Education Grant Program
MDA offers educational grants up to $500 for each membership category (Open, Adult Amateur, and/or Junior) every calendar year. There is one (1) grant per membership category
Grants may be used for any dressage related clinics, seminars, and educational programs offered or sponsored by the the Midwest Dressage Association (MDA), the United States Dressage Federation (USDF), or the United Stations Equestrian Federation (USEF). Other opportunities may be eligible pending review and approval by the MDA Board of Directors.
Grant Applications are accepted between December 1st and April 1st at 12PM EST.
Grants are awarded in the April Board of Directors meeting and recipients will be notified.
Grants may be used for any dressage related clinics, seminars, and educational programs offered or sponsored by the the Midwest Dressage Association (MDA), the United States Dressage Federation (USDF), or the United Stations Equestrian Federation (USEF). Other opportunities may be eligible pending review and approval by the MDA Board of Directors.
Grant Applications are accepted between December 1st and April 1st at 12PM EST.
Grants are awarded in the April Board of Directors meeting and recipients will be notified.
Additional Rules & Details:
Eligibility
- No one personal shall receive an MDA Educational Grant in consecutive years
- Applicants have 1 of the following membership types: Open, Adult Amateur, or Junior
- Applicants must have a minimum of 2 consecutive years of membership with the MDA
- Awarded grants must be used prior to November 30th of the year the grant is received.
- Applicants must have recorded a minimum of 4 hours of equine or dressage related volunteering* within the previous 12 months at the time of applying.
* Volunteer requirement may be met through commitment to submit an article to the MDA newsletter (Draft must be submitted within 30 days of the event) or commitment to give a short presentation at the MDA Awards Banquet (Outline of presentation required within 30 days of the event)
Application Requirements
- Completed Application (see link above)
- If volunteer activity is not with MDA: inclusion of contact for volunteer activity
- A letter of recommendation from an equine professional (Trainer, Instructor, Technical Delegate, or Judge). These should be sent directly from the recommender to [email protected]
After reviewing Terms and Conditions below, please email the completed application to [email protected]
Terms & Conditions
If a grant recipient is unable to attend the specified event, all grant moneys are to be returned to the Midwest Dressage Association (MDA) within 30 days of the event date.
A complete, detailed expense report is required to be sent to the Board of Directors via [email protected] no later than 15 days after the event and must include all original receipts and documentation supporting the amount awarded or spent.
Unspent funds must be returned to the MDA no later than 30 days after the event.
Optional (unless used to meet the volunteer requirement), recipients are encouraged to write an article sharing what was gained from the educational program they attended for the Newsletter. Drafts are due within 30 days of the event.
All recipients of the Education Grant will be acknowledged in the Newsletter and on MDA Social Media Accounts.
This grant is funded through donations and fundraisers.
A 1099 Tax Form will be issued by the Treasurer if necessary.
A complete, detailed expense report is required to be sent to the Board of Directors via [email protected] no later than 15 days after the event and must include all original receipts and documentation supporting the amount awarded or spent.
Unspent funds must be returned to the MDA no later than 30 days after the event.
Optional (unless used to meet the volunteer requirement), recipients are encouraged to write an article sharing what was gained from the educational program they attended for the Newsletter. Drafts are due within 30 days of the event.
All recipients of the Education Grant will be acknowledged in the Newsletter and on MDA Social Media Accounts.
This grant is funded through donations and fundraisers.
A 1099 Tax Form will be issued by the Treasurer if necessary.
