When is the next application cycle?
Applications will be open on February 1, 2026, and close on February 28, 2026.
Who can apply?
Eligibility for this award includes individuals who are regular full-time U-M staff members working at every academic campus (Ann Arbor, Flint, Dearborn) and Michigan Medicine who are in good standing, with one or more years of service by July 1, 2026.
Individuals who are part-time, are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, or are employed by the university but not considered staff (such as student workers, post-docs, faculty, etc.) are not eligible for this award. Discuss career and professional development opportunities with your manager/supervisor or your union representative for what is available to you in your current position or review the details of your contract.
How do I apply?
Please carefully read all the eligibility information on this page. Confirm that your request meets the listed criteria and then apply.
Follow these steps to access the application form:
- Log in to the Career Development Fund Application during an active application period
- Enter your web login uniqname and password
- Click the Apply button to start your application form
Answer the form questions to confirm your eligibility, and summarize your request for a grant including how it would benefit you and the university. At the end of the application form, you may save a draft or submit it. Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required, others are optional.
For more detailed information, view a pdf guide for InfoReady applicants.
What is the timeline for using the award?
If an application is awarded, the funds can be used for the activity submitted in the original application if the activity is completed between July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027 (FY27).
Will I be taxed if I receive CDF award funds?
Yes. CDF funds are considered taxable income and are reported on the awardee’s W2. If an applicant receives an award, the Career Development Fund Administrative Committee will provide funds to cover the estimated additional taxes so the funds received by the awardee after taxes will be as close to equaling the requested funding amount as possible.
Will I have to provide receipts, proof of participation, etc., if selected for an award?
Yes. All awarded individuals will have to provide proof of participation and all related receipts, as well as a brief essay describing how this opportunity had a positive impact for you.
Are funds available for work required trainings and responsibilities?
No. CDF awards are not meant to replace departmental or organizational funding for items needed to fulfill employee work requirements/responsibilities. If work-related support is needed, we highly encourage you to reach out to your supervisor and departmental HR business partner for additional guidance.
Are funds available for patient care improvement requests?
No. CDF awards are meant to help individual staff members grow and develop. We encourage you to share your ideas for improved patient care with your supervisor and the Office of Patient Experience to see if there is departmental or organizational funding to support these requests.
Can the funds be used to pay for tuition or coursework?
Yes, while proof of participation is not required for the initial grant submission, the funds may be used to cover a portion of the course expenses. Proof of course registration and successful course completion (including a copy of the official transcript) will be required.
Will every applicant be awarded?
Unfortunately, no. While we hope to award as many grants as possible, not every application will be awarded.
When will I know if I have been selected?
All applicants, whether selected or not, will hopefully be notified by the end of May 2026.
If awarded, how will individuals receive the funds?
Awards will be processed as an advancement via PeoplePay. Awardees will receive the funds in their paycheck. Please note that to ensure compliance with tax implications and other financial restrictions on the funds, the Career Development Fund for Staff (CDF) has a process in place for allocating the funds directly to individual awardees, not through their departments.
If awarded, when can individuals expect to receive the funds?
Exact dates/times will vary depending on several factors. The estimated timeline for receiving awarded funds is anticipated to be June 2026.
If awarded, will any of my information be used or disclosed?
Yes. Personal and aggregated information will be shared with various key collaborators. Also, we may share some of the personal impact stories with our campus community.
Why is the fund no longer awarding team grants?
The fund discontinued team grants to focus on development for individual staff members. This adjustment also helps to ensure more sustainable award distributions and equitable tax implications for all awardees. Many departments have professional development funds for team building or development types of activities and these would be more appropriately funded by non-taxable departmental resources. Additionally, eliminating team grants streamlines the administrative effort and reduces the time to process grants for all individual recipients.
Can I submit a late application after the cycle has ended?
Unfortunately, no. We are unable to accept late submissions to ensure a fair and equitable process for all.
If I miss this cycle, when is the next cycle?
There will be another opportunity to submit applications for the Career Development Fund for Staff in fiscal year 2027 At this time, the exact dates have not been determined, but we anticipate opening the next application cycle in February 2027.
