THE MEDA FOUNDATION WELCOMES YOU TO OUR 13TH ANNUAL SILENT AUCTION

We appreciate your support and participation in this new virtual format.

We hope you find something you like in our Auction. Funds raised will support our Lofton Scholarship Fund.

NEW this year to the auction is our Lofton Scholarship Fund Direct Donation Option – although all funds collected at the Silent Auction go to the Lofton Fund, this year you can donate $25, $50, $75, $100 or any amount you would like directly to the scholarship fund with one click of the button. The Lofton Scholarship Fund supports the professional development opportunities for our members.

Again, we thank you for your continued support for the Lofton Scholarship Fund - Info about this can be found below.

Feel free to contact us if you have questions!

Thanks,

The MEDA TEAM

What is the Lofton Scholarship Fund?

The Lofton Scholarship Fund is an offering of the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) and exists to support the growth of professional skills and knowledge by economic development practitioners in Maryland.

Objectives of the Fund:

To provide funding to MEDA members for professional development opportunities in their economic development work.
To provide funding to enable MEDA members to become eligible for certification to sit for the CEcD examination.

Criteria for Selection:

Applicants must be MEDA members in good standing or have an application for membership pending (membership dues do not qualify as part of the scholarship).
Members must live or work in Maryland in order to apply for a Lofton Scholarship
Applications for courses leading to certification must be received at least 21 days prior to the course start date.
Applications for re-certification (50% conference fees) must be received at least 21 days prior to the early bird rate increase.
Applicants must demonstrate dedication to the profession and intent to continue within the field.
Scholarships must be used for the course it was awarded for or approval must be granted by the committee to transfer use to another course. Scholarships cannot be used for training/courses completed prior to the award.
Awardees are expected to give back to the organization in a meaningful way. Suggestions include but are not limited to:
Contributing a silent auction item to help replenish the fund
Assisting with registration at an upcoming conference
Helping with outreach to potential sponsors

Eligible Activities/Courses:

Any MEDA or IEDC course approved by the Professional Development Committee qualifies for MEDA members who are not certified. Courses designated as prerequisites for CEcD certification or recertification and sitting for the certification examination are eligible. Training courses at conferences are eligible with committee approval. Conference and annual conference fees are not eligible for scholarship funds for certification. NEW! If you are certified, and a MEDA member, you can apply for 50% of the conference costs for those conferences that are designated Level 1 (See “Criteria” for deadlines on applying).

The Details:

Scholarships are limited to actual course registration costs. Scholarships also are limited to one scholarship, one course, per member each year.
Scholarship payments must be used for tuition, books, and application fees. Housing, meals, and travel costs are not included.
Each recipient will be responsible for making his/her own travel arrangements and for applying for course enrollment.\
Members who are not certified must apply for scholarships at least 21 days prior to the course start date. No late fees will be paid. All IEDC courses are online now at www.iedconline.org.
Members who are certified must apply for the 50% conference fee at least 21 days prior to the early bird deadline.

How to Apply for the Lofton Scholarship:

There are three parts of the application that should be submitted to the Scholarship Selection Committee. All documents must be submitted electronically using the form below to allow for seamless distribution to the committee.

Requirements include:

A letter of interest including the applicant’s name, title, company, phone number, and e-mail address, along with the applicant’s reasons for seeking the scholarship, the course he/she plans to take, and the estimated amount needed. This letter should be signed by the applicant and be on company or personal letterhead.
The applicant’s resume.
A letter of recommendation signed by the applicant’s employer.

When submitting a request for funding, please take into account our volunteer committee’s schedule and allow ample time for fair consideration.

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