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LEAD Conference Scholarships
General Information
IAC is offering scholarship funds of up to $1,500 to cover expenses related to attending the 2026 Leadership Exchange in Arts & Disability (LEAD) Conference, to include registration, travel, and hotel costs. The 2026 LEAD Conference will be held in Philadelphia, PA, August 11- August 14, 2026.
The deadline for submitting IAC scholarship applications is Thursday, March 5, 2026, by 11:59 PM. The application must be submitted via IAC’s Salesforce grant portal.
Applications will be accepted from staff of eligible Illinois not-for-profit arts organizations, units of government, and institutions of higher education that are directly responsible for making cultural arts programs and facilities accessible for people with disabilities. Priority will be given to IAC grantees that are first-time attendees and those from rural, high-poverty, BIPOC, and disability communities. Please note this scholarship is income to the individual attending the conference.
All IAC grants are processed through the state comptroller and may take 3-6 months for the award to be received. There is a possibility scholarship recipients may not have the funds in advance of the conference.
Full LEAD Conference registration and hotel information is available online at https://web.cvent.com/event/17bdd852-b76e-4a4c-bf53-1f67fa1ee7b1/summary
LEAD listed costs, as of January 21, 2026:
- Standard registration rate (until July 27, 2026): $495
- LEAD hotel room rate: $239 per night plus fees and taxes
Eligibility Requirements
At the time of application, individual applicants must:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Certify that they are
- Currently and have been a legal resident of the state of Illinois for at least 12 months prior to the application deadline.
- Submit a copy of one of the following:
- A valid Illinois driver’s license, which includes the date issued and expiration date.
- A valid State of Illinois identification card, which includes the date issued and expiration date.
- NOT be enrolled in any degree or certificate-granting program (including high school, bachelor's, or master's degree programs) at the time of application or during the award period. (Ph.D. candidates need to have completed their coursework by the application deadline to be eligible.)
- Not having received a LEAD scholarship in 2025.
- Apply utilizing a Salesforce account registered to the individual applicant, not the organization.
How to Apply
The 2026 LEAD Conference Scholarship applications are entered in the IAC’s Salesforce Grants Portal. Once you are logged in, please then follow these steps:
1. Click on the “Applicant Information” tab and ensure your contact information is included and up to date.
2. Click on the “Grant Programs” tab
3. Click on the grant “LEAD Scholarships 2026”
4. Click the Apply button
• Select the Individual applicant that will be attending the conference.
5. Under Supporting Documents please upload:
• The narrative should be no more than 1 page and indicate:
- Information about your organization including mission and description of community served.
- Your background as an arts administrator along with any current arts affiliations; and
- If you are a first-time attendee and your goals for attending the conference.
• The budget should:
- Be specific to hotel, travel and registration expenses (not per diem or meals);
- Include the amount you are requesting (not to exceed $1,500); and
- Specify how you plan to cover any remaining costs if the total amount of expenses exceeds what you are requesting. (Note: Please request only what is needed as this will allow us to award more scholarships.)
- Please Note: While the IAC intends to consider applications for full funding, should requests exceed the funds allocated, the IAC may contact applicants with an option of partial support.
• Proof of Residency should include a copy of one of the following:
- A valid Illinois driver’s license which includes the date issued and expiration date.
- A valid State of Illinois identification card which includes the date issued and expiration date.
6. When those documents are uploaded, click the submit button
7. Certify the application and click submit again
Contact your Regional Program Director with any questions