From its beginning, the Institute has encouraged scientists to stay at KITP for as long as possible. This has often had the happy result of families coming, too. Over the years, it has become harder for families to make this trip in part because of the additional expense.  The aim of the Family Fund will be to offset some of the additional expenses incurred when scientists travel with their families in the hope that this will encourage more scientists to be able to stay for extended periods of time. In conjunction with this philosophy, it would be rare to provide a Family Fund supplement for a visit of less than 4 weeks.

• There are several ways that we can assist a scientist with additional expenses such as:
  
• a rental car to facilitate getting back and forth to school, daycare, shopping with children.
• the higher cost of local lodging for families.
• rental of essential items for local use that one has been unable to bring with from home (cribs, high chairs, etc.)
• childcare or babysitting services
• cost of airfare for other members of the household.

This assistance may be in the form of a reimbursement for an actual expense, such as a rental car, or in the form of a flat grant to be used by the scientist to pay directly for certain expenses.  It is important to note that the grant may be taxable as income.

Except in very special circumstances, the Family Fund grants will be used to offset the costs of bringing children.  Other things being equal, longer visits will be given higher priority.

• Priority Rankings:

• A scientist who can participate only if some assistance for family needs is provided;

• A scientist coming alone with a small child (under age 3) as infant/toddler care is hard to get and expensive;

• A scientist coming alone with a young child (age 3-12) needing a playgroup or a part-time sitter;
• A couple, both program participants, coming with child(ren) under the age of 13;

• A scientist with child(ren) who is unable to use one of our subsidized campus housing units;

• A scientist with child(ren) who chooses not to use one of our subsidized campus units;

• A couple, not both program participants, coming with child(ren) under the age of 13;

• A couple coming from outside the U.S. with children of any age as the expenses will be greater.

To apply , please complete the Family Fund questionnaire.

• We will try to respond to your request as quickly as possible. As there is some codependency built into the situation (our needing to know how much housing costs in order to make a determination while a scientist needs to know about the extra funding before committing to housing) some time for additional correspondence and information gathering may be required.
• Tax Information for those who receive Family Fund awards

The Rice Family Fund is made possible through the generosity of Drs. Ann and Myron Rice.

For the year 2009-2010, a generous gift to this fund has been made by the Friends of KITP.

If you have any questions, please email Deborah.

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last modified 06/10/09. ds