Staff Retiree Development Grants

Deadlines:

Fall Round: Friday, October 2, 2026 (for grant period of December 1 through May 15)

Spring Round: Friday, April 9, 2027 (for grant period of June 1 through November 15)

Staff retiree development grants are designed to support projects that promote continuing engagement in a retiree’s trade or profession, benefit the College or retiree’s local community, and/or model creative approaches to life in retirement. Awards can range from modest sums (less than $100 to support a limited need) up to $1,000. A decision to provide partial support of proposals will be influenced by evidence that such support will indeed help launch the project and that applicants will find the additional funds needed. 

Applicants must qualify for retiree status according to Skidmore’s Human Resources Department criteria.  All applications must be submitted through the online form.  Each application will be reviewed by a panel of the Retiree Initiative Planning Group (RIPG), including its Human Resources liaison member. Grants are funded by RIPG. 

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Guidelines & Procedures

1.  Staff retiree grants are designed to support projects that promote the applicant’s continuing education, benefit the College or the retiree’s local community, and/or model creative approaches to life in retirement — that is, grant funds are not intended as business loans.
2. If a grant is requested to benefit a project of a nonprofit organization, the applicant must have a direct personal involvement with the project and define that involvement in the application.
3. Subsidy for production or publication shall carry no obligation for repayment, but grantees are required to expressly acknowledge the support of RIPG and Skidmore College on exhibition or publication.
4. Grants cannot be used as honoraria for award recipients.
5. Any equipment whose purchase is reimbursed with grant funds will become and remain the legal property of Skidmore College; however, the grantee may possess and use the equipment for the purpose of carrying out the approved grant project and related activities. Under no circumstances may the equipment be used for commercial or profit-generating activities.
6. Grants may support payments to independent contractors, subject to federal Internal Revenue Service 1099 regulations.
7. Projects involving research with human subjects or tissues or with vertebrate animals may require review by Skidmore’s Institutional Review Board or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. RIPG will advise applicants if this procedure is required.
8. Proposed projects must be in compliance with Skidmore College policies and procedures.  See, in particular, the Policy on Political Activity, the Standards of Business Conduct Policy, and the Travel and Entertainment Policy.
9. RIPG will advise grant winners by e-mail, copied to Human Resources and other relevant offices.  Awards will also be announced on the Skidmore retirees website. 
10. Grant recipients must submit an online report summarizing their project within one month of the end of the grant period.  They may also be invited to share information about their projects with fellow retirees in on-campus presentations hosted by RIPG.
11. Grants are disbursed as reimbursements for expenses incurred (and with dated receipts) within the grant period; see “Deadlines” above. Reimbursements cannot be granted for any expenses prior to the grant period, even if that activity was part of a larger, longer-term project that falls within the grant period.
12. Grantees must submit all financial documentation and itemized receipts by or before the end of the grant period, following the instructions provided in the grant award letter from RIPG.  Grantees are encouraged to arrange a discussion with a member of the Financial Services staff, before expenses are incurred, in order to determine the best receipt collection and reimbursement methods.
13. Grants may support travel (including lodging and food) for workshop or conference attendance as well as for research or consultation. Original, itemized receipts must be submitted — e.g., a credit-card bill showing total restaurant charges is not adequate proof of purchase.
14. Failure to meet RIPG’s financial and/or project-summary reporting deadlines will disqualify the recipient from consideration for future Staff Retiree Development Grants.

Criteria for Evaluation

The review panel will first consider the excellence of the proposal (in certain circumstances, seeking expert advice) and the contribution the project may make to its field or profession, to the College, to the retiree’s development, or to the wider community of retirees.  When proposals are comparably meritorious but there are insufficient funds to support them all, the panel may:

• give favor to proposals from applicants who have not recently received grants over those from recent grant recipients
• give favor to proposals from applicants who have used prior RIPG grants effectively over those whose previous grants have been less productively employed

All questions about RIPG staff grants should be directed to RIPG@skidmore.edu

• FORM: ONLINE SKIDMORE STAFF RETIREE DEVELOPMENT GRANT APPLICATION
  
  
• FORM: ONLINE SKIDMORE STAFF RETIREE DEVELOPMENT GRANT FINAL REPORT