2026 Calendar

Blueprint Conference Grant

SHRM conferences allow HR professionals 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 Blueprint for I&D Conference grants.

SHRM Blueprint for I&D is a premier conference focused on building inclusion and diversity strategies that deliver real business results. Taking place November 15-18, 2026, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, TN, Blueprint brings together HR professionals and I&D specialists to explore strategic frameworks, legal compliance, and workforce performance. Attendees will leave with practical, enterprise-ready approaches to advancing inclusion in today's complex environment. SHRM-certified attendees can earn up to 24 PDCs toward recertification.

*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 this grant, applicants must also meet the following criteria:

• Have an active SHRM membership through November 30, 2026
• Not receive any organizational support or reimbursement to attend the conference
• Not be registered for the conference
• Not have received a SHRM Foundation Conference grant in the past five years

How to Apply

Complete the online application including:

• Contact & demographic information
• A few short essay questions about your career and learning objectives
• A current resume
• A letter of recommendation

*The letter of recommendation may be completed by a colleague, current or former supervisor, professor, or other professional contact. Statements from family members will not be accepted. All letters of recommendation must be submitted by the recommender through the Submittable platform.

Selection Criteria

Applications are evaluated and scored by groups of SHRM volunteers and reviewed by SHRM Foundation staff. 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.  The review committee will select individuals whom they believe are most likely to leverage this learning opportunity. This process takes approximately 8 weeks and may occasionally take longer depending on volume. Please note, individual status updates are not available during the 8 week review period. 

All decisions are final.

Grant Distribution

SHRM Foundation Blueprint for I&D Conference grant recipients will receive one complimentary conference registration for SHRM Blueprint for I&D, taking place November 15-18, 2026, in Nashville, TN.

All applicants will receive a decision via email 8 weeks following the application deadline. Please note, individual status updates are not available during the 8 week review period.

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 their immediate family are not eligible to apply for SHRM Foundation Scholarships, Grants, or Awards.

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

Please read the following guidelines carefully and in their entirety before beginning your application. Many common questions are answered below.

All applicants will receive a decision via email 8 weeks after the application deadline, regardless of when your application was submitted.

Eligibility

• SHRM Membership must be valid through August 31, 2026 to apply.
• Membership must also be active during your intended testing window. If you plan to test in Spring 2027, please note that grant distributions for that window are processed in January 2027 and grantees will need to have an active membership through February 1, 2027.
• Meet eligibility requirements for SHRM Certification. Please carefully review the requirements before applying.
• You must test in one of the following exam windows: Winter 2026 (December 2026 – February 2027) or Spring 2027 (May – July 2027)
• Must NOT already have access to the SHRM CP/SCP Prep System or be registered to take the exam

How to Apply

Complete the 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 a work or volunteer colleague, professor, coach, etc., but should not come from a family member)

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 SHRM volunteer reviewers, with staff providing quality assurance oversight. All decisions are final. Applicants may apply in multiple cycles, and previous recipients are welcome to reapply.

Grant Distribution

If you are selected to receive a SHRM Foundation Certification grant, you will receive access to the SHRM online Prep 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 2026 (December 2026 – February 2027) or Spring 2027 (May – July 2027). If you do not use your Certification grant in either testing window, you will have to reapply for a new grant.

Please note, virtual testing has been discontinued and exam takers will need to confirm the nearest testing site. Please use this link to find testing center near you prior to applying. The SHRM Foundation does not reimburse for travel to a testing site, existing Prep System purchases, existing exam purchases, transfer fees, or any associated expenses. SHRM and SHRM Foundation employees or board members and their immediate family are not eligible to apply for SHRM Foundation Scholarships, Grants, or Awards.