Purpose of committee: promote, screen and award grants, loans and scholarships to the membership.

Mandi Dornfeld, Co-Chair
Area Extension Director – Area 8
Phone: (920) 3123424
E-mail: amanda.dornfeld@wisc.edu

Katie Gellings, Co-Chair
Human Development and Relationships Educator
Outagamie County UW-Extension
Phone: (920) 832-5126
E-mail: katie.gellings@wisc.edu

Professional Development Grant Application – due February 1, 2025

• ESP Professional Development Grants:  Instructions & Application 
• Additional Professional Development Funding Sources

Wisconsin Grants:

• Henry L. Ahlgren Award – Ahlgren Benefactor Biography
  • Provides up to $5,000 annually for individuals or groups whose work helps to perpetuate the family farm in Wisconsin.  It supports professional development that improves the ability of Extension educators to work in agriculture and natural resource areas such as farm succession, modernizing family farms, or protecting the environment.  ESP membership required.
• Marvin and Ellouise Beatty Award – Beatty Benefactor Biography
  • One award of up to $2,500 annually is made to an exceptionally promising and/or productive individual in Extension to aid the recipient in the development of his/her career as an adult educator.  ESP membership required.
• Ellen Fitzsimmons Award – Fitzsimmons Benefactor Biography
  • Provides one award of up to $1,500 annually to support professional development of promising/productive faculty or staff.  ESP membership required.
• J. Mitchell Mackey Award – Mackey Benefactor Biography
  • Provides one award of up to $1,500 annually to support professional development of promising/productive faculty or staff.  ESP membership required.
• Louise Young Award – Young Benefactor Biography
  • Provides one award of up to $1,500 annually to support professional development of promising/productive faculty or staff.  ESP membership required.
• Rosemary Stare Award – Stare Benefactor Biography
  • Provides one award of up to $1,500 annually to support professional development of promising/productive faculty or staff.  ESP membership required.
• Tom Parslow Award – Parslow Benefactor Biography
  • Provides one award of up to $1,500 annually to support professional development of promising/productive faculty or staff.  ESP membership require
• ESP National Conference Grant
  • A professional development grant of up to $1,200 to assist faculty or staff to attend the National ESP Conference.  ESP membership required.
• Professional Development Grant
  • This is a general fund that provides up to $1,200 per person for in-depth, focused, professional development opportunities such as formal coursework, internships, workshops, or conferences with a specific subject matter focus.  All current employee or retired Extension Educators are eligible for grants.

Who Should Apply?

Any current employee or retired Wisconsin Extension educator is eligible to apply for Professional Development grants.  Named grants require membership in Epsilon Sigma Phi. Priority for all grants will be given to members of Epsilon Sigma Phi. Recipients can receive only one grant in a three-year period.  Follow this link to become an ESP Member.

Writing Suggestions:

Be concise and follow application guidelines. Avoid use of abbreviations or acronyms. If available, provide a conference brochure or other documentation to assist the committee in better understanding your request. Applicants are encouraged to prepare their narrative in a Word document to cut and paste into this google form.

Application Due Dates: August 1st and February 1st

Application Procedure:

1. Complete the application online.
2. Secure approval of application from your Area Director or Administrator.  Email a copy of the administrative approval: Mandi Dornfeld (Human Development & Relationships Educator) – amanda.dornfeld@wisc.edu

Grant recipients are reimbursed through the eTER process.

Questions?? Contact Mandi Dornfeld (920) 232-1973.

Grant Funding Source:

Grants are made possible because you, your colleagues, those that came before you, and other have donated to the ESP Professional Development Endowment Fund.  Follow this link to make a contribution.

National ESP Professional Mini-Grant Program: $1,000 Professional Development Grant with a deadline of February 12 and sometimes August 1. To apply, visit the ESP National website, www.espnational.org, look under the heading “Applications/Reports” for “Grants” drop down menu to obtain application forms and instructions.