Student Professional Development (SPD) grants

Student Professional Development (SPD) grants is sponsored by American Indian College Fund. These grants provide experiential learning opportunities to boost professional literacy and open doors to career possibilities for Native students. The grants aim to help students develop professional skills and gain a deeper understanding of future employment options.

Student Professional Development Grant Application | American Indian College Fund Student Professional Development Grant Application Home 5 Career Readiness and Employment 5 Scholar Programs 5 Student Professional Development Grants 5 Student Professional Development Grant Application The SPD Grant Application is currently closed.

Application and Award Schedule The American Indian College Fund’s Student Professional Development (SPD) Grant Program supports scholars in experiential learning for enhanced professional literacy and employment exploration. Scholars who are awarded an SPD grant will receive $2,500. SPD grant applicants are encouraged to design and complete innovative projects for personal and professional growth.

Scholars who receive an SPD grant may or may not receive academic credit for project completion, depending upon their college’s or university’s policies. SPD grants are intended to: Help scholars develop a sense of achievement. Increase scholars’ professional skills (“hard” and transferable).

Establish long-term learning objectives and outcomes. Enhance scholars’ understanding of their future employment options. Scholars’ applications must meet the following criteria for consideration.

If you are unsure whether your application meets program requirements, please contact Annamarie Stevens, Career Readiness & Employment Student Programs Administrator at careers@collegefund. org . Submit a completed project application with an identified staff/faculty advisor.

Project proposals must support the scholar’s professional development and future employment pathway planning. Projects must be designed to help scholars develop key competencies in areas such as critical thinking, professionalism, communication, technology, career management and/or multi-cultural fluency.

The scholar and identified staff/faculty advisor must provide all necessary reporting to the American Indian College Fund in a timely manner. Please review the following suggestions for possible project activities. Please note: SPD grant funding may be used to pay for project expenses and provide scholars with a salary for planned projects.

Gain practical experience in your field. Assist faculty with community-based data collection and analysis. Collaborate with organizations for virtual work assignments.

Develop projects to enhance professional skills. Support faculty by compiling data for analysis. Engage in literature reviews, data analysis, and data organization.

Enhance analytic skills with new technology. Organize community service, e.g., highway clean-up, to develop community-based solutions. Create a one-day event or event series to support community action for positive, focused change.

Implement research and data collection methods in community-based projects that enhance understanding of in-class curriculum. Enhance understanding of classroom curriculum through specific research projects. SPD grant application announced EMAIL completed application – project work plan, timeline, learning outcomes, staffing support, and budget to: Annamarie Stevens at careers@collegefund.

org PLEASE NOTE: Your application will be reviewed by a committee using the rubric provided below. Scholars’ applications that score “High” in both personal/professional development and proposal innovation/explanation are most likely to be awarded an SPD grant. Upon SPD grant award selection Scholars who receive an SPD grant will be emailed formal copies of the grant award letter and agreement.

Scholars will also be asked to complete a W-9 form and an electronic funds transfer (EFT) form. The American Indian College Fund will directly deposit SPD grant funds to awarded scholars’ bank accounts. Awarding will start on the week of March 6-13, 2026.

Check-in and Reporting Schedule Annamarie Stevens, Career Readiness & Employment Student Programs Administrator, will conduct periodic check-ins with awarded scholars to answer questions and address concerns as needed. A minimum of two checks need to be completed.

Scholar/faculty team complete evaluation forms (provided to scholar/faculty at end of project) Finalize all scholar and faculty evaluations Deadline for scholars and faculty to submit SPD grant evaluation documents to the American Indian College Fund .

Each project application will be reviewed and rated upon the following: Innovation – a unique, interesting, fun, cool tactic or strategy that will support growth/deepen the understanding of the applicant’s professional or employment future. Explanation – a strong conveyance of how the tactic or strategy will impact and change the professional growth of the applicant.

Personal/Professional Development – a clear sharing of what will change or grow in the applicant because they were able to attempt/complete this innovative project. 🔴 Low: Generic or lacks originality; little connection to growth. 🟡 Average: Some creativity but lacks strong innovation or depth.

🟢 Exceptional: Highly original, engaging, and deeply impactful. 🔴 Low: Weak or unclear connection to professional growth. 🟡 Average: General explanation with limited depth or examples.

🟢 Exceptional: Clear, detailed, and strongly tied to career impact. Personal/Professional Development 🔴 Low: No clear reflection on growth or future impact. 🟡 Average: Mentions benefits but lacks depth or vision.

🟢 Exceptional: Thoughtful, specific, and outlines long-term value. Application Checklist/Required Documents DUE BY February 27, 2026 SPD grant applicants must submit the following documents and information to receive full and equal consideration during the selection process.

Cover Page and Course Credit Authorization (if applicable) Project Proposal/Work Plan Project Learning Outcomes Project Support and Budget Completed SPD grant applications and all supporting documents must be emailed to Annamarie Stevens at careers@collegefund. org by 11:45 pm (MST) on February 27, 2026. May 1, 2026 – Finalize all scholar and faculty evaluations.

May 8, 2026 – Deadline for scholars and faculty to submit SPD grant evaluation documents to the American Indian College.

By the conclusion of the project, scholars must complete and submit the following: Scholar evaluation (worksheet will be provided) Faculty evaluation (worksheet will be provided) Photos (5 to 15) or video Start with Explore Careers to look for academic programs that may align with personal and professional goals; additionally, find useful information on possible job tracks.

Academic Programs and Jobs Native-Focused Degrees and Programs Native-Focused Institutes and Centers Tribal Colleges and Universities Check out Programs to Develop Your Skills page to learn about student programs that can support academic and skill development goals.

Student Professional Development Grants 7 Generation Innovators Fellowship Internship Matching (coming soon) Innovation Programs (coming soon) The Professional Development page offers basic resources to support professional and career development. Interview Tips and Professional Etiquette Employment Resources provides basic information for us as we move from entry level positions to upper-level management roles.

Leadership Level (coming soon) Entrepreneurship Level (coming soon) Retirement Level (coming soon) The Career Advising Resources page provides resources for those who are supporting academic and professional journeys for others.

Six R Evaluation Framework Programs to Develop Your Skills Career Advising Resources Programs to Develop Your Skills Career Advising Resources Tribal Colleges and Universities Tribal colleges and universities provide dynamic higher education opportunities, most on or near reservation lands.

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