Attending conferences in your field can be an essential component in professional development. The knowledge and networking experiences that conferences offer can be career-advancing tools. But conferences can be expensive. Luckily, grants are available to fund conference attendance, planning and facilitation. Foundations, professional associations and government agencies are just a few of the organizations that support conferences through grant-making.

Wenner-Gren Foundation

The Wenner-Gren Foundation offers conference grants. The goal of the grant program is to create a global network of anthropology scholars and advance anthropological research through funding conferences and workshops. According to the grant guidelines, conferences must be "public events that are comprised primarily of oral and poster presentations to a larger audience of anthropologists." Preference is given to grant applications for large, international conferences. Grants range up to $15,000. Individuals who are primarily responsible for organizing anthropology conferences are eligible to apply.

Wenner-Gren Foundation 470 Park Ave. S., 8th Floor New York, NY 10016 212-683-5000 wennergren.org

Conference on Clinical Research for Rare Diseases Travel Awards

The Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network offers grants through the Conference on Clinical Research for Rare Diseases Travel Awards. Grants range up to $750. Funds must be used to pay for travel and lodging expenses related to attending the annual Conference on Clinical Research for Rare Diseases. Trainees, junior faculty and fellows are eligible to apply. Grant applicants must register for the conference before applying.

Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network University of South Florida 3650 Spectrum Blvd., Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33612 813-396-9629 rarediseasesnetwork.epi.usf.edu

AHRQ Grant Program for Large or Recurring Conferences

The National Institutes of Health’s Department of Health and Human Services and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality offer the AHRQ Grant Program for Large or Recurring Conferences. Grants support conferences that “improve the quality, safety, efficiency and effectiveness of health care for all Americans,” according to the grant guidelines. Conference topics can include research development, design or methodology, dissemination or research findings, training or career development. Grants range up to $100,000 over a three-year period. Public and private non-profit organizations, colleges, universities, state and city government agencies, tribal government agencies and tribal organizations are eligible to apply.

National Institutes of Health Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Office of Performance Accountability, Resources and Technology 540 Gaither Road Rockville, MD 20850 301-427-1806 nih.gov

NIH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings

The National Institutes of Health, in partnership with the National Center for Research Resources and 22 other federal agencies, offers the NIH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings grant program. The purpose of the grant is to "support high quality conferences/scientific meetings that are relevant to the scientific mission of the NIH and to the public health," according to guidelines. Conferences entail scientific meetings, gatherings, symposiums or seminars that involve the exchange of information in a variety of fields, including human genome research, toxicological research, environmental health, sleep disorders, cancer prevention and aging research. Grant amounts vary depending on specific conference details, but funding cannot exceed five years. Institutes of higher education, non-profits, for-profits, small businesses, tribal organizations, government agencies and faith-based organizations are eligible to apply.

National Institutes of Health National Center for Research Resources 6701 Democracy Boulevard, MSC 4874 Bethesda, MD 20892 301-435-0879 nih.gov