Available Funds

The following organizations provide funding which you can apply for and put toward professional development opportunities such as conference attendance, education or research. Many organizations provide opportunities for specific minority populations. The Professional Development Team at the University of South Carolina provides these links as a referral/information service and cannot guarantee the accuracy of the following information.   Please visit each organization’s web site for complete details.

American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO):  www.aacrao.org
Click on “award/grants” under “professional development” for information on available opportunities.

American College Personnel Association (ACPA):
Please see College Student Educators International

American Counseling Association (ACA) Foundation: www.counseling.org/foundation/index.htm
The American Counseling Association Foundation has an essay contest each year that awards cash prizes to graduate students.   They also provide 15 scholarships to graduate students (see “resources”).

American Education Research Association (AERA): www.aera.net
Please see the “fellowships and grants” section of this page.   You will find funding for research-based initiatives here.

Association of College Unions International (ACUI): www.acui.org
Under “About ACUI”, see “ACUI Education and Research Fund” for a wide variety of opportunities: Additionally, some of the regional associations give out local awards and scholarships. Just click on “About ACUI Regions”.

Association of Fraternity Advisors (AFA) Foundation: www.fraternityadvisors.org/Foundation.aspx
AFA offers several scholarships to attend their Annual Meeting. The applications are available in mid-May each year and are typically due in early September. AFA also offers 3 scholarships annually to attend the ACPA/AFA/ACUI Mid-Level Management Institute in January, and 1 scholarship to attend the Interfraternity Institute each summer. AFA members and non-members can apply for grants from the AFA Foundation to conduct research, provide professional development or assist with other projects or activities.

Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD): www.ahead.org
Offers the AHEAD scholarship periodically. The amount varies, and it is meant to be used for specific projects that are defined each year by the Board of Directors. Information is not on the web site, but rather an announcement goes out to members from the Board of Directors. You may wish to contact this organization directly for more information.

College Student Educators International (aka ACPA): www.myacpa.org
Click on “ACPA Foundation” and “Grants Program” to download a grant application for selected projects.

Cooperative Education & Internship Association: www.ceiainc.org
Please see the research section for information on several $2500 grants for research on cooperative education and internships. You do not have to be a member of CEIA to apply. Deadline is March of each year.

Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE): www.casefive.org
Click the “services and programs” link then “Awards and Recognition” it lists grants and scholarships they offer.

Decade of Behavior: www.decadeofbehavior.org
Click on “fund source” to find information on funding sources for behavioral and social science research .   This resource was created with the support of the National Science Foundation and the American Psychological Association.

National Association for College Employers (NACE): www.naceweb.org
Click on “NACE Foundation” to get funding for your leading-edge research and educational activities.                         

National Association for Campus Activities (NACA): www.naca.org
Click on “NACA Foundation” then “Scholarships” for a long list of NACA scholarships along with their deadlines, applications and requirements for eligibility.

National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA): www.naspa.org
The “Programs and Initiatives” tab to find a list of awards and fellows programs.

National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA): www.nirsafoundation.org/scholar.htm
Click on “Students” then “Scholarships and Awards.” Info about NIRSA scholarships for students or professionals interested in a career in recreational sports management can be found here. The scholarships cover attendance to NIRSA’s annual conference or specialized training offered through NIRSA.

National Orientation Directors Association (NODA): www.nodaweb.org
Click on “My NODA” then “awards/scholarships.”

National Resource Center for the First Year Experience and Students in Transition: www.sc.edu/fye/index.html
Click “Research” then find the link for the The Paul P. Fidler Research Grant which includes a $5,000 stipend, travel to two national conferences, and a potential publication for the development and dissemination of original research on student transitions.

Society of Research Administrators International (SRA International): www.srainternational.org
Click on the “Learning and Professional Development” tab then “Grants Web” for an excellent list of possible government funding, private funding, and other resources.

Southern Association for College Student Affairs (SACSA): www.sacsa.org
Under “About SACSA”, click on “SACSA Foundation” and contact SACSA directly for information on possible other grants and awards.

Note: If you are aware of additional resources we should add, please email us.