Last Chance: Final Cycle for PDF Scholarships for 2010

The deadline for the final cycle of Professional Development Fund (PDF) scholarships is right around the corner! Applications are due on June 18th by 5pm EST and can be downloaded from www.epip.org. As a former PDF scholarship recipient, I highly encourage people of color working in our local philanthropic community to take advantage of this opportunity. My PDF scholarship allowed me to attend the Chapter Leader Gathering in Detroit in 2009, which was one of the most useful professional experiences I have had.

More information from EPIP is below. Please contact Sophia Silao, Associate Director of EPIP with any questions.

• Have you always wanted to attend a national conference but couldn’t afford to go?
• Would you like to deepen your understanding of a specific topic and strengthen your skills as an effective grantmaker?
• Are you looking to connect with other young leaders of color in philanthropy?

EPIP is now accepting applications for the 2010 summer cycle of the Professional Development Fund (PDF).

Generously funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, EPIP’s Professional Development Fund awards young philanthropic leaders of color up to $1,000 to attend a conference, gathering or training of their choice. Since its inception, the PDF has awarded close to $56,000 to promising young leaders from different sectors of philanthropy -- from public, private and corporate foundations to foundation affinity groups and philanthropic support institutions. In turn, awardees attended conferences sponsored by such organizations as EPIP, the Council on Foundations, Neighborhood Funders Group and the Environmental Grantmakers Association.

• THANK you … for an incredible conference and one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. On the plane ride back to NYC, I was so energized and inspired that I wrote up PAGES of notes, thoughts, take-aways, and to-dos! (Hoping to maintain this momentum for as long as possible.) (PDF awardee ’10)

PDF awardees are also invited to the PDF Gathering, a national convening focusing on skills development and the exploration of racial equity and social justice grantmaking.

• The connections are invaluable—really grounded me in this work and felt a part of a community. An empowering experience. (PDF awardee ’10)
  
  
• The gathering was an awakening experience. It helped me to figure out how to define my own path. (PDF awardee ’09)