Help Us Help You!

The DMFA is proud to announce the creation of a new scholarship fund to enable fundraisers to attend conferences or other educational opportunities.

The $10,000 annual funding pool is expected to award more than 20 individual stipends each year, and applications can be submitted for amounts between $50 and $1,000.

The DMFA realizes that all too often fundraisers (and those who are interested in fundraising as a career) face tight budgets that prevent them from pursuing continuing professional development. We hope the establishment of this fund will provide resources to subsidize their educational costs.

The DMFA believes that when one of us becomes a better fundraiser, it helps lift up all his or her peers as well. Whether it is a one-hour webinar, a full-day seminar, or one of the annual conferences organized by industry peers, we hope this fund will make education more attainable for fundraisers and aspiring fundraisers of all levels.

Interested applicants should read the Scholarship Fund requirements and fill out the online application. Applicants are required to submit a 250-word description of what type of event they would like to attend and how they expect their attendance will benefit themselves, their organization, and the broader industry.

If you need more information on the DMFA Scholarship Fund, please email info@dmfa.org or call Risa Sudnow at 646-675-7314.

DMFA Scholarship Fund Requirements

1. Applicants must submit a complete scholarship application including a written 250-word essay on why they are applying for this scholarship, a photo, and a reference.
2. Applications must be received 7 days prior to the class, conference, or seminar for which the scholarship will be used.
3. Scholarships can only be applied to the cost of a class, conference, or seminar on direct response fundraising. Travel expenses will not be covered.
4. The value of the scholarship will vary in the range of $50 to $1,000.
5. Scholarship award checks will be paid in the recipient’s name directly to the organization hosting the class, conference, or seminar.
6. Applicants must reside in the U.S. as a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
7. Applicants must show a commitment to pursuing a career in direct response fundraising.
8. Employees of a non-profit organization, students, and non-working professionals are all eligible to apply. DMFA board members are also eligible, and will not be included on the scholarship review committee.  
9. There is a $1,000 cumulative limit per scholarship winner per calendar year.
10. Winners are required to provide written feedback to the DMFA on what they learned at the class, conference, or seminar based on the scholarship provided. This should be a minimum of 500 words. Feedback should be submitted no later than one week after attending. Please email this to info@dmfa.org.
11. The scholarship recipient agrees that the DMFA may, without any limitation or further compensation or notice, use his or her name, photo, or written feedback in any and all media for the purpose of advertising and promoting the Scholarship Fund program.

Apply Now