Scholarships

In 2024 the Association of Fundraising Professionals TX Coastal Bend Chapter has plans to give away over $9,000 in professional development scholarships to its members. Details on each of the scholarship offerings can be found below. Please don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions. 

There are two scholarship opportunities for the annual AFP ICON Fundraising Conference that are available to AFP TX Coastal Bend members. The first scholarship is fully funded through AFP TX Coastal Bend and includes a $2,500 reimbursement on expenses related to registration, travel, lodgings, etc. The second scholarship is a joint program between the Chapter and the AFP Foundation that provides free registration to the event and  a $1500 reimbursement on expenses to a qualifying first time attendee.

Access the application by CLICKING HERE

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What Makes AFP ICON Iconic?

  • Accelerate Your Career: Gain actionable insights from over 100 sessions covering every facet of fundraising, led by experts and innovators shaping the future of the profession.
     
  • Experience the Power of In-Person: At ICON, you’re not just attending a conference—you belong to a community. Feel the energy, make meaningful connections, and engage face-to-face with peers who understand your challenges and share your passion.
     
  • Elevate Your Impact: Return with fresh strategies, renewed energy, and practical tools to advance your mission and strengthen your organization.

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More information on the ICON Conference can be found at: https://afpicon.com/

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There are a number of  1-year non-renewable scholarships available each year for Chapter Membership. Interested in learning more about our member benefits? Visit our website at: https://afptxcoastalbend.org/joinus

General expectations for scholarship recipients are as follows:

  • Take advantage of the scholarship by attending AFP TX Coastal Bend events and participating in our community building programs like AFP Amigos
  • Volunteer with AFP TX Coastal Bend as a Committee Member or event volunteer and consider giving back to the organization next year as a member of our Board of Directors

APPLY HERE

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There are two scholarships to help encourage local development professionals to earn and keep their Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential. 

  • Certification scholarship - The initial certification scholarship covers reimbursement for 1/2 of the exam fee ($350) and the full cost of the 30 day practice exam ($60) - APPLY HERE

  • Recertification scholarship - The recertification scholarship covers reimbursement for 1/2 of the exam fee ($204) - This Scholarship has been awarded for 2025. Applications will reopen in early 2026

Both scholarships are offered on a first come, first served basis to applicants taking the test during a given calendar year. Applications open January 1st. 

For more information on the CFRE visit: https://www.cfre.org/

There is one scholarship opportunity for AFP TX Coastal Bend Members to the annual AFP LEAD Fundraising Leadership Conference that provides a $2500 reimbursement on expenses related to registration, travel, lodgings, etc. - Applications are expected to open in spring of 2026

More information on the LEAD Conference can be found at: https://afplead.org/

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There are a number of full day scholarships available for our annual Education Conference. These scholarships will be formally awarded in early August 0f 2026. Applications for these scholarships are expected to open mid 2026