#2026APPAM Fall Conference Funding Opportunities

APPAM is committed to making the Fall Conference accessible to all.

To help reduce financial barriers and support broader participation, we’re proud to offer a variety of funding opportunities for attendees.

Please review each grant’s unique criteria before completing the form. You may apply for more than one grant, but based on your application and demand, you will only receive one.

Spencer Foundation Education Research Mentoring Grant

APPAM, with the support of the Spencer Foundation, will support 10 mentees from underrepresented backgrounds and institutions who are conducting quantitative research in education. Students not selected for the grant can still participate in Mentor Matching.

What Scholars receive:

  • Financial support for travel to the Fall Research Conference
  • Speed Mentoring sessions and access to the Mentoring Lounge
  • Networking and professional development events, including Career Fair programming
  • Full access to 400+ conference sessions and special events
  • Student registration for the conference

Applications are now closed.

We will also offer 25 mentors who participate in mentor matching and commit to participating in the Speed Mentoring event a 50% discount on conference registration.

  • Must be an APPAM member to be eligible. Priority will be given to APPAM members who have consistently participated as mentors in the past.
  • The 25 mentors will be selected to serve based on expertise for the table topics covered at the Speed Mentoring event.
  • Mentor Participation will be confirmed by mid-August, and if you are selected for the registration discount, we will reach out separately.

Mentor Applications are now closed.

Spencer Foundation Grant Applications are now closed.

Dependent Care Grant

Grants up to $400 are available for child or dependent care obligations. Grant funds are limited and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, with preference given to APPAM members who are full-time students and/or have received their terminal degree in the last 10 years. The Dependent Care Grant is provided on a rolling basis through October 16th or until funds run out. You must be a current APPAM member; if you are unsure, you can check here.

To submit an application, please log into All Academic via the links above & select “Submit a Proposal” to find the appropriate request form.

Apply Now

Student Ambassadors

The APPAM Annual Fall Research Conference can be overwhelming, particularly for first-time attendees and students who may not know how to make the most of the conference and the opportunities it offers.

The APPAM Student Ambassadors Program is designed to make the annual meeting more approachable and provide a positive, welcoming experience for conference attendees.

Ambassadors are active student members who are highly knowledgeable about the association. They are willing to commit to volunteering: serving as panel chairs, assisting conference attendees, and supporting the conference as needed.

Become an APPAM Ambassador and share your knowledge about APPAM, your graduate program, your research, and a little of your time by volunteering to help with one or more tasks during the conference.

Deadline: Monday, September 21

Program Benefits:

  • Opportunity to attend the APPAM Fall Research Conference
  • Waived conference registration fee
  • Opportunity to connect with a member of APPAM leadership
  • A personal letter from the President-Elect to your dean to acknowledge your contributions

Eligibility:

  • Must be enrolled in a Master’s or PhD program. Postdoctoral students are not eligible for the Student Ambassador Program
  • Must be an active APPAM student member for at least two years
  • Must have attended at least two APPAM conferences
  • Willingness to serve in various volunteer roles

Time Commitment:

  • Must be available beginning the morning of Thursday, November 5 (7 am ET) through Saturday, November 7
  • Attend the Know Before You Go Webinar (October 2026)
  • Attend the Virtual Pre-conference Check-in (October 2026)
  • Chairing a panel or student research session of your choosing (90 minutes)
  • Providing support to APPAM staff during the conference (3 hours); this can include, but is not limited to:
    • Staffing the registration desk
    • Assisting attendees with check-in issues
    • Answering general conference questions
    • Providing directional assistance
    • The term for all Ambassadors lasts the duration of the Annual Conference
Apply Now

Ascendium Education Group Travel Grants

APPAM is pleased to partner with Ascendium Education Group to offer up to 10 travel grants again this year. These individuals will receive complimentary conference registration, 3-night lodging, and a $500 travel stipend. Please see the criteria below:

  • Post-secondary or workforce development researcher/partner required. This is the most important qualification, so please do not apply if this is not your research area.
  • PhD students and professionals only.
    • Not open to undergraduate, master’s students, or retired individuals.
  • Must be a current APPAM member.
  • Paper presenters, poster presenters, and roundtable speakers are given preference.
    • Secondary preference given to discussants, chairs, and community organizers.
  • Must not be receiving conference funding from other sources.
  • Preference given to applicants attending the full conference.
Applications are Closed. 

Bloomberg Center for Cities Fall Research Conference Scholarships

The Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University is pleased to offer five scholarships for early-career researchers or Ph.D. students attending the APPAM Fall Research Conference.

By lowering financial barriers to participation, the Bloomberg Center aims to broaden access to APPAM and advance its commitment to bridging research and practice by supporting rigorous scholarship that informs the work of city leaders and improves quality of life in communities.

Scholarship Eligibility Requirements:

This scholarship is open to international scholars from underrepresented countries who meet the following criteria:

  • Degree: Current Ph.D. students or individuals who received a Ph.D. within the last five years
  • Research Focus: Work that addresses urban problem-solving and/or the leadership, management, and governance of cities
  • Nationality/Residency: Open to international scholars worldwide, including those currently based in the United States
  • Commitment: Able to attend the one-day pre-conference workshop at the Bloomberg Center on Wednesday, November 4, and the 2026 APPAM Conference, November 5 – 7.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to current APPAM members.

Please note: Applicants are responsible for initiating and managing their own visa process in a timely manner; APPAM assumes no responsibility for any delays in visa processing or approval.

Important Dates:

  • Application Deadline: Friday, July 10
  • Recipients notified: Monday, August 10
  • Pre-conference Workshop at the Bloomberg Center: Wednesday, November 4

Scholarship Benefits:

  • Complimentary conference registration fee
  • Travel stipend to cover costs of transportation (air and ground) & meals
  • Four nights’ accommodation at the conference hotel

Applications are now closed.

Raphael W. Bostic Fellowship for Economic Opportunity

APPAM, in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, will award the Raphael W. Bostic Fellowship for Economic Opportunity in honor of his retirement. This Fellowship will support travel costs to APPAM’s Annual Fall Research Conference for one scholar engaged in research that examines how policies, institutions, and market structures shape economic opportunity and equity, with an emphasis on addressing racial and social disparities, advancing economic equity, and dismantling systemic barriers to financial and housing security for historically marginalized communities.

Applicants must:

  • Be a current APPAM Professional Member. Students are not eligible to apply for this award.
  • Be engaged in research that addresses housing, credit, and/or community development, with a demonstrated focus on racial and social disparities, economic equity, and systemic barriers affecting historically marginalized communities.
  • Provide a resume/CV and one letter of recommendation.
  • Provide at least one and up to three recent completed research products that highlight contributions to the area.

Priority research areas include: Housing Access, Stability and Finance, Community Development and Reinvestment, Credit Markets, Financial Inclusion, Homeownership, Wealth-Building, Economic Mobility, Race, Identity and Discrimination in Home Ownership, Institutional Bias, and other related areas.

The recipient will receive the following:

  • Complimentary APPAM Fall Research conference registration fee
  • $599 stipend to offset costs of transportation (air and ground) as well as meals during the conference
  • Three nights’ accommodation at the conference hotel

Applications are now closed.