Attendance Support

Attendance Support Overview

The National Adaptation Forum is offering attendance support on a limited basis from sponsors. With a small amount of support available, you are encouraged to first prioritize the use of your organization’s funding, ask your established funders, or explore any other options to subsidize or reduce your attendance costs. As in the past, funding through the Forum will be awarded through a criteria and need-based review process. Attendance support is a reimbursement-based program, and the Forum cannot provide advance funds.

Please reach out to the Forum Team with any questions at Info@NationalAdaptationForum.org.

Apply for Attendance Support

Timeline

Deadlines

Due Date

Applications Close

March 27, 2026

Selection Notifications Sent

April 6, 2026

Register to Attend & Coordinate Travel

ASAP

Reserve Lodging

April 24, 2026

Attend the Forum

May 12-14, 2026

Submit Reimbursement Form

June 15, 2026

Receive Reimbursement Funds

By September 14, 2026

FAQs

  • Anyone who plans to attend the National Adaptation Forum in Pittsburgh is welcome to apply.
  • Groups that have been historically excluded, unrepresented, and underrepresented in conversations around climate risks and adaptation are encouraged to apply (as defined in the Forum Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging Goals).
  • Specific funders also make attendance support available to qualified grantees or associates. This information will be collected during the application to determine eligibility.
  • Attendance support applications are now open.
  • Attendance support applications will close on March 27, 2026. Selected recipients will be notified by April 6, 2026. Applicants will receive a decision and notice of the funding amount.
  • Major transportation to and from Pittsburgh: includes airline, intercity train, intercity bus, and personal vehicle use at the federal mileage rate.
  • Lodging: Up to three nights at the event hotel, the Westin Pittsburgh.
  • Registration: A single registration to attend the Forum.
  • Local travel (defined as travel beyond inbound and outbound transportation to and from Pittsburgh), including local car mileage, local transit, ride share/taxi, parking, or other incidental costs associated with your travel.
  • Meals. (Lunch and snacks are provided with Forum registration.)
  • Registration: approved recipients will receive individual discount codes upon acceptance. You must register yourself using this code.
  • Lodging (nightly rate + tax): approved recipients must make their own hotel reservation and provide a credit card to secure the reservation. Up to three nights at the event hotel will be covered directly by Attendance Support and will not be charged to the recipient. You are responsible for all other incidentals and fees.
  • Major transportation to and from Pittsburgh: this will be distributed as a reimbursement. Recipients must submit major transportation receipts when completing the online attendance support reimbursement form. Payment will be reimbursed by EcoAdapt in the form of a check.
  • Recipients will not receive reimbursable expenses until after the Forum and will only be reimbursed for incurred expenses.
  • Recipients must submit detailed receipts by June 15, 2026 to be reimbursed. There are no exceptions.
  • The final reimbursement amount will not exceed the initially approved amount. Additionally, reimbursement will not exceed your actual expenses, even if you are approved for a higher total expenditure. There are no exceptions.
  • The maximum available support per person is:
    • Three nights’ lodging at the event hotel
    • Up to a full Forum event registration
    • Up to $410 for major transportation.
  • We encourage participants to request only what is needed. For example, if your employer will fund your registration, please only request support for lodging and travel so the Forum Team can support more recipients.
  • The final reimbursement amount will not exceed the initially approved amount. Additionally, reimbursement will not exceed your actual expenses, even if you are approved for a higher total expenditure. There are no exceptions.
  • As soon as an attendee receives notification of acceptance you should register for the Forum using your unique discount code and book your major travel. For helpful resources, please see our travel guide.
  • You are responsible for making your own hotel reservation at the Westin Pittsburgh by April 24th, 2026. If you do not make your reservation by this date, you will no longer be eligible to receive funding for lodging.
  • If you already registered, you must reach out to info@nationaladaptationforum.org to arrange a refund. Attendance support will only cover the cost of registration, not optional fees.
  • Attendance Support recipients must stay at the event hotel. The only exception is if the room block is full.
  • If the room block is full, recipients may receive reimbursement for a stay at another property, but will not be reimbursed beyond the conference rate ($259 per night plus tax) for more than three nights. Attendance support only covers the nightly rate and associated tax.
  • If the room block is full, you still must make your reservation by April 24th, 2026 or you will no longer be eligible to receive funding for lodging.
  • CONTACT INFORMATION: You are expected to monitor your email account and respond to any inquiries regarding attendance support. If your contact information changes at any time, please let us know at info@NationalAdaptationForum.org. You will not be reimbursed if we are unable to reach you.
  • REGISTRATION: The attendee is responsible for registering for the National Adaptation Forum. All attendance support recipients will receive a code for a complimentary registration upon acceptance. If an accepted recipient has already registered, they must reach out to info@nationaladaptationforum.org to arrange a refund. Attendance support will only cover the cost of registration, not optional fees.
  • MAJOR TRAVEL: The attendee is responsible for making their travel reservations. Attendance Support can reimburse up $410 in major travel costs for round-trip airfare, inter-city train, inter-city bus, or inter-city private auto mileage ($0.725/mile). Major travel reimbursement is for the Forum attendee only. Business, first class travel, and upgrades will not be reimbursed. Airline change fees will not be reimbursed. Gasoline costs are included in the Federal mileage reimbursement rate and will not be reimbursed separately. Mileage will be checked for accuracy of round trip travel from attendee’s home to event site. Acceptable itemized receipts for major travel expenses must be provided by June 15, 2026 to be eligible for reimbursement. There will be no exceptions
  • LODGING: The attendee is responsible for making or changing reservations at the event hotel by April 24th, 2026, otherwise the stay will no longer be eligible for support. The reservation must be made under their name and a credit card must be provided to hold the room. Attendance support recipients are eligible for one room up to three nights’ lodging between May 11 and May 15. Recipients must stay at the Forum negotiated hotel, the Westin Pittsburgh, and use the weblink at NationalAdaptationForum.org or let the hotel know you are with the National Adaptation Forum if making reservations by phone. Recipients may receive reimbursement for a stay at another property only if the Forum room block is full, and will not be reimbursed beyond the conference rate for more than three nights. Attendance support only covers the nightly rate and associated tax. All other hotel-related charges, including parking and room service, are the responsibility of the attendee and a credit card will be required at check-in. Recipient is responsible for no-show, incidental, cancellation, or change charges.
  • NOT COVERED: Meals, local travel including local automobile mileage, local transit, ride share/taxi, parking, travel reservation or hotel cancellation fees, or other incidental costs are the responsibility of the attendee and will not be covered. These restrictions allow attendance support funding to be extended to as many recipients as possible and help keep management and logistics costs low.
  • MANDATORY ATTENDANCE: The National Adaptation Forum is a unique in-person opportunity to meet with other adaptation minded practitioners. The purpose of Attendance Support is for the participant to attend the Forum in-person.
  • REIMBURSEMENT: The attendance support recipient is responsible for making all purchases, except registration and event hotel, which will be covered directly. The recipient will be reimbursed within 90 days following the reimbursement submission deadline, but only if required documentation is provided. The attendee must complete an online reimbursement form and submit necessary receipts for major travel by June 15, 2026 in order to be reimbursed. There are no exceptions.

Apply for Attendance Support