Financial Assistance Rules & Regulations

The deadline to apply for Financial Assistance is June 1, 2025. Please reference the Recipient Rights and Obligations section to learn more about the continuous application period.

By submitting a financial assistance application, applicants agree to the terms and conditions detailed below and have been verified to apply by their Best Buddies staff contact.

Financial Assistance Award Details

1. Financial assistance is available for transportation (air, bus, or train) costs to the 2025 Best Buddies Leadership Conference.
2. Best Buddies International and/or Best Buddies state staff will book travel for recipients.
3. Best Buddies International selects recipients based on the following factors:
   • The number of applicants that meet the financial assistance qualifications.
   • The funds and resources available for financial assistance.
   • The relative needs of applicants, as determined by Best Buddies International’s sole discretion.

Financial Assistance Qualifications

1. Recipient must be a selected chapter leader and/or advisor for the 2025-2026 academic year. Members of other Best Buddies International programs including, but not limited to, Ambassadors, Jobs, Living, or Transitions, are welcome to apply and will be awarded assistance if available.
2. Recipient should be actively working to raise funds to cover the $400 BBLC registration fee (for domestic chapters only).
3. Recipient is unable to pay for the cost of travel to the 2025 Best Buddies Leadership Conference.
4. Recipient has submitted the financial assistance application by the deadline on or before June 1, 2025.
5. Recipient has joined the Best Buddies Leadership Conference online fundraising thon and is using this tool to assist in raising funds to attend the conference.
6. Recipient has been deemed qualified to receive financial assistance by a Best Buddies staff person.

Recipient Rights and Obligations

1. Recipient agrees to attend the Best Buddies International Leadership Conference from July 18-21, 2025 in its entirety.
2. Recipient understands that the continuous application period will remain open until June 1, 2025. Applications will be accepted and reviewed monthly throughout the application period to ensure that individuals receive timely responses regarding their eligibility for financial assistance.
3. Best Buddies International will notify recipient on the status of their application using the deadlines as follows:
   10. Application submitted on or before April 1; notification by April 10.
   11. Application submitted on or before May 1; notification by May 10.
   12. Application submitted on or before June 1; notification by June 10.

Best Buddies International Rights and Obligations

1. Best Buddies International agrees to cover the amount of the transportation cost (airfare, bus fare, or train ticket) the recipient is unable to secure through their own resources, chapter resources, or the state fundraising site, but will not cover any other related costs for Leadership Conference.
2. Best Buddies International will not reimburse monies associated with traveling to Leadership Conference purchased by the recipient or recipient’s family (clothing, equipment food on travel days, parking, etc.).
3. Best Buddies International will not transfer financial assistance for selected recipient to another participant or allow use for future years of travel to Leadership Conference.

Questions about the financial assistance process and award status should be sent to leadershipconference@bestbuddies.org.