About the National PELRA Foundation

The National PELRA Foundation (Foundation) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization and is affiliated with the National Public Employer Labor Relations Association (National PELRA). The Foundation provides scholarships to Graduate Students and working professionals engaged in the field of labor and employee relations who are seeking financial assistance. The Graduate Student Scholarship was named in honor of Anthony “Tony” Russo. All recipients are selected on an objective and nondiscriminatory basis.

The Foundation was established in 1995 by the then National PELRA President Jim Pendergast.  The Foundation was designed solely for educational purposes and that stays true to this date.  While initially created just for Graduate Student Scholarships, the Foundation Board added Event Scholarships in 2023, keeping the spirit of education but expanding the opportunity for members to receive financial assistance for other National PELRA training programs.  

The Foundation relies on contributions from National PELRA members for funding and seeks support and contributions to accomplish this mission and contribute to the success of the next generation of labor and human relations professionals. The Foundation offers two (2) types of scholarships - visit Scholarship Page to learn more.