The ASAE Research Foundation announced a revitalized Certified Association Executive (CAE) Scholarship Program for 2023 that will provide financial assistance to association professionals of underserved communities seeking to obtain the CAE credential.
Scholarship recipients will each receive an award of $500, which can be applied to the CAE application fee or used for exam preparation, such as reading materials or prep courses, and must be used within one year of receipt. In addition, scholarship recipients will receive a year of complimentary ASAE membership if the recipient is not already a member. The Foundation will provide five scholarships in 2023 that will be announced in August 2023.
The renewal of the Foundation’s CAE Scholarship Program was spearheaded by two stalwart association leaders, Matthew Gertzog, FASAE, CAE, deputy executive director, American Society of Hematology, and current ASAE Board member; and Lowell Aplebaum, FASAE, CAE, CPF, CEO of Vista Cova.
“The relaunch of the CAE Scholarship Program exemplifies the nexus of key ASAE priorities ranging from workforce development to the support of values related to diversity, equity and inclusion to the mastery of key principles and practices foundational to association management,” Gertzog says. “I know from firsthand experience that when you receive your CAE designation, you’re affirming your commitment as an association professional and joining a proud network of leaders committed to helping associations advance America and the world.”
“Earning your CAE both opens doors to executive association careers while also building a stronger association community – but the economic barriers to sitting for the certification are limiting,” Aplebaum says. “With the CAE Scholarship Program, we are building a future of diverse association leadership by making access to the certification more equitable today.”
Applications for the CAE Scholarship Program will open in late spring 2023. Association professionals in need of financial assistance to pursue the CAE credential, who also meet the requirements to sit for the CAE exam within a year of receiving a scholarship, may apply. To increase the pool of qualified applicants, membership in ASAE is not required. Demonstration of financial need may be requested during the application process. Donations to the CAE Scholarship Program can be made on the Foundation’s website.
“ASAE and the ASAE Research Foundation are grateful to Matthew and Lowell for supporting the relaunch of the CAE Scholarship Program,” says ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE. “The willingness of established association leaders to support, mentor and lift up others on their professional journey is a hallmark of our community and further proof of The Power of Associations to effect positive change. As ASAE continues its strategic evolution toward Destination 2026, initiatives such as the CAE Scholarship Program help illustrate the progress we are making as the professional home for association executives.”
