Inclusion Conference Grant

Conference attendance allows people to meet one another, as well as learn and discuss issues and ideas relevant to their work.  As such, members are encouraged to apply for SHRM Inclusion Conference grants.

• Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the SHRM Foundation reserves the right to adjust      the award package as needed.  This may include shifting from an      in-person to a virtual registration, changing travel stipends or canceling      the award.

Eligibility

To be eligible for an award, applicants must be ONE of the following:

• Employed (full or part-time)
• Full-Time Student
• To be eligible for an award, applicants must meet the following criteria:
• Have a SHRM membership through December 31st of the year the award is accepted 
• Not receive any organizational support or reimbursement to attend the conference
• Not be registered for the conference 
• Not have received a SHRM Inclusion Conference grant in the past five years

How to Apply

• Complete online application including:
• Contact & demographic information
• A few short essay questions about your career and learning objectives
• Your resume
• A statement of support from your supervisor, professor, or colleague*

*This statement may be completed by a colleague, current or former supervisor, professor, volunteer colleague or other professional contacts. Statements from family members will not be accepted. Please upload a statement as part of the online application.

Please print/download your application for your records before you submit it. Once you submit your application, the SHRM Foundation will not be able to return it to you, in whole or in part, for any reason.

Selection Criteria

Applications are evaluated and scored by groups of SHRM volunteers and are reviewed by staff. The review committee will select individuals whom they believe are most likely to leverage this learning opportunity. They will seek candidates who are eager to learn and plan to apply the skills and knowledge gained to benefit their careers, their organizations, and their communities. HR professionals who are new to the field are encouraged to apply. All decisions are final.

Grant Distribution

All applicants will receive a decision via email six weeks after the application deadline. If selected to receive a SHRM Foundation Inclusion Conference grant, a member of the SHRM Foundation team will work with the recipients on Inclusion Conference registration and hotel bookings.  Recipients are responsible for scheduling travel plans and submitting all itemized travel-related invoices/receipts not to exceed $750. (i.e., flight, meals, gas, tolls, taxi/Uber, etc.).

Please note, the SHRM Foundation does not reimburse for any fees or expenses incurred by applicants prior to being awarded the professional development grant. SHRM/SHRM Foundation employees or board members and the immediate family are not eligible to apply for SHRM Foundation Scholarships, Grants, or Awards.

The SHRM Foundation offers professional grants to SHRM members seeking their SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification. This grant awards one SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification exam as well as SHRM's online Learning System.

Eligibility

• Current SHRM member (professional or student membership must be active through December 31, 2025)
• Meet eligibility requirements for SHRM Certification. Please carefully review the requirements before applying.
• You must test in the Winter 2025-2026 (December 2025 – February 2026) or Spring 2026 (May – July 2026) windows.

How to Apply

Complete online application including:

• Contact information
• Short answer questions about academic/training and career experience and your need for the grant
• Current resume (or academic transcript if applicable)
• One letter of reference (letter may be addressed to the 'SHRM Foundation Grant Review Committee' and should provide insight into your character, academic or career and volunteer accomplishments, work ethic, and values. May be written by work or volunteer colleague, professor, coach, etc., but should not come from a family member)

Please print your application for your records before you submit it. Once you submit your application, the SHRM Foundation will not be able to return it to you, in whole or in part, for any reason.

Selection Criteria

*Applicants must request all recommendation letters through our application system. SHRM Foundation cannot accept recommendation letters directly from applicants. We encourage applicants to request recommendation letters early in the application process. Please note, you may submit your application without a letter of recommendation; however, this may result in a lower score.

Applications are reviewed and scored by groups of SHRM volunteers and are reviewed by staff. All decisions are final. Each grant is a one-time grant, however previous applicants and past recipients are eligible to re-apply. Receiving a grant previously is not a guarantee of receiving a future grant.

Grant Distribution

All applicants will receive a decision via email six weeks after the application deadline. If you are selected to receive a SHRM Foundation Certification grant, you will receive access to the SHRM online Learning System and exam for the SHRM Certification for which you are eligible (SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP). Please note that these components are awarded as a package and cannot be separated. The exam must be taken in one of the following testing Windows: Winter 2025-2026 (December 2025 – February 2026) or Spring 2025 (May – July 2026). If you do not use your Certification grant in either testing windows, you will have to reapply for a new grant, with no guarantee of receiving a new award. 

Please note, virtual testing has been discontinued and exam takers will need to confirm the nearest testing site. The SHRM Foundation does not reimburse for travel to a testing site, certification exam fees, learning system fees, transfer fees, or any associated expenses. SHRM/SHRM Foundation employees or board members and the immediate family are not eligible to apply for SHRM Foundation Scholarships, Grants, or Awards.

 

Award Description

Every year more than 200,000 service members transition from the military into the civilian workforce. More than 75% of them are from the enlisted ranks and most only serve 4-6 years in the military. 

The Everyday Hero Award, supported by USAA, honors outstanding veterans who have transitioned from military service and become invaluable contributors to their workplace. This award highlights the everyday hero, veterans who may have separated from service as enlisted personnel or with a shorter tenure, showcasing their impact, resilience, and leadership in civilian employment.

HR professionals  are invited to nominate a veteran employee who exemplifies excellence, integrity, and dedication in their organization. This initiative reinforces that every veteran brings a unique mix of education, experience, skills, and leadership to the workforce and deserves recognition for their contributions.

10 exceptional nominees will be featured in a high-profile display at the 2025 SHRM Annual Conference, offering visibility among 25,000+ HR stakeholders and amplifying the message that veterans are a vital asset to the workforce. One of those nominees and their HR nominator will receive the Everyday Hero Award and be SHRM’s guest as SHRM’s Annual Conference in San Diego in June 2025. The campaign will culminate with the presentation of this award on a conference spotlight stage. 

Nomination Process & Judging

Who Can Nominate?

HR professionals, hiring managers, or business leaders who have hired and worked with veteran employees.
 

Eligibility Criteria:

• The nominee must be a veteran (former service member of the U.S. military, honorably discharged or separated).
• Currently employed in a civilian job.
• Demonstrates exceptional leadership, work ethic, or innovation in their workplace.
• Has overcome challenges in transition and made a significant impact on their organization.
• Embodies the values of partnership, resilience, and excellence, aligning with SHRM Foundation’s mission.
   

Judging Panel:

• A panel from SHRM that consists of volunteers including SHRM Foundation Military Community Ambassadors, volunteers from SHRM chapters and councils as well as representatives from USAA will evaluate nominations.
• 10 nominees will be selected and featured in a recognition display at SHRM Annual Conference 2025.
• One Everyday Hero Award winner will be selected and recognized on stage at the SHRM 2025 Annual Conference.