2024 Conference Scholarships

For the 2024 IOA Conference, we are offering two types of scholarships: International Scholarships and Aspiring Ombuds Scholarships. 

Learn more about available scholarships:

Application Submissions Closed

International Scholarships

The IOA International Outreach Committee (IOC) offers financial support to sponsor individuals who would like to attend the IOA Conference. Applicants can be IOA members or prospective members who are working in a country where the organizational ombuds profession is not well developed. Through this scholarship initiative, IOA’s overall goal is to provide greater access to education in countries that IOA recognizes would greatly benefit from outreach, support, and development in the ombuds field.

This scholarship will cover the full cost of registration for the #IOA2024 event and up to $1,500 USD in travel expenses. Priority will be given to applicants whose participation can be instrumental in the advancement of the organizational ombuds profession in their regions/countries.

Eligibility Criteria & Scholarship Requirements

  • Applicants must be located in a country outside of the United States, where the organizational ombuds profession is not well developed. 
  • Applicants must provide evidence of financial need.
  • Applicants must provide one reference with their contact information in their application. 
  • IOA membership is not required. Scholarship applicants and recipients are encouraged to consider joining IOA.

After application review, two scholarship recipients will be selected from the pool of eligible applicants. All applicants will be notified around January 2024.

Application Submissions Closed

International scholarship applications are due by 17 December 2023.

New & Aspiring Ombuds Scholarships

IOA offers to support organizational ombuds to attend the IOA Conference. This scholarship is for those who are new to the ombuds field or are seeking to enter it and who do not have organizational or institutional support to attend.

This scholarship will cover the full cost of registration for the #IOA2024 event, plus $500 stipend to support travel expenses. 

Eligibility Criteria & Scholarship Requirements

  • Applicants must be an IOA member.
  • Applicants must have less than one year of organizational ombuds practice at the time they apply.
  • Applicants must not have additional financial support from their employer or other organization to attend the conference.
  • Applicants must provide one reference with their contact information in their application.
  • Scholarship recipients must write a brief (1-2 paragraph) summary about their experience and post it on the IOA blog within one week following the conference.

After application review, scholarship recipients will be randomly selected from eligible applicants. All applicants will be notified around January 2024.

Application Submissions Closed

New and aspiring ombuds scholarship applications are due by 17 December 2023.

If you have questions about applying for a scholarship or the status of your application, please contact the office by emailing [email protected]