Applications are now closed. Applicants will be informed of decisions by mid-April.

The Association of Field Ornithologists, the Society of Canadian Ornithologists, and the Wilson Ornithological Society invite all persons planning on traveling to Peoria, Illinois, to apply for a Caregiver Grant award. These awards are need-based and are intended to facilitate participation of interested parties by defraying part of the cost of caregiving responsibilities that might otherwise be prohibitive.

The application deadline is March 15, 2024. The award committee intends to select recipients and inform all applicants of the outcome by mid-April. Applicants are encouraged (but not required) to consider joining the AFO, SCO-SOC, and/or WOS if not already a member. There is no set maximum award amount; however, funds will be awarded based on the number of applicants and stated need.

Eligibility: Any conference registrant is eligible (registrant is not required to be a member of any of the three host societies). Priority may be given to early-career (including student) registrants, registrants from underrepresented communities, and/or presenting registrants. In future years, priority may be given to applicants who have not received a caregiver grant for a prior meeting. Individuals may apply for both the Student and Early Professional Travel Awards and this Caregiver Grant (see “Purpose of Funds” below). 

Purpose of Funds: Funds may be used in any manner to support dependent care—to cover the cost of travel to the conference venue for an accompanying adult caregiver, the cost of dependent care at the conference venue, the cost of additional dependent care at home during the conference, the cost of an unshared hotel room or differential cost of a two bedroom hotel suite, etc. Funds may also be used to cover the registration fee for a non-member, which would allow the accompanying caregiver or dependent to attend all regular events at the conference. Funds cannot be used for conference registration or travel for the applicant.

If you have any questions please contact Joshua LaPergola (jlapblca@gmail.com), Kristen Covino (kristen.covino@lmu.edu), Sarah Gutowsky (sarahegutowsky@gmail.com), or Allyson Jackson (allysonkjackson@gmail.com).