Foundation Events

Each year at FNCE^®, the Academy Foundation brings together donors, volunteers, leaders, students, members, and friends of the profession to celebrate impact and advance opportunities in nutrition and dietetics. Participation in Foundation events helps support the programs that strengthen the profession and the communities dietitians serve. Because the Foundation is funded solely through the generosity of donors and does not receive any portion of Academy member dues, your support at FNCE^® helps make this work possible.

Foundation events may be added as part of your FNCE^® registration or, for those already registered, through the FNCE^® registration dashboard.

Below is an overview of the Foundation’s events at FNCE^® this year. Visit the FNCE^® website for full event details and registration information.

Foundation Pre-FNCE^® Symposia

The Foundation will be offering two pre-FNCE^® symposia this year on Saturday, October 24, 2026. More details to come.

Foundation Anytime 5k Run/Walk

Any pace, any day, any way you like! Complete the Foundation Anytime 5K during the week of FNCE^® — solo, with colleagues, or with a group of friends. Run, walk, rollerblade, or choose another activity that helps you complete 5k (3.1 miles) while supporting the Academy Foundation. 

Registration is $35, or $20 for students, and includes a 2026 Foundation 5K T-shirt to add to your collection. T-shirts may be picked up at the Foundation booth in the Henry B. González Convention Center during booth hours at FNCE^®.

Support a Student and Donate a FNCE^® Foundation Student Stipend

Help make FNCE^® attendance possible for Academy student members! Attending FNCE^® gives the next generation of nutrition and dietetics professionals the opportunity to build connections, attend educational sessions, and experience the excitement of the profession’s largest conference. With a donation of $215, you can cover the cost for one student to attend FNCE^® and provide a small additional gift to the Foundation. Stipend donors are matched with a student recipient, giving students the opportunity to connect and share their appreciation.

You may contribute toward part of a stipend, cover one student, or support multiple students. Every donation helps open the door for a student to experience FNCE^®. Your gift can help a student feel welcomed, supported, and inspired as they take an important step into the profession.

Foundation Benefit Dinner

This exclusive fundraiser on Sunday, October 25 will feature a carefully curated culinary journey celebrating heritage, innovation, and storytelling through a series of unforgettable courses. Hosted in an intimate setting in San Antonio, the evening will offer guests rare access to one of the region’s most celebrated dining experiences.

Designed to inspire meaningful conversation and connection, this multi-course event promises an extraordinary evening in support of the Foundation’s mission. Tickets are extremely limited. For more information, please email the Foundation at foundation@eatright.org.

Stop by the Foundation Booth

Visit the Academy Foundation booth on Academy Avenue to connect with Foundation staff and Board members and learn how the Foundation can support your next step, whether you are a student seeking scholarship opportunities, a practitioner exploring grants and awards, or a supporter interested in helping advance the profession.

The booth will also feature several ways to shop and show your support, including limited-edition FNCE^® merchandise and Mary Made Jewelry benefiting the Foundation. Foundation 5K participants may pick up their T-shirts at the booth, and a limited quantity of extra 5K shirts will be available for purchase for those who did not add one during registration.

• Saturday, October 24: 9:00 am – 5:30 pm CT
• Sunday, October 25: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm CT
• Monday, October 26: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm CT
• Tuesday, October 27: 7:30 am – 3:00 pm CT

Exclusive FNCE^® Crewneck Sweatshirt Benefiting the Foundation

Stop by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation booth to shop exclusive merchandise that supports the future of nutrition and dietetics. This year we are featuring a limited-edition commemorative crewneck sweatshirt ($60), designed especially for FNCE^® attendees. 

The sweatshirt features the FNCE^® logo on the front and the commemorative design shown below on the back.

A portion of each purchase includes a donation to the Foundation that provides flexible support to help keep the Foundation strong, responsive, and ready to meet the evolving needs of our profession. 

Wear your support proudly while making a lasting impact on the next generation of practitioners and the communities they serve. Supplies are limited – pre-purchase yours within your registration today!

Shop Mary Made Jewelry and Support Our Foundation

There is nothing quite like a one-of-a-kind handmade item. Academy member, past President, and Foundation donor Mary Abbott Hess creates handcrafted jewelry to benefit charitable causes, and FNCE^® attendees are invited to stop by the Foundation booth to shop her collection.

Choose from an array of necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, many featuring food-themed designs perfect for our food-focused profession. One hundred percent of the sales price will be donated to the Foundation, making this a meaningful way to find a special piece while giving back to the profession. Whether you are shopping for yourself or picking up a gift, every purchase helps support the Foundation’s programs and impact.

Academy Foundation Puppy Petting Corral – The sweetest way to give back

Sponsored by: North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission

Back by popular demand, get ready for the cutest way to give back at this year’s conference! Take a break from your busy FNCE® schedule and enjoy a few playful minutes with our furry friends at the Foundation booth. A $10 donation to the Academy Foundation gives you access to some puppy love and helps fund Academy Foundation programs that advance the nutrition and dietetics profession.

The puppies will be at the Foundation booth during the following times:

• Monday, October 26th 8:30 am- 10:30 am CT
• Monday, October 26th 11:30 am -1:30 pm CT
• Tuesday, October 27th 11:00 am -12:30 pm CT

Snuggles are limited, so come early, make your Foundation gift, and enjoy some paws-itively heartwarming time in the Puppy Petting Corral!

Apply for FNCE^® Practitioner and Student Stipends

The Academy Foundation awards stipends to help offset the cost of attending FNCE® 2026 in person. Stipends are available for eligible Academy student members, dietetic interns, and practicing dietitians.

Students and dietetic interns enrolled for the Fall 2026 semester are eligible to apply. Practicing dietitians who have maintained their RDN credential for five years or more are also eligible. Academy membership is required for all applicants.

Applications for both student and practitioner stipends will open in the Foundation’s application portal on June 10. Student stipend applications are due Friday, September 4 at 10 a.m. Central time. Practitioner stipends will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Please check the application portal for the most current information on stipend availability.