Interfaith Youth Core’s (IFYC) mission is to make interfaith cooperation a social norm. As the IFYC alumni network continues to grow, IFYC strives to provide opportunities for interested alumni to advance their interfaith leadership. The IFYC Alumni Professional Development Fund is one way IFYC supports alumni who are committed to growing as interfaith leaders in their personal and professional lives.
Awardees can receive funds to participate in initiatives, events, trainings, and projects that help them develop as interfaith leaders. IFYC encourages alumni to apply for funds for initiatives that relate to one of the following high impact sectors.
- Higher Education
- Social Entrepreneurship
- Religious or Intentionally Secular Communities
- Policy
- Media
- Other*
*Please note that awards are not restricted to these sectors. IFYC will consider funding opportunities that do not fit into one of the above sectors and those that contribute towards your personal growth as an interfaith leader.
Examples of past awards include funds for attending the American Academy of Religion's annual conference, participating in DoSomething.org Bootcamp, speaking at the Wild Goose festival, joining a relevant professional networking group, and media training with Auburn Seminary.
If you have any questions regarding the types of opportunities that can be supported through the Professional Development Fund, please contact Prerna Abbi-Scanlon, Alumni Relations Manager, at prerna@ifyc.org or 312.376.4787.
ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION INFORMATION
To be eligible for consideration, individuals must be a college/university graduate and must have participated in an IFYC program including, but not limited to:
- Better Together (lead organizer)
- Interfaith Leadership Institute
- Fellows Alliance
- Faiths Act Fellowship
- Chicago Youth Council
- Internship
- One Chicago One Nation
Students who have not yet graduated can apply for funding toward initiatives that will take place after their graduation date.
IFYC reserves the right to make exceptions in special cases, but under most circumstances an IFYC alum should expect to be eligible for one award from the Professional Development Fund over the course of any given fiscal year, from August through July. Please take this into consideration as you decide whether or not to apply to the Professional Development Fund.
Applications can be submitted at any time and funds will be awarded on a rolling basis. Individuals will be notified within two weeks of submission regarding their fund approval. For more information, please contact Prerna Abbi, Alumni Relations Manager, at prerna@ifyc.org or 312.376.4787.
AWARDEE EXPECTATIONS
- Social Media: Alumni Professional Development Fund awardees are expected to share about their experience on social media, including the IFYC Alumni Facebook group as well as personal Facebook and/or Twitter accounts.
- Call & Pitch: We ask all recipients to schedule a call with IFYC Alumni staff after their opportunity. We want to hear about your experience! During this call you will also have an opportunity to pitch a story for Inter, IFYC’s platform for news and ideas.