The PCMA Education Foundation provides support for educationally-based projects that align with PCMA's Strategic Plan or have a potential interest for or broad impact on the meetings industry as a whole. It is the policy of the Foundation to fulfill its mission primarily through Foundation-initiated projects or programs that clearly demonstrate a benefit to the industry and comply with the Foundation's mission and funding purposes.

Research Priorities

The PCMA Education Foundation Board of Trustees and PCMA Board of Directors have established the following areas as grant research and educational programming priorities:

• Educational programming for the meetings industry
• Industry research
  • Example thematic areas
    • Career Development
    • Best Practices
    • Key challenges faced by meeting planners/the meetings industry
    • Key trends/opportunities for our industry
  • Example topical areas
    • Association, corporate, medical, independent or international planners
    • Value of meetings
    • Evolving role of meeting professionals
    • Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Example specific topics
    • How people make meeting attendance decisions
    • Best practices for using social media to grow meetings
    • Network connection analysis - how meetings foster connections and success
    • The role of meetings in motivating employees
• View more examples of desired research

The median grant amount for projects funded in recent years is $20,155 falling into a complete bell curve range of approximately $5,000-$50,000 and a normal range of approximately $10,000-$25,000. Larger projects may sometimes be funded in phases or shared through the Convention Industry Council (CIC) which represents 32 meetings industry organizations.

For questions, more information or if you have a research idea you'd like to discuss, contact us at foundation@pcma.org

2010 Industry Research

Meeting Planners Intention Survey
This research is a national survey of professional meeting planners that will assess their intentions with respect to planning and hosting off-site meetings in 2010/2011. The survey will measure the impact of the current economic/media environment and compare to last year's results.

Economic Impact Study
A collaborative study with industry organizations to determine the impact of the meetings industry on the economy.

CIC Messaging Project
Completed through the Convention Industry Council, executed by YPartnership, to create key messaging for CIC's member organizations to use for communications.

2010 Educational Programming

Best in Class Program
Provides each PCMA chapter with one Best in Class education program in 2010.

PCMA Student Union
Provides an opportunity for students in the hospitality and meetings industry to receive education that is not available to them at their colleges and universities and to enable them to make the most of the Annual Meeting experience.

Moderator Training Program
Builds a strong pool of trained moderators by offering the opportunity to participate in a one-day training program conducted by a skilled professional.

Faculty Scholarship Grant
To engage participation from University Faculty in PCMA, this provide scholarships for full-time University faculty to attend the Annual Meeting in January.