Scholarships, Grants and Awards
SHRM Foundation and SHRM work hard to support and celebrate everyone who makes up the HR profession from students to emerging professionals to seasoned leaders.
Supporting & Celebrating HR Professionals
SHRM Foundation and SHRM work hard to support and celebrate everyone who makes up the HR profession from students to emerging professionals to seasoned leaders. To do that, each year, SHRM Foundation:
- Provides over $400,000 in scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students studying the field of HR.
- Provides over $200,000 in grants for emerging and established HR professionals seeking to advance their existing career in HR through conference attendance, credentialing, or certification.
- Celebrates the accomplishments of emerging, mid-career, and established leaders in the field of HR through a variety of awards programs, including the Leadership Awards, the Tharseo Awards, and the Pinnacle Awards.
The SHRM Foundation also offers a robust HR mentorship program and HR Registered Apprenticeship Program.
Please note: Scholarship and grant offerings are subject to change. Awards listed on this calendar may be updated, revised, or discontinued without prior notice.
Undergraduate & Graduate Scholarships
| Scholarship | Application Opens | Deadline | Intended Audience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Scholarships | January 12, 2026 | March 13, 2026 | Emerging Pros |
| Graduate Scholarships | January 12, 2026 | March 13, 2026 | Emerging Pros |
| Susan R. Meisinger Scholarship for Graduate Studies | January 12, 2026 | March 13, 2026 | Pros & Emerging Pros |
Professional Development Grants
| Grant | Application Opens | Deadline | Intended Audience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Conference Grants | January 12, 2026 | March 13, 2026 | Pros & Emerging Pros |
| Student Membership Grant | January 12, 2026 | March 13, 2026 | Emerging Pros |
| Professional Membership Grant | January 12, 2026 | March 13, 2026 | Pros & Emerging Pros |
| SHRM CP or SHRM-SCP Certification Grant #1 | April 13, 2026 | June 12, 2026 | Pros & Emerging Pros |
| Blueprint Conference Grant | April 13, 2026 | June 12, 2026 | Pros & Emerging Pros |
| SHRM CP or SHRM-SCP Certification Grant #2 | August 10, 2026 | October 16, 2026 | Emerging Pros |
| Specialty Credentials | August 10, 2026 | October 16, 2026 | Emerging Pros |
Awards
| Award | Application Opens | Deadline | Intended Audience |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Tomorrow Leadership Program | January 12, 2026 | March 13, 2026 | Emerging Pros |
| Michael R. Losey HR Research Fellowship Program | January 12, 2026 | March 13, 2026 | Pros |
Learn more about our Leadership, Pinnacle, and Tharseo Awards here.
Past Scholarship Award Winners
I still have a lot to give in the workforce and attaining this degree will help me obtain a Human Resource job that will get me back on my feet to return to what I do best: serving people and making life better for those with whom I come in daily contact. Thank you for this second chance to a meaningful career; it means the world to me.
Highline College
Your investment in my education humbles me, and I am forever grateful. Your scholarship is not only assisting my financial needs in the present, but it is ensuring my success in the future. I truly appreciate the value you have put on giving back to students.
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
- Naomi Samuel
- Theresa Allyn
- John Estridge