UPDATE: Discovery Funds have been allocated for the 2025-2026 Academic Year. Funds will reopen in September 2026.
The Discovery Fund is administered through the Office of Internships and Career Development. Grants from the Discovery Fund aim to support an enriching off-campus educational experience within the United States. Students may apply for these funds on an individual basis to help pay for various types of experiences including, but not limited to: individual conference attendance, travel as part of a course, or independent learning opportunities.
- Discovery Fund applications for 2025-2026 will be accepted starting August 25th. Applications are accepted August 25th through April 30th, or until funds are depleted, and are reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants will receive email notification of approval/denial of their request.
- These funds are not intended for purposes for which there are other designated funds. Examples include faculty-led conference travel, job or grad school interviews, certifications, etc.
- Students planning to apply for Discovery Funds to attend AfroTech: Priority will be given to Computer Science and Business majors, juniors and seniors, and persons of color. Additional information will be sent via email. The deadline for Discovery Funds to support AfroTech is September 25th or until allocated funds are depleted (see UPDATE at top of this page).
The application forms for both individual student experiences AND faculty/staff group experiences can be found here:
Discovery Funds – Individual Student Grant Application
Discovery funds are intended to supplement a student’s personal funds. They are not meant to cover the entire cost of an experience.
- Students should submit the Individual Application to Discovery Fund – Individual Grant Application (link for 2026 will be provided when funds reopen) as early as possible before travel. Those submitted less than three weeks before travel run some risk of denial.
- Students on probation of any kind may be determined ineligible for Discovery Fund Grants.
- Students must submit proof of participation (a receipt for paid conference registration, conference name tag, etc.) within one week following the event.
- Funds are direct deposited to the student’s checking account before the event.
Discovery Funds – Group Grant Applications
Faculty/staff may apply for a grant from the Discovery Fund on behalf of a student group by completing a Group Application form to Discovery Fund – Group Grant Application (link for 2026 will be provided when funds reopen). Funds are intended to supplement funds for enriching off-campus educational experiences within the United States and are not intended to cover full costs. If there are departmental funds designated for a specified purpose, such as field trips, those restricted funds should be sought/used before Discovery funds, if possible.
- Funds are credited through a journal transfer to the departmental account after the event, since last minute changes in participation often take place. (If funds need to go directly from Discovery to the students, then it is not considered a group application, and the students should apply as individuals instead.)
- Group Application forms should be submitted as early as possible prior to travel. Applications submitted less than three weeks prior to travel run some risk of being denied.
- A Group Participation Agreement (which is sent automatically after funds are approved) with signatures of students who actually attended, should be submitted after the event takes place. Funding is awarded on a per student basis, so the total will depend on the number of students who actually attended the event.
- Receipts are required at the department level in accordance with standard College policies for purchases, but they do not have to be submitted to the Discovery Committee.
The difference between an Individual Application and a Group Application is primarily where the money is directed. A successful Individual Application results in a direct deposit to the student’s bank account prior to the event, and a successful Group Application results in a transfer of funds to a departmental account as reimbursement after the event.
Questions: discovery@berea.edu
University Sponsor
Berea College
Experience Information
- Sponsor
- Internships & Career Development
- Apply By
- Apr 30, 2026
- Website
- beyondberea.org/experiences/discovery-funds
