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Here you will find all the information you need about event funding opportunities! If you have any questions, please reach out to us at ypfunding@ieee.org.
Introduction
IEEE Young Professionals (YP) is committed to helping young professionals evaluate and solidify career goals, polish their professional image, and build a lifelong and diverse professional network. Globally, we support IEEE Organization Units (OUs) to conduct events aligned with YP initiatives that target young professionals as an audience. The Program provides financial assistance to event organizers. Read on for details about the types of funding available, potential award amounts, and funding processes including application submission, review, and approval. IEEE YP events must follow all local health authority protocols and guidelines.
Types of Funding
Student Transition & Elevation Partnership (STEP) Funding
US$500 maximum
This funding stream is designed specifically to bring together students (mainly IEEE Graduate Student Members) and young professionals.
It aims to introduce current and potential IEEE Members to IEEE Young Professionals, provide context about the Committee’s work to benefit young professionals, and give details on how to become involved.
STEP events must ease and/or assist the student-to-professional transition.
Local Activity Funding
US$750 maximum
This funding stream is designed specifically to assist Young Professional volunteers develop and implement initiatives, programs, and activities at the local level.
It aims to engage members’ local YP communities. Local Activity events may be technical or non-technical in nature.
Organizers may format the event at their discretion.
Meet-Up Funding
US$1,500 maximum
This funding stream is designed specifically to engage members and volunteers living in shared geographical locations to grow their professional networks.
The opportunity to network with others is critical to a Meet-up’s success.
Organizers may format the event at their discretion; qualifying events include but are not limited to technical talks, presentations panels with Q&A sessions etc.
Who Can Submit an Event Funding Request?
All IEEE OUs, except for Student Branches (SBs) and Student Branch Chapters (SBCs), may submit proposals for any YP funding type. SBs and SBCs are eligible only to submit for STEP events. SB/SBC proposals for Local Activity or Meet-Up funding will not be considered.
Timelines for Submission, Approval, Reporting, Funds Distribution
Applications can be submitted at any time throughout the year; however, application evaluation takes place only in 4 cycles as listed below. Please make sure to submit within the suitable cycle.
Cycle One
15 Feb
Deadline for Proposal Submission
16 Feb – 28 Feb
Evaluation Period
1 Mar
Result Announcement
5 Mar
Earliest Event to Fund within Cycle 1
Closed
Cycle Two
15 April
Deadline for Proposal Submission
16 Apr – 30 Apr
Evaluation Period
1 May
Result Announcement
5 May
Earliest Event to Fund within Cycle 2
Closed
Cycle Three
30 Jun
Deadline for Proposal Submission
1 Jul – 14 Jul
Evaluation Period
15 Jul
Result Announcement
20 Jul
Earliest Event to Fund within Cycle 3
Open
Timeline Clarifications
Submissions are reviewed in four distinct cycles. For instance, events submitted by 15 February 2024 fall into the first evaluation cycle, with results announced on 1 March 2024. It is important to note that events scheduled earlier than 5 March 2024 will be rejected due to the insufficient lead time between the announcement of results and the event date.
The submission portal is accessible year-round, but evaluations are conducted in the previously mentioned cycles. It is crucial to allow sufficient time between your event date and the proposal submission date. For instance, a proposal submitted on 17 February or 2 March 2024 will be reviewed in the second cycle, which takes place from 15 April to 30 April 2024. As a result, your event should not be scheduled before 5 May 2024 to ensure adequate preparation time following the evaluation.
For events planned for mid-year or later, you have the flexibility to submit in the cycle preceding your event. Alternatively, you can submit earlier if you prefer an advanced evaluation of your proposal.
Proposals received during the current evaluation period will be reviewed in the following cycle.
Student Transition and Elevation Partnership (STEP) Funding – US$500 Maximum Award Amount
Student Transition and Elevation Partnership (STEP) funding introduces IEEE Student Members to IEEE Young Professionals (YP) by kickstarting professional networking, reviewing YP Committee supports for young professionals, and offering avenues for Students to get involved with IEEE. STEP eases the Student-to-Young Professional Membership transition. STEP funding is available exclusively to IEEE Student Branches and Student Branch Chapters. A maximum of 500 US$ is available per STEP proposal.
Event organizers must obtain an endorsement letter from one (1) qualifying IEEE Volunteer confirming the proposal will ease the Student-to-Young Professional transition, and submit it as part of their proposal. Qualifying endorsing Volunteers submitting proposals are exempt from the endorsement requirement. IEEE Volunteers who qualify to endorse STEP proposals include:- IEEE Region Director
- YP Regional Coordinator
- Society/Council YP Representative
- Section YP Affinity Group Chair or Vice-Chair
- Section Chair or Vice-Chair
- Subsection Chair or Vice-Chair
IEEE Student Members and/or Graduate Student Members attendance is required at STEP events. Event organizers must collect attendees’ full names, email addresses, and Member numbers as applicable. This information may be requested at any time. Event organizers should structure the program to ensure impact. Potential STEP event examples include lectures, interactive workshops, and networking sessions, and more.
Local Activity Funding – US$750 Maximum Award Amount
Local Activity funding helps Volunteers develop, implement, and refine initiatives by connecting local IEEE-community members to cooperate. It offers networking and feedback opportunities, space for collaboration and more. Event organizers are encouraged to partner with IEEE Organizational Units (OUs), industry representatives, and local institutions to host events. New OU partnerships should increase attendees’ professional networks. Local Activity funding is available to all IEEE Organizational Units (OUs) with the exception of Student Branches and Student Branch Chapters. A maximum of 750 US$ is available per Local Activity proposal.
- IEEE Region Director
- YP Region Coordinator
- Society/Council YP Representative
- Section YP Affinity Group Chair or Vice-Chair
- Section Chair or Vice-Chair
- Subsection Chair or Vice-Chair
IEEE Member attendance is required at Local Activities. Event organizers must collect attendees’ full names, email addresses, and Member numbers as applicable. This information may be requested any time. Event organizers program technical or non-technical events. Local Activity event examples include skill development workshops, symposiums, career and professional advancement opportunities and networking sessions and more.
Meet-Up Funding – US$1,500 Maximum Award Amount
Meet-Up funding helps Volunteers develop, implement, and refine initiatives by connecting IEEE Members in a shared geographical area to grow their professional networks. It offers networking opportunities, chances to receive feedback, space for collaboration, and more. Event organizers are strongly encouraged to host Meet-Ups in conjunction with large-scale events (e.g. conferences, technical congresses, Regional activities, cross-Section congresses, etc.) and coordinate activity with the local YP AG, Section, technical chapter representatives, local groups, etc. Meet-up funding is available to all IEEE Organizational Units (OUs) with the exception of Student Branches and Student Branch Chapters. A maximum of 1,500 US$ is available per Meet-Up proposal.
Event organizers must obtain an endorsement letter from one (1) qualifying IEEE Volunteer confirming the proposal will further local goals, and submit it as part of their proposal. YP Affinity Groups applying for Meet-Up funding must receive endorsement from their group’s Chair or Vice-Chair. Qualifying endorsing Volunteers submitting proposals are exempt from the endorsement requirement. Sections, Subsections, Societies, and Councils applying for Local Activity funding may receive endorsement from the following individuals:
- IEEE Region Director
- YP Region Coordinator
- Society/Council YP Representative
- Section YP Affinity Group Chair or Vice-Chair
- Section Chair or Vice-Chair
- Subsection Chair or Vice-Chair
IEEE Member attendance is required at Meet-Ups. Event organizers must collect attendees’ full names, email addresses, and Member numbers as applicable. This information may be requested any time. Event organizers may program technical or non-technical events. Meet-Up event examples include technical talks, presentations panels with Q&A sessions, Regional gatherings, symposiums, etc.
Final Event Report Requirement and Fund Transfer
After an event, applicants must submit a final event report containing all of the information reguested in the final report template.
Report Deadline: Reports must be submitted within 30 DAYS following the event’s conclusion. Volunteers are required to adhere to this timeframe to avoid disqualification. Late submissions may not be accepted.
Report Evaluation: The evaluation process for the report commences immediately after submission and can take up to 4 WEEKS. Reports and associated receipts are thoroughly reviewed in this period. Transfer of funding is contingent on report approval from the YP Committee. Should any deficiencies be identified, this may lead to the disqualification of the fund. Additionally, if further communication is necessary to address these deficiencies, the timeline will be extended by an additional four weeks for each identified deficiency.
Fund Transfer: Following report approval, the transfer of funds to the respective Section/Society/Council can take up to 8 WEEKS.
If you have applied but have not yet received any notification yet, please check your email, including your spam folder. You may also reach out to us at ypfunding@ieee.org with any inquiries regarding your application status.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
The main event organizer is not eligible to apply for funding, such as an SB applying for a Local Activity or Meetup or a Non-SB applying for STEP Funding. Please refer to our website for further details.
The main event organizer is an OU that is not recognized by IEEE.
The application lacks an endorsement from an authorized person, nor was it submitted by an authorized person to endorse.
The endorsement is not from an authorized person or the endorser is not reported on vTools.
The submitter or endorser has inactive IEEE membership.
The expenses that are ineligible for IEEE YP Funding include travel expenses, accommodations, visa applications, gifts (including IEEE membership gifts), honorarium, and other similar items. Please note that while you may cover these expenses from other sources, they cannot be covered by the fund given by IEEE YP.
The following individuals may endorse funding requests: Section YP Affinity Group Chair; Section YP Affinity Group Vice-Chair; Section Chair; Section Vice Chair; Subsection Chair; Subsection Vice-Chair; Society/Council Representatives.
Yes, the endorsement is required for all funding categories.
Only one endorser is required for each funding category.
If the applicant is a qualifying endorser and reported officer in vTools, no additional endorsement is required. The applicant will not be required to submit a .PDF endorsement letter.
STEP Funding is exclusively available to Student Branches, whereas Local Activity and Meetup Funding are accessible to all IEEE OUs except for Student Branches.