Applications for conference assistance to attend the ICMA 2025 Annual Conference in Tampa, Florida are closed. Inquiries may be directed to scholarships@icma.org. 

Limited resources are a challenge for many ICMA members in their pursuit of gaining the tools they need to better manage their communities. ICMA values the importance of offering an opportunity for conference assistance for its members to be able to attend the Annual Conference. This year, the Annual Conference is being held in Tampa/Hillsborough County, Florida, USA. Through the Conference Assistance Scholarship opportunity and the Edwin O. Stene Scholarship opportunity, ICMA members who meet certain eligibility requirements have the chance to receive financial assistance to attend the Annual Conference.

See below for more information. Questions may be directed to scholarships@icma.org.  

Scholarship Categories

You may apply for either the Conference Assistance Scholarship or the Edward O. Stene Scholarship depending on the eligibility requirements that you meet for either category.

Conference Assistance Scholarship

Open to an active member of ICMA who: serves in a small community with limited financial resources, has three (3) years or less experience as a full-time local government employee, and/or represents a diverse background, identity, or belonging as it relates to local government professionals and communities.
Application Opens: June 25, 2025

Application Closes: July 25, 2025

What’s Included

Complimentary registration to the ICMA 2025 Annual Conference

A travel stipend to assist with travel costs

There is no minimum salary requirement, although salary might be considered during the evaluation process.

Eligibility requirements

  • Is an active member of ICMA at the time of application who meets at least one of the following 3 subcategory requirements:
    • 1. An ICMA member serving in a small community with limited financial resources,
    • 2. An ICMA member with three (3) years or less experience as a full-time local government employee, and/or
    • 3. An ICMA member who represents a diverse background, identity, or belonging as it relates to local government professionals and communities
  • Is a full-time local government employee (not a part-time employee, intern or fellow).
  • Must not have attended an in-person ICMA Annual Conference in the past five years (excluding attendance as fellow or student).
  • Submit a completed application following the instructions for online submission.

Application requirements

  • Clear demonstration in an essay (500 words) of an avid interest in a career in local government management and a need for financial assistance to attend the annual conference.
    • The applicant is encouraged to highlight in their essay how they meet the eligibility requirements, and how the local government and the community served will benefit from the individual’s conference attendance.
  • Submit a biography and headshot upon receipt of a scholarship should you receive a scholarship.
  • Complete an award report that briefly summarizes conference experience upon returning from the conference should you receive the scholarship.

The application period opens on June 25, 2025 and closes on July 25, 2025. Applicants will be informed of decisions within 2 weeks of the application period closing.

  1. Go to ICMA.org and click LOG IN
  2. Enter the Email Address and Password for your ICMA account (You must be an ICMA member and logged into the ICMA website in order to submit an application.)
  3. Click MY ICMA
  4. Hover your cursor over Awards and click Apply for Conference Assistance
  5. Click the APPLY button next to Annual Conference Assistance Scholarship
  6. Follow the online prompts and be sure to fill out all information
  7. Click the UPLOAD button to submit the essay. (Essay must be named with no spaces in the name of the document, i.e., SmithEssay.doc., and must have a .doc, .docx or .pdf extension)
  8. Click the SAVE button to submit your application

Edwin O. Stene Scholarship

Open to graduate students who have little or no full-time experience in local government, internships excluded.
Application Opens: June 25, 2025

Application Closes: July 25, 2025

What’s Included

Complimentary registration to the ICMA 2025 Annual Conference

A travel stipend to assist with travel costs

The Edwin O. Stene Scholarship was created in 1986 to honor Dr. Edwin O. Stene, a University of Kansas professor, and his efforts in recruiting young people into the local government. The scholarship includes complimentary registration and a stipend to assist with travel costs.

The Edwin O. Stene Scholarship of $1,500 is awarded annually by ICMA to a graduate student who has little or no full-time experience in local government, internships excluded. Conference registration is included, and the stipend is intended to cover travel and lodging expenses.

The scholarship award was created in 1986 with a donation of $5,000 from KUCIMAT (Kansas University City Managers and Trainees) to honor Dr. Edwin O. Stene, a University of Kansas professor. The KUCIMAT board asked that the award be created for Dr.Stene for his dedication to recruiting young people into the local government management profession.

  • A full-time graduate student (enrolled by the start of annual conference).
  • Enrollment in a local government program at a college or university recognized (membership or accreditation) by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration.
  • Demonstration of a strong undergraduate academic record.
  • Expressed interest in a career in local government general management.
  • Little or no full-time experience in local government, internships excluded.

The application period opens on June 25, 2025 and closes on July 25, 2025. Applicants will be informed of decisions within 2 weeks of the application period closing.

  1. Submit two (2) letters of recommendation
    1. A letter of sponsorship from the department head, dean, or director of the public administration/affairs/policy or related program in which the applicant is enrolled.
    2. A letter of recommendation from a local government manager, previous employer, or an additional academician.
  2. Write a 300-word (or less) essay describing your interest and career objectives in local government management.
  3. Provide unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
  4. Submit requirements via e-mail to scholarships@icma.org

Other Ways to Get Assistance

Non-members (For New Members Only)

If you have been considering joining ICMA and/or attending the annual conference, select the Join, Go, Save option on the conference registration site to save 50% off your first year annual membership fee when you attend the 2025 ICMA Annual Conference in Tampa/Hillsborough County, Florida, USA.

ICMA Members in Transition

MITs are granted complimentary registration to the ICMA Annual Conference. There is a limited amount of funds available to provide travel stipends to MIT members. Contact Rosalyn Ceasar at rceasar@icma.org or 202-962-3544.

ICMA Member Partners Program

The ICMA Member Partners Program, created in the memory of Frances “Babs” Elwell, continues its mission to provide scholarships for partners of ICMA members who have never attended an ICMA Annual Conference.

Application deadline: August 29.

State Associations

Check your state association website (see list of state associations here) because many of them offer ICMA Annual Conference scholarships as well.

Affiliate Associations

Many of our affiliate associations also offer scholarships.