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The Club Foundation provides funding for professional development opportunities throughout the life cycle of a club manager's career, beginning at the university level and continuing through the executive level. Since inception in 1988, more than $8.5 million has been distributed back into the club industry through The Club Foundation’s Scholarship and Grant Program. The Club Foundation strives to continue to promote the professional development of club managers far into the future. Scroll down for more information on all the Foundation’s Scholarships.
The Club Foundation proudly funds a variety of Chapter awards including New Member Recruitment Awards, Chapter of the Year Awards, and Chapter Idea Fair Awards.
The purpose of the Chapter Workshop Grant is to support small and medium Chapters by providing funds for education/workshop activities at the Chapter level. It is fully funded by The Club Foundation and applications are reviewed and evaluated by a sub-committee made up of members from the Chapter Relations and Professional Development Committees.
Who Should Apply?
Small- and Medium-sized Chapters
Awardees
Chapter Workshop Grants are awarded based on financial need and merit of the application. The maximum award amount per Chapter is $2,500 for use during the granting year. Chapters may apply annually for consideration.
Application Due Date: December 15
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Application Instructions
The core of The Club Foundation’s mission is to help fund the professional development opportunities for club managers. CF does this through five signature scholarships for club managers: Warren Arseneaux Honorary Scholarship, Willmoore H. Kendall Scholarship, LaRocca Family Executive Scholarship, Sally Burns Rambo Scholarship, and the James B. Singerling Scholarship.
About
The Warren Arseneaux Honorary Scholarship was established in 2007 by the CMAA Wine Society. The Club Foundation began funding the scholarship in 2025. The scholarship honors Warren L. Arseneaux, CCM, an instrumental founder of the CMAA Wine Society and a Past President of CMAA, who gave many years of dedicated service to CMAA and the Wine Society. The purpose of this scholarship is to provide tuition for a CMAA Wine Society member who has a passion and love for wine and is interested in continuing his or her professional development. Funds will be provided to attend the BMI Wine and Food Experience at the Culinary Institute of America’s Greystone Campus or other education opportunity as approved by the IWS and CF evaluation team.
Who Should Apply?
Any CMAA Wine Society member who has a current CMAA Professional (01) status and who is dedicated to professional development in the knowledge of wine is invited to apply.
Scholarship Awards
There will be one scholarship awarded annually, based on the availability of funds and merit of application. In order to help recipients expand upon their knowledge of wine, the scholarship will cover the registration fee associated with the BMI Wine and Food Experience and other travel/lodging expenses (totaling up to no more than $5,000, collectively for course registration, travel, lodging, etc.).
About
The Club Foundation, a
non-profit charitable organization was established by
CMAA in 1988 to raise funds to financially support the
professional development of club managers through
education, training and research initiatives. In 2001,
the Willmoore H. Kendall Scholarship Fund was
established in memory of CMAA Past President Mr. Bill
Kendall. The purpose of this scholarship is to provide tuition support to assistant managers and aspiring managers who are interested in pursuing the Certified Club Manager (CCM) designation.
Scholarship Awards
The Club Foundation will award scholarships annually,
based on the availability of funds and merit of
application. In order to help recipients meet
certification requirements and prepare them for the
CCM exam, each scholarship will include the tuition
fees (except travel expenses) associated with the
following programs:
• BMI Club Management;
• BMI Leadership Principles;
• BMI General Manager/Chief Operating Officer;
• BMI Food & Beverage OR BMI Golf Management OR BMI Sports and Recreation;
• BMI Certification Review Course (including Study Guide); and
• CCM Exam Fees
Please note that the scholarship only applies to
programs for which you are not currently
registered or have not yet taken and must be used
within three years.
Who Should Apply?
• a member of CMAA;
• committed to a career in the club industry;
• actively pursuing the CCM designation;
• have at least one BMI course remaining to complete;
and
• nominated for the scholarship by their CMAA
chapter.
Evaluation of Applicants
Scholarship awards will be granted based on
recommendations made by The Club Foundation Allocation
Committee and approved by The Club Foundation Board of
Governors.
Applications will be evaluated on the following application materials:
• Management Experience (Note: internships are not
calculated as part of this score)
• CMAA Chapter and Community Activities
• Quality of your essay
• General Manager Letter of Recommendation; if applicant is a GM, please obtain a Letter of Recommendation from your Board Chair
• Club Member Letter of Recommendation
• Chapter Recommendation Letter
• Overall Quality
“As a two-time Joe Perdue scholarship recipient and 2018 Kendall scholarship recipient, I fully appreciate the value of these programs funded by The Club Foundation. My career aspirations formed at a young age and without the financial support of The Club Foundation, I would not be where I am today. From the financial assistance I received, I was able to put myself through college, attend distant conferences, achieve my CCM designation, and help fund my dream. As a result, I've recently become a general manager of a private club. I am incredibly grateful for the generous support of the Club Foundation and encourage everyone to give back to those future leaders most in need. I am living proof that your donation makes a difference and I’m forever grateful for the invaluable opportunities I have received through The Club Foundation.”
About
In 2010, recognizing how much The Club Foundation has
impacted their careers, the LaRocca Family stepped
forward to give back to the industry by making a
generous contribution to the Foundation. The LaRocca
Family Executive Scholarship was created to both honor
their commitment to professional development and to
recognize their continued support of The Club
Foundation. The purpose of this scholarship is to
provide financial support to club managers interested
in both furthering their own professional development,
as well as helping others achieve their career
goals.
Who Should Apply?
Candidates must be a current member of CMAA, have a minimum of 10 years of club supervisory/management experience, currently serve as a top executive at their club and take an active role in mentoring.
Scholarship Awards
The Club Foundation will award scholarships annually,
based on the availability of funds and merit of
application. This scholarship may be used for the
tuition cost and up to $1,000 in travel expenses
(airfare and accommodations) to attend your choice of
one of the following BMI courses:
• BMI Tactical Leadership
• BMI Strategic Leadership
• BMI International
• BMI Food & Beverage
• BMI Golf Management
• BMI Wine & Food Experience
A second mentoring component of this scholarship
allows the recipient to designate funds for a manager
that they are mentoring to be used for their choice of
the following:
• CMAA Dues (both National and Chapter dues)
• A Full Registration and up to $1,000 in travel
expenses to attend a CMAA World Conference
• A Full Registration and up to $1,000 in travel
expenses to attend a CMAA Legislative/Leadership
Conference
Scholarship awards will be granted based on
recommendations made by The Club Foundation Allocation
Committee and approved by The Club Foundation Board of
Governors.
Awardees will have two years from the receipt of
the scholarship to utilize the funds.
“On behalf of the LaRocca Family, I wish to extend our sincere congratulations to the LaRocca Family Executive scholarship honorees. We have always wanted to give back to the profession that has been so wonderful to us, and The Club Foundation is the perfect way for us to say thanks. The dual component of this scholarship benefits two club management professionals; a mentor, who is furthering their professional development, and a mentee, who has aspiring career goals. Mentoring is a huge part of career growth for the mentee’s success and a key component of wisdom that the mentee will have forever.”
As a mentor and role model, Sally Burns Rambo, CCM was
a pioneer who paved the way for the success of
countless club industry leaders. To honor her memory
and the legacy that she created, this scholarship
provides financial support to female club managers
interested in furthering their professional
development.
Who Should Apply?
Candidates
must be a female currently working in the club
industry, a current member of CMAA, and must have been
a Professional member of CMAA for a minimum of 3
years.
Scholarship Awards
The Club Foundation will award scholarships annually,
based on the availability of funds and merit of
application. This scholarship may be used for the
tuition cost to your choice of one of the CMAA
Business Management Institute courses or the
Certification Review Course and up to $1,000 in travel
expenses.
Scholarship awards will be granted based on
recommendations made by The Club Foundation Allocation
Committee and approved by The Club Foundation Board of
Governors.
Restrictions
The scholarship only applies to programs/courses not
yet taken and must be used within 18 months.
“I am incredibly honored and humbled to be among the six female CMAA awardees of the Sally Burns Rambo Scholarship this year. Congratulations to all the awardees! Thank you to The Club Foundation and every individual who has helped me get to where I am in my career thus far! I am so grateful for my amazing mentors, colleagues, friends and family. I’m ready to put this scholarship to good use so I continue to be better tomorrow than I am today!”
“My sincere thanks to all the donors of The Club Foundation. Without your generous donations, I would not have received the Sally Burns Rambo Scholarship. Because of this award, I have been lucky enough to sign up for my first BMI class this coming November! I am very excited to attend this valuable education as I believe professional education is vital in my growth as a manager in an industry that I love.”
About
This scholarship was created in honor of CMAA’s
long-time CEO, Jim Singerling, CCM, upon his
retirement after 25 years of leadership. The purpose
of this scholarship is to make it possible for
recipients to attend the CMAA World Conference on Club
Management and Club Business Expo for the first time
as a club industry professional.
Who Should Apply?
Any Professional or Alumnus member of CMAA who is
interested in attending the CMAA World Conference for
their first time as a club professional. Candidates
must be a member of CMAA and not previously attended a
CMAA World Conference (attendance as a student member
is accepted).
Scholarship Awards
The Club Foundation will award scholarships annually,
based on the availability of funds and merit of
application. Scholarship awards will be granted based
on recommendations made by The Club Foundation
Allocation Committee and approved by The Club
Foundation Board of Governors. This scholarship covers
a full registration to the CMAA World Conference, as
well as up to $1,000 in reimbursed travel/lodging
expenses.
“Thanks to The Club Foundation for giving me the opportunity to attend the World Conference. This opportunity has provided me with the necessary tools and networking for my career path. I am forever grateful and appreciative for being selected as a recipient for the James Singerling scholarship. Without this award, I would not have been able to attend Conference. I am forever grateful for The Club Foundation for believing in me and my future.”
Funding is provided for undergraduate students pursing a managerial career in the club industry through the Joe Perdue scholarship. Also, the Student Chapter Grant Program assists CMAA Student Chapters with expenses related to attending the CMAA World Conference.
A role model and mentor to all, Joe Perdue, CCM, CHE, created and led CMAA's Business Management Institutes, elevated CMAA’s education and certification pathways, and served The Club Foundation Board of Directors for several decades. Joe was a former club manager who transitioned to academia and paved the way for the success of tens of thousands of club leaders and club management students all around the world. To honor his numerous contributions to CMAA, CF, and individual club leaders, the Joe Perdue scholarship provides financial support to student members interested in furthering their professional career in the club industry.
Application Due Date: June 1
Information & Eligibility Guidelines
Description:
The Club Foundation awards scholarships based on the
availability of funds and merit of application.
Scholarship awards are made at the recommendation of
The Club Foundation Allocation Committee (CFAC) and
approved by the Board of Governors. The scholarship
award is made directly to the registrar at the college
or university the recipient attends.
Who Should Apply:
Any individual who is actively seeking a managerial career in the club industry and is currently attending an accredited, four-year college or university undergraduate program as a rising sophomore or higher, may apply for the Joe Perdue Scholarship for aid.
Criteria:
Candidates must provide strong evidence that they are
pursuing managerial careers in the private club
industry. A candidate must have completed his/her
freshman year of college and be enrolled for the full
upcoming academic year in an accredited four-year
institution. In addition, the candidate must have
achieved and continue to maintain a grade point
average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, or 4.5 on a
6.0 scale.
“As a two-time recipient of the Joe Perdue Scholarship, I am beyond thankful to all the donors for making this scholarship possible. I am extremely honored to be chosen for this prestigious scholarship and for the opportunities that this award will provide me. Receiving this scholarship not only helps to reduce the financial burden of my education, it also awards me respect from those already working in this industry. I am thankful that esteemed industry professionals, like yourselves, recognize my passion and are willing to share your industry experience and knowledge with a student like me. Thank you!”
This annual grant program for CMAA Student Chapters is
comprised of two parts: a complimentary student
registration to the CMAA World Conference for the
Chapter President and a matching-funds travel grant to
assist with expenses related to attending the
Conference.
All current student chapters automatically receive a
voucher for the complimentary Conference student
registration. To receive the matching-funds travel
grant, the student chapter must submit an official
application and verify that they have raised funds
which are then matched dollar for dollar by The Club
Foundation up to a maximum of $500. All student
chapters of CMAA are eligible to apply. In order to
qualify the student chapter must:
• Hold a fundraising event
• Submit President’s Annual Report
• Submit Current Chapter Budget
• Submit Application for Grant
• Submit Grantee Form stipulating that funds
previously received were used for their intended
purpose
The Faculty Internship program is designed specifically for hospitality faculty members to enhance the club management component of their existing hospitality curricula through an in-depth orientation at the Club Management Association of America headquarters followed by an opportunity to shadow club managers in their local area. Faculty Research Grants are also provided to hospitality faculty members that focus their efforts on issues facing the club industry today.
The Faculty Internship program is currently being revamped. We anticipate making applications available for the 2026 program year and will send out broader notification to our faculty contact lists at that time. If you have any questions in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 703-739-9500.
Description: The Club Foundation Faculty Internship Program was launched in 1995 with the goal of increasing club management expertise among faculty members in established college and university hospitality programs. As faculty interns, faculty members receive an in-depth look at the private club industry through a three-day orientation held in conjunction with the annual CMAA National Student Education Conference. Following this comprehensive orientation, the interns return to their respective schools to complete the in-club components of their internship. This provides them with a hands-on and behind-the-scenes look at the private club industry.
Application Due Date: August 1
Description: The Club Foundation Faculty Research Grant Program maintains a goal of supporting Club Industry Research projects and efforts on the part of hospitality faculty members of accredited, four-year institutions, with established hospitality degree programs. As a Faculty Research Grant recipient, grantees will receive support from the CMAA Research and Education departments and also be considered for funding from The Club Foundation based on the availability of funds. Applications are reviewed and evaluated for approval by the CMAA Research Committee and recipients will be required to submit an article for potential publication by CMAA.
The Club Foundation will consider funding any initiative that supports our mission and promotes the best interests of the club industry.
The Foundation will consider funding any initiative that
supports our mission and promotes the best interests of the
club industry.
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The Club Foundation assigns an expiration date to each scholarship awarded, typically 2-3 years from the date of the award. We acknowledge that at times, unavoidable circumstances present conflicts that may prohibit the awardee from using the funds prior to the assigned deadline. If you have experienced a delay, out of your control, and need to request an extension to use scholarship funds, please submit a formal request by following the steps below.
Please allow up to two weeks after submission of your formal request for a decision about any extension of your award.
Questions? Please contact Ava Spece via the contact form or 703-739-9500.
Apply for an Extension