As a result of the financial challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the University will not be able to fund the Professional Development Grants for Retirees (PDGR) program for 2021–22. 

Due to cost cutting throughout the University, including pay reductions for employees and a reduction in staffing levels, there are insufficient funds to continue the University’s support of our grant program. The decision is disappointing but totally understandable. We hope circumstances will eventually change to allow resumption of the funding from the University.

Financial support for the annual grant competition, launched in 2009, has been provided by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost ($40,000 annually) plus a fund established by UMRA and managed by the University of Minnesota Foundation. The Office of the Vice President for Research has administered the funds.

The PDGR program has been very successful, awarding more than 130 grants over the past decade. Ironically, this year (2020–21) was among our best years; we awarded 18 grants totaling nearly $69,000 dollars. 

Thanks to the generosity of our members, there is currently more than $29,000 in UMRA’s PDGR fund managed by the Foundation. 

In order to keep the program going, UMRA will invite grant applications for 2021–22. However, we will limit individual awards to a maximum of $4,000 (vs. $5,000), with the total not to exceed $20,000. This will support up to five grants.

We will also seek funding from other granting agencies and solicit donations from our members and others to support future grants. This effort will take the form of a UMF-assisted crowdfunding campaign with a matching challenge gift. 

We hope you will join us in supporting this successful program.

—Bill Donohue, UMRA president (2019–20)