Each year, ISSTD offers a number of funding opportunities for research and training for professionals through our four restricted funds. These opportunities have been made available from the generous donations of ISSTD members and supporters.
David Caul Graduate Research Fund
The David Caul Graduate Research Fund is designed to support research that is primarily concerned with dissociation or closely related topics. The award is named for David Caul, MD, the fourth president of ISSTD in 1987, (then known as the International Society for the Study of Multiple Personality & Dissociation) a dedicated and beloved leader in the field of dissociation. Graduate students and undergraduate honors students are eligible to apply for grants up to $1500 USD. The application period for this fund is May/June annually.
Research and Education Fund
The Research and Fund was created to support education, assessment, treatment, research and awareness of dissociative disorders. The fund was established to address the lack of education and research in the area of complex trauma and recovery. The fund will dispense one award of up to $10,000.00 USD annually for support of research related to dissociative disorders. The application period for this fund is October/November annually.
Goodwin Educational Fund
The Goodwin Educational Fund was created to defray the cost of one training activity offered through ISSTD for professionals who would otherwise be unable to obtain appropriate instruction in the treatment of complex trauma and dissociation. ISSTD will accept applications for Goodwin Educational Fund awards twice a year in late spring (April/May) and winter (December/early January). Up to five applications will be approved for funding during each period.
Fridley Fund
The Fridley Fund was created to defray the cost of one training activity offered through ISSTD for students who would otherwise be unable to obtain appropriate instruction in the treatment of complex trauma and dissociation. We anticipate our first application period for this fund taking place in early 2025.
For more information on all of these funds including information on applying, please view the Research & Training Funding Opportunities page of the ISSTD website. If you are interested in donating to any of these funds to help ISSTD be able to continue to provide funding for these opportunities, please visit the Donate to ISSTD page of the ISSTD website.
In addition to our four restricted funds, the ISSTD General Fund is used to expand ISSTD programming, including training and education, research and member benefits. In recent years, money raised from the general fund has been used to introduce new technology platforms, grow online training offerings, expand student and emerging professional membership, and much more!
ISSTD offers a recurring donor program, the Mosaic Society, which recognizes all those who establish monthly donations of $15 or more to the General Fund. For more information on donating to the General Fund, visit the Donate to ISSTD page of the ISSTD website.
In 2024, ISSTD launched a Member Sponsorship Program which allows ISSTD members to sponsor the membership of an individual or individuals who lack the financial resources to join or renew. Sponsors actively contribute to the professional development and success of the member sponsored. Sponsorship also helps in cultivating a strong sense of international camaraderie and community within the Society. When members support and uplift each other, it creates a community that fosters collaboration, knowledge sharing, and collective advancement. For more information about sponsoring a member or having your membership sponsored, please visit the Member Sponsorship Program page of the ISSTD website.
We were able to match 30+ individuals with sponsors during our first round of matching in mid-2024. We hope to be able to continue to match all those who apply for sponsorship with sponsors on a quarterly basis moving forward. We currently have a small number of sponsorship applications we are looking to fund so we hope you will consider sponsoring a new or potential member.