UMRA’s Professional Development Grants for Retirees (PDGR) program provides funding for University retirees to continue their scholarship or pursue interesting new projects. The program is an annual competition with applications accepted from October 1 to December 31. Funding of up to $5,000 per grant is available.

All University of Minnesota retirees from the Twin Cities, Duluth, Morris, Rochester, and Crookston Campuses are eligible, whether they are members of UMRA or not. A PDGR Committee reviews applications and makes recommendations regarding funding.

PDGR grants are intended to support strong transitions for the retired person and reflect well on the University. Since 2009, PDGR awards have been made to more than 100 retirees from nearly all colleges and campuses of the University. The grants have supported projects related to art, statistics, social equity, science, medicine, and more. 

More information about the program can be found at umra.umn.edu > Serving You > Grants for Retirees. 

University funds have been important in maintaining the PDGR program at a base level but are not sufficient for the program to grow. Accordingly, UMRA started a campaign to build funds for the program. Anyone can make a tax-deductible contribution by credit card at the PDGR crowdfunding webpage.

Anyone age 70½ or older can also make a qualified charitable distribution to support the program directly from an IRA and avoid paying federal income tax. For more information, please contact Lynn Praska at the University of Minnesota Foundation at lpraska@umn.edu or 612-624-4158.

Anyone with questions or suggestions for the PDGR program should contact John Bantle, MD.

— John Bantle, MD, PDGR Committee chair