expense Report.

Application Process

Applications will be reviewed and scored based on the information provided, so please make sure to write complete and detailed essays in line with each prompt. Committee considerations will also include whether or not someone has attended the EACE Annual Conference and/or been awarded a grant/scholarship to attend in previous years. Applications must be submitted by March 2, 2026. Applicants will be notified by the end of March regarding the status of their application.

Application Tips

  • Respond to essay prompts clearly and provide detailed examples.
  • First time EACE Annual Conference attendees are encouraged to apply.
  • Previous applicants who were not selected can reapply for 2026 funding.
  • Applicants must be a member.
  • Include all committee involvement, past or present in your application.
  • Review budget worksheet when requesting funds, to ensure you are considering cost of attendance.
  • Don’t hesitate to have a colleague review your application before submission.
  • Please review the scoring rubric below to help inform your responses.

 

The Professional Development Grant Application will be available in mid-December. 


Scoring Rubric (16 pts possible)

Eligibility Criteria 0 points 1 point 2 points 3 points
Previous Grant Applicant/Winner Has been awarded the grant fewer than 5 years ago Has been awarded the grant 5 or more years ago Has never applied for or been awarded the grant Has applied for the grant in the past but never won
EACE Involvement (Essay) No clear EACE involvement with the organization Record of past involvement in EACE only Record of passive involvement in EACE (attending webinars, review newsletter) Clearly defined active involvement (committee membership, board membership, conference presentations)
EACE Aspirations (Essay) No clear future goals to engage with the organization Clearly identifies 1 area of interest within EACE and why they want to get involved Clearly identifies 2 areas of interest within EACE and why they want to get involved Clearly identifies 3+ areas of interest within EACE and why they want to get involved
Is Applicant Presenting at EACE26? No Yes    
Financial Need (Essay) Did not address financial need sufficiently. Essay conveys lack of time or effort put into response Provided minimal information on their demonstrated need for the grant. Answer is more vague or theoretical Provided a good amount of information on their need for the grant, but may be lacking some detail Provided clear, detailed, and thorough information to demonstrate their need for the grant
Professional Goals Met By Conference Attendance (Essay) Did not address how conference attendance would support their professional goals Provided 1 clear example of how attending the conference would support their professional goals Provided 2 clear examples of how attending the conference would support their professional goals Provided 3+ clear examples of how attending the conference would support their professional goals

 

Past Professional Development Grant Recipients

Click here to view past years' Professional Development Grant recipients.

Questions?

Please contact Grants & Scholarships Committee Co-Chairs, with any questions.