The Frank Karel Scholarship

Thanks to generous support from The Rockefeller Foundation, The Frank Karel Scholarship enables The Communications Network to offer registrations to nonprofit staffers and communications-focused academics who would not otherwise be able to attend ComNet26.

Applications for the Karel Scholarship are now open. The application period will close Friday April 17, 2026. Applicants will hear back during the week of May 4.

Apply for a Karel Scholarship

Please note, the scholarship includes one free registration for ComNet. It does NOT include travel, lodging, or other incidental expenses.

If you have been a Karel Scholar at a previous ComNet, unfortunately you are not eligible for the 2026 Karel Scholarship. We are unable to accept applications from foundations, including community foundations and grant-making organizations.

Preference is given to nonprofit employees, journalists, and comms-focused academics – and we encourage government employees who've experienced professional development cuts to apply.

Learn more about past Karel Scholars below:

Karel Testimonials_2023 Recipient Amy Boal.png

Karel Testimonials_2023 Recipient Chiara Clayton.png

Karel Testimonials_2023 Recipient Dorrie Toney.png

Karel Testimonials_2023 Recipient Greg Loughlin.png

Karel Testimonials_2023 Recipient Lindsay Mensch.png

Karel Testimonials_2023 Recipient Natalie Pickett.png

Karel Testimonials_2023 Recipient Piper Hendricks.png

Karel Testimonials_2023 Recipient Sierra Blake.png

Karel Testimonials_2024 Recipient Amanda Heckenkamp.png

Karel Testimonials_2024 Recipient Karen Gilbert.png

Karel Testimonials_2024 Recipient Liz Schob.png

Karel Testimonials_2024 Recipient Neal Simpson.png

Karel Testimonials_2024 Recipient Tammy Pitts.png

Karel Testimonials_2025 Recipient Beth Stefanik.png

Karel Testimonials_2023 Recipient Amy Boal.png

Karel Testimonials_2023 Recipient Chiara Clayton.png

Karel Testimonials_2023 Recipient Dorrie Toney.png

Karel Testimonials_2023 Recipient Greg Loughlin.png

Karel Testimonials_2023 Recipient Lindsay Mensch.png

Karel Testimonials_2023 Recipient Natalie Pickett.png

Karel Testimonials_2023 Recipient Piper Hendricks.png

Karel Testimonials_2023 Recipient Sierra Blake.png

Karel Testimonials_2024 Recipient Amanda Heckenkamp.png

Karel Testimonials_2024 Recipient Karen Gilbert.png

Karel Testimonials_2024 Recipient Liz Schob.png

Karel Testimonials_2024 Recipient Neal Simpson.png

Karel Testimonials_2024 Recipient Tammy Pitts.png

Karel Testimonials_2025 Recipient Beth Stefanik.png

Past Karel Scholars have joined us from organizations including:

Apply for a Karel Scholarship

Who was Frank Karel?

In the mid-1970s, Frank Karel was hired as the new communications lead for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The first ever. He didn't know where to begin or what to do...so, he picked up the phone and called a colleague with a similar sounding title at The Rockefeller Foundation who graciously invited him to lunch to discuss the opportunities and challenges ahead.

And with that lunch, The Communications Network was born. Today, The Communications Network counts thousands of members from social sector organizations across the globe.

In the spirit of honoring this history, The Rockefeller Foundation is the founding sponsor of The Frank Karel Scholarship at ComNet, The Network’s annual conference.