Professional Development Fund
Purpose
The Central Alberta Regional Museums Network (CARMN) Professional Development Fund supports members in accessing professional development opportunities that strengthen their skills, knowledge, and capacity to support their museums and communities.
The fund is intended to provide benefits beyond the individual participant. Successful applicants are expected to bring knowledge, ideas, resources, and connections back to the CARMN network and share them with other members. Where appropriate, participants may also represent CARMN at the professional development event.
Who Can Apply?
Current CARMN member organizations may apply for professional development funding on behalf of an individual involved in the operation or activities of their museum or organization.
Applicants should be actively involved in areas such as:
- Museum operations and administration
- Collections and archives
- Exhibitions and interpretation
- Programming and education
- Community engagement
- Fundraising and grant writing
- Marketing and communications
- Governance and leadership
- Volunteer management
- Preservation and conservation
- Other activities relevant to museum work
Eligible Professional Development
Funding may be used toward professional development opportunities that are relevant to the applicant's role or the needs of their museum or organization.
Examples include:
- Conferences
- Workshops
- Courses
- Training sessions
- Webinars
- Seminars
- Certifications
- Professional networking opportunities
- Other learning opportunities approved by CARMN
Priority may be given to opportunities that address the practical needs and challenges of small and community museums.
Eligible Expenses
CARMN funding may be used toward approved expenses such as:
- Registration or course fees
- Conference fees
- Travel expenses
- Accommodation
- Other expenses approved by CARMN
CARMN does not fund personal expenses, meals, equipment purchases, or expenses unrelated to the approved professional development opportunity.
Funding Available
Applicants may request up to a maximum of $500 per calendar year, subject to available funds. There is only one award per person per calendar year.
CARMN may fund all or a portion of eligible expenses. The amount awarded will be determined based on the application, available funding, and the anticipated benefit to the applicant, their organization, and the broader CARMN network.
CARMN reserves the right to award less than the amount requested.
Applications
Applications will be accepted throughout the year, subject to available funding.
Applications must be submitted within the year the professional development opportunity takes place.
Applications will be reviewed by CARMN's Board of Directors or a committee designated by the Board.
Applicants will be notified of the decision following the review.
To submit an application please complete the application by clicking the button below
Applicant Commitment
CARMN's Professional Development Fund is intended to benefit the broader museum community, not only the individual participant.
Successful applicants are expected to:
- Attend and participate in the approved professional development opportunity.
- Use CARMN funding only for approved expenses.
- Represent CARMN professionally when opportunities to do so are appropriate.
- Bring relevant knowledge, resources, ideas, and connections back to CARMN.
- Share key learnings with CARMN members following the event.
- Provide receipts or other documentation if requested by CARMN.
- Provide a brief report, presentation, or other approved method of knowledge-sharing following the professional development opportunity.
Following the Professional Development Opportunity
Successful applicants are expected to share their experience and key takeaways with CARMN members.
The purpose of this follow-up is to help ensure that professional development funding creates a network-wide benefit.
Participants may share their learning through:
- A 5–10 minute presentation at a CARMN meeting
- A written summary
- An article or resource for CARMN
- A collection of useful resources or links
- Social media content
- An informal discussion with CARMN members
- Another format approved by CARMN
The follow-up does not need to be lengthy. The goal is to share practical information that may be useful to other CARMN members.