Conference Grants

Conference grants offer partial support to host locally-held conferences and events. The grant may be up to $3,000 based on a 1:2 match, i.e. a proposal that has secured commitments of $1,500 is eligible for an award of up to $3,000. Applicants will typically be notified of a decision within one month after the application deadline. 

Eligibility 

  • Tenure- and non-tenure track faculty on full-time continuous appointments in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts are eligible.  
  • Conferences and events must be held on the UMass campus or the campus of Amherst College, Hampshire College, Holyoke College, or Smith College. 
  • Restricted to conferences that are non-revenue generating. 
  • If a conference is postponed for any reason, organizers must reapply for funding.  
  • Faculty are not eligible to apply while serving on the HFA Research Council. 

Deadline 

  • January 15, 2025, is the application deadline for conferences to be held 7/1/25-6/30/26. There is only one application deadline in AY 2024-2025. 

  • The deadline to expend funding is 6/30/26. Deadline extensions are not permitted.

  • Recipients are required to submit a post-award report by 9/15/26. 

Application Process 

To apply, please complete the application by the deadline.  Applicants are required to upload the following documentation:  

  • Conference abstract including intended audience and the significance of the event. 
  • Correspondence documenting funding commitments. 
  • A budget spreadsheet, chart, table, or list with expense categories and the estimated or actual amounts associated with each line.  Line items to be funded with the HFA Conference Grant should be clearly identified.  

Award Management  

  • Awards must be used to support the conference proposed in the application. Repurposing of awards for another event is not permitted.
  • The department business manager, in collaboration with the award recipient, will submit a Summit report to the HFA Business Office for reimbursement of expenses made on faculty member's retention account.
  • The award recipient will submit a one-page report no later than one month after the conference.

Who to Contact

For more information, please contact:

  • Amy Fleig, afleig [at] umass [dot] edu (afleig[at]umass[dot]edu) 

  • Pari Riahi, priahi [at] umass [dot] edu (priahi[at]umass[dot]edu) 

Complete your application

For more information, please contact 

Amy Fleig, afleig [at] umass [dot] edu (afleig[at]umass[dot]edu) 

Pari Riahi, priahi [at] umass [dot] edu (priahi[at]umass[dot]edu)