[Council of Independent Colleges](https://cic.edu)

April 10, 2026 (Full proposal submission)

$15,000–$20,000 (standard awards) | up to $25,000 (special initiative); one-year awards

Supports professional development for faculty and staff at NetVUE member institutions to enhance undergraduate vocational exploration programs.

Applicants must be NetVUE members and not hold overlapping NetVUE grants; see eligibility rules below.

--- ## Description The NetVUE Professional Development Awards, administered by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) with support from Lilly Endowment Inc., provide funding to NetVUE member institutions for professional development activities aimed at strengthening undergraduate vocational exploration initiatives. The awards are designed to enhance the knowledge, skills, and expertise of faculty and staff who lead or support these programs. Activities may include reading groups, retreats, workshops, bringing in speakers, and other initiatives to foster campus-wide conversations on vocation. A special initiative funds projects focused on broadening participation in vocation-related programming, particularly for underrepresented student groups. --- ## Due Dates - April 10, 2026: Application deadline (full proposal submission) --- ## Funding Amount - Standard awards: $15,000–$20,000 for one year - Special initiative (Broadening Participation): up to $25,000 for one year - Funds are disbursed in July for use between July 15, 2026, and July 15, 2027 --- ## Eligibility - Open to colleges and universities that are members of NetVUE at the time of application. - Institutions must NOT currently hold (or be about to hold) a NetVUE Vocation across the Academy Grant or Program Development Grant. - If the institution previously received a NetVUE Professional Development Award, that grant must have concluded no later than December 31, 2023. - Only one proposal per institution is allowed in the current round. - Institutions not yet members may join NetVUE to become eligible. --- ## Application Process - Proposals must be submitted online as a single document via the NetVUE portal. - Required components: - Brief public project description (max 120 words) - Two- to three-page narrative addressing professional development needs, goals, activities, assessment plan, strategies for broad participation, and sustainability - One-page project timeline - Roster of project leaders with contact information and roles - One-page budget with notes, following [Grant Budget Guidelines](https://cic.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2026-PDA-budget-guidelines-combined.pdf) - Letter of support from the president or chief academic officer - Budgets must include support for assessment efforts and project leader(s), preferably through buyouts of time. - Proposals must adhere to all budget and expense eligibility rules. --- ## Additional Information - Grant funds may be used for materials, stipends, travel, meals, honoraria (up to $2,000 per speaker per day), and assessment costs. - Ineligible expenses include capital expenditures, durable goods/equipment, salaries for new personnel, indirect/overhead costs, and ongoing institutional expenses. - All grant activities must be completed by July 15, 2027, with final reports due by August 31, 2027. - Awardees must participate in program assessment and be willing to share outcomes with the NetVUE community. --- ## External Links - [Program Page & Application Instructions](https://cic.edu/opportunity/professional-development-awards) - [NetVUE Professional Development Awards – Invitation for Applications (PDF)](https://cic.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2026-Professional-Development-Award-Invitation-for-Applications.pdf) - [Grant Budget Guidelines (PDF)](https://cic.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2026-PDA-budget-guidelines-combined.pdf) - [NetVUE Membership Information](https://cic.edu/networks/netvue/membership/) - [View Previous Grant Awards](https://cic.edu/networks/netvue/grants/) --- ## Contact Information | Name/Role | Email | Phone | |----------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------| | Robert Pampel, Program Officer | [rpampel@cic.edu](mailto:rpampel@cic.edu) | 314-935-8548 | | General CIC Contact | [cic@cic.edu](mailto:cic@cic.edu) | (202) 466-7230 | For technical questions about the website or application portal, contact Alex Stephenson, NetVUE communications coordinator, at [astephenson@cic.edu](mailto:astephenson@cic.edu).

NetVUE Professional Development Awards

Sign in to see full grant listing