{"id":19263,"date":"2025-10-30T11:13:37","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T15:13:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/compt.io\/?p=19263"},"modified":"2025-11-04T09:34:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T14:34:08","slug":"how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Build a Successful Professional Development Program With Stipends"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Among the things growing in importance for today&#8217;s employees is <strong>professional development<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SHRM\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shrm.org\/topics-tools\/news\/research-state-of-workplace-report-inflation-talent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2023-2024 State of the Workplace report<\/a> found that opportunities for growth within the workplace are the single biggest factor in employees\u2019 overall mental well-being. In addition, career-related factors like limited advancement and lack of development opportunities remain the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shrm.org\/executive-network\/insights\/future-of-talent-retention-report-why-employees-leave\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">top reasons employees leave their jobs<\/a>. And among newer entrants to the workforce, nearly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shrm.org\/topics-tools\/news\/organizational-employee-development\/report--emerging-professionals-well-prepared-for-workforce-\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">one-third of recent graduates<\/a> expect to stay in their current or next job for four or more years, with access to professional growth (including formal professional development programs) playing a major role in that decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our data on actual benefits usage confirms the trend. In Compt\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/resources\/2025-midyear-lifestyle-benefits-benchmark-report\/?internal_source=blog_source\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2025 Midyear Benchmark Report<\/a>, we found:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>18% of Compt customers now offer their employees a professional development stipend.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cProfessional Development\u201d ranked among the top stipend categories companies offer their employees, covering books, AI tools, courses, and certifications.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nearly 99% of these stipends are funded annually, supporting long-term growth and skill-building.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The category continues to grow year over year, emerging as a standout opportunity for 2026 planning.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>To facilitate growth, it\u2019s vital to encourage your employees to learn, practice, and develop new skills. And that\u2019s where a professional development program can help your lifestyle benefits offerings really shine.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/resources\/2025-midyear-lifestyle-benefits-benchmark-report\/?internal_source=blog_image\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/MYBR-2025-Social-Graphics-2-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-19267 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/MYBR-2025-Social-Graphics-2-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-19267 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/MYBR-2025-Social-Graphics-2-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/MYBR-2025-Social-Graphics-2-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/MYBR-2025-Social-Graphics-2-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/MYBR-2025-Social-Graphics-2-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/MYBR-2025-Social-Graphics-2.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-a-professional-development-program\"><strong>What is a professional development program?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>First, a quick definition:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A <strong>professional development program<\/strong> is a structured plan that helps employees build the skills, knowledge, and experience they need to grow in their roles and within the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At its core, a professional development program aligns two things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What the employee wants to learn<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What your organization needs them to master<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It can include on-the-job training, external courses, certifications, <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/guide\/the-ultimate-guide-to-getting-started-with-ai-stipends\/?internal_source=blog_text\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AI tool upskilling<\/a>, mentorship, job shadowing, or even conference attendance. And to help employees choose (and afford) what would be most helpful to them, it can also include a <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/use-cases\/learning-and-development-benefits\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">professional development stipend<\/a>. If you need more structure as you scale, Compt\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/how-it-works\/professional-development\/?internal_source=blog_text\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Professional Development Pro<\/a>\u2122 module uses the same stipend model with added controls. We\u2019ll cover that later in this post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether set up as a fixed amount on a specific cadence or reviewed on a case-by-case basis, a stipend for professional development only works if employees actually use it. Most companies offer a professional development budget, but if it\u2019s stuck in a spreadsheet or limited to a handful of vendors, it\u2019s not really a benefit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s take a closer look at the details behind creating a successful professional development program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-expenses-can-a-professional-development-program-cover\"><strong>What expenses can a professional development program cover?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A professional development program can be as lean or as comprehensive as your budget allows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At a minimum, it should support:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Online learning platforms (e.g., Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, Udemy)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/guide\/professional-certification-stipends\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Job-specific certifications and licenses<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Industry conference attendance (including registration fees)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/guide\/the-ultimate-guide-to-getting-started-with-ai-stipends\/?internal_source=blog_text\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Upskilling related to AI tools<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Workshops and short courses<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Career coaching and mentorship<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the foundational layer. It shows employees you\u2019re willing to invest in their growth and equips them with relevant, role-based skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But these are all things you pay for and the employee handles themselves. <strong>Mature companies also create in-house resources for their team members:<\/strong> things like internal learning and training sessions, manager coaching or leadership training, and cross-training or rotational programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And <strong>best-in-class orgs turn development into a cultural advantage<\/strong> by covering things like <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/employee-tuition-reimbursement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tuition reimbursement for accredited courses<\/a>, executive coaching or high-potential talent accelerators, access to industry masterminds or peer groups, individualized career roadmapping sessions, and personal development support (like wellness, productivity coaching, or communication skills).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-are-you-offering-a-professional-development-program\"><strong>Why are you offering a professional development program?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Eighteen percent of Compt customers give their employees funds specifically for professional development. But offering a professional development program just because &#8220;everyone else is doing it&#8221; isn&#8217;t a complete strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, it&#8217;s a retention tool. And yes, it helps you compete for top talent. If you&#8217;re serious about impact, though, your professional development program needs to tie directly to your business goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As Matthew Thomas, VP of People and Organizational Development at Conger Construction, said in a recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=2fK1Bpt7aPc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Getting Personal<\/a> podcast episode, \u201cPromotion is optional, but growth is mandatory.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thomas emphasizes that organizations should prioritize continuous learning and development opportunities for employees, regardless of their position or promotion trajectory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>With that in mind, ask yourself:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What capabilities do we need to build across the org this year?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Where are we seeing performance gaps on teams?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What skills will be critical for us 12-24 months from now?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Which ones are going to become obsolete?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/reports.weforum.org\/docs\/WEF_Future_of_Jobs_Report_2025.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">World Economic Forum<\/a> says that, on average, <strong>two-fifths of an individual worker&#8217;s skills<\/strong> will need to be updated by the year 2030, or they&#8217;ll become outdated.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>And to measure whether you&#8217;re on track to achieve your goals, you&#8217;ll need to look at:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Participation rates<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Employee feedback<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Skill development (self-assessments + manager evaluations pre\/post-training)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Internal mobility (i.e., are more employees moving into new roles or leadership tracks?)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Retention and performance metrics (e.g., quota attainment for sales teams)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-will-you-implement-and-manage-a-professional-development-program\"><strong>How will you implement and manage a professional development program?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s no one-size-fits-all setup. But if you\u2019re looking for the most inclusive, scalable starting point?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A<a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/guide\/what-is-a-professional-development-account\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <strong>professional development account<\/strong><\/a> is often the best place to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This employer-funded stipend or reimbursement program lets employees choose their own learning opportunities. It\u2019s flexible, easy to administer, and tax-optimized (i.e., some professional development program benefits <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/which-fringe-benefits-are-taxable-and-nontaxable\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">are taxable, while others aren&#8217;t<\/a>). And with it, employees take ownership of their own growth. For larger or global organizations, <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/how-it-works\/professional-development\/?internal_source=blog_text\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Professional Development Pro<\/a> brings even more structure and compliance to the entire process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There&#8217;s a lot more to a full-on program, which we&#8217;ll dive more into below, but here&#8217;s the rundown on what you&#8217;ll need to have figured out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Budget and how much you\u2019re looking to spend per employee<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Eligibility criteria (i.e., full-time staff only, or will you include part-timers or contractors?)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expense submission and reimbursement process<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Permitted expenses and anything that&#8217;s excluded<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Communication plan for employees\/managers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expense, performance, and ROI tracking systems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The good news? <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Compt<\/a> makes all of the above incredibly easy for HR and People teams. We support flexible stipends at every company stage. You can start small with a professional development stipend, or scale up to a more structured program using <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/how-it-works\/professional-development\/?internal_source=blog_text\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Professional Development Pro<\/a> for custom budgets, approvals, reporting, and peer-approved learning recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/community-feed-recommendations-1-1024x640.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-19268 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/community-feed-recommendations-1-1024x640.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-19268 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/community-feed-recommendations-1-1024x640.png 1024w, https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/community-feed-recommendations-1-300x188.png 300w, https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/community-feed-recommendations-1-768x480.png 768w, https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/community-feed-recommendations-1.png 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>An example of the Recommendations feed in Professional Development Pro<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-8-steps-to-design-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-compt\"><strong>8 steps to design a successful professional development program with Compt<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-set-up-an-employee-stipend-in-just-1-hour\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">only takes about an hour<\/a> to set up a stipend reimbursement program with Compt. But the success of your professional development program depends on how well you lay the groundwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Clarify your program&#8217;s purpose and strategic goals.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before choosing platforms or setting budgets, get crystal clear on <strong>why<\/strong> you\u2019re building this program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you aiming to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Close specific skills gaps?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Build a stronger leadership pipeline?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Boost internal mobility?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compete in the talent market?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Address employee feedback?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fix an existing employee benefit gap?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improve retention or DEI outcomes?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Your answers here shape every decision that follows \u2014 from the types of learning you support to how you measure success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Assess your current capabilities and skills gaps.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where most programs fall short. They skip straight to courses and stipends without understanding the full picture. You need to get under the hood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Use internal data (e.g., performance reviews, engagement metrics, retention numbers), manager input, and <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/create-an-employee-benefits-survey-with-example-questions-template\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">employee surveys<\/a> to assess:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What skills are missing (now and future)?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What learning options already exist internally?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Where do employees feel undersupported?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve gathered qualitative and quantitative input, map it back to your company\u2019s strategic priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Shifting upmarket into enterprise deals?<\/strong> Your sales and Customer Success teams might need advanced negotiation training, new sales methodologies, deeper product knowledge, and industry certifications to build credibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rolling out a new internal system or tool?<\/strong> Upskilling around change management, digital adoption, and data literacy can prevent bottlenecks and maximize ROI.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Worried about missed opportunities in the age of AI? <\/strong>Supporting your people in learning and effectively using <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/guide\/the-ultimate-guide-to-getting-started-with-ai-stipends\/?internal_source=blog_text\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AI tools<\/a> will go a long way.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> Involve team leads in this process. They can validate reskilling and upskilling needs, identify role-specific gaps, and become early champions of the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Secure executive buy-in (and budget).<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Professional development funding can range widely \u2014 from $200 per employee per year to $3,000+ among <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/resources\/2025-midyear-lifestyle-benefits-benchmark-report\/?internal_source=blog_source\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Compt customers<\/a>. These numbers represent observed ranges from actual data, not maximums or limits (meaning some outliers may fund above that).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To determine the right number for you, start by finding the sweet spot between:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What you can afford today<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What will actually move the needle on performance, internal mobility, or retention \u2014 whatever ROI metric(s) you\u2019re hoping to improve by adding this benefit\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>When you bring this to execs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Tie the spend to outcomes.<\/strong> Show how even modest investment can reduce backfill costs, improve retention, or accelerate onboarding.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/resources\/2025-midyear-lifestyle-benefits-benchmark-report\/?internal_source=blog_source\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Use benchmarks<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong> Reference competitors, industry norms, or aspirational peers to ground the conversation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Start with a pilot.<\/strong> Propose a phased rollout to prove value before scaling companywide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Define what \u201cprofessional development\u201d includes.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Don\u2019t box yourself in here.<\/strong> One of the biggest mistakes employers make is being overly prescriptive, requiring employees to use <em>specific<\/em> tools, platforms, or providers when there are countless ways to learn the same skill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your program should set clear <strong>guidelines<\/strong>, not hard rules. Think:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What types of learning are eligible? (Courses, books, coaching, AI tool subscriptions, conferences?)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What are the learning formats? (Online, in-person, internal, external?)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are there guardrails? (Must it align with their specific role or career path?)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Who approves what?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>With Compt\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/how-it-works\/professional-development\/?internal_source=blog_text\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Professional Development Pro module<\/a>, there are no vendor restrictions. Employees can <strong>choose their own learning providers<\/strong> and options that fit their needs, as long as they fall within your policy. When employees pick what\u2019s most relevant for them, they learn faster, apply it sooner, and the employee and business experience better results quicker.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Choose the right delivery model.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some common structures, which you can also combine:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Centralized programs (company-led)<\/strong>: Internal learning, manager coaching, and L&amp;D-led tracks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/ways-to-use-your-professional-development-stipend\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Professional development stipends<\/strong><\/a><strong> (employee-led, for smaller orgs):<\/strong> Employees get a fixed annual amount (e.g., $500-$2,000) to use on learning opportunities they pick. It\u2019s flexible and easy to administer, especially with a platform like Compt.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Centralized professional development accounts (employee-led, for larger orgs)<\/strong>: Instead of giving everyone funds up front, employees submit learning requests from a shared company or team budget. This model gives you more control, works well at scale, and fits companies with centralized L&amp;D strategies or more complex compliance needs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Decide what mix works for your workforce. Distributed teams normally prefer flexible stipends; fast-scaling orgs might prioritize internal tracks to reinforce culture and internal processes, then offer a smaller stipend to supplement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>6. Structure your stipend for clarity and usability.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To keep your professional development stipend program fair, effective, and easy to manage, you need a structure that answers the \u201chow,\u201d not just the \u201cwhat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s how to set it up:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Eligibility criteria: <\/strong>Limit access to <strong>full-time employees<\/strong> who\u2019ve completed at least <strong>90 days<\/strong>. This is a common industry standard that balances early access with a reasonable commitment window. If you want to be more inclusive, consider prorated access for part-time roles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Funding model and timing: <\/strong>Offer a set annual amount upfront (e.g., $500-$2,000\/year). This makes it easier for employees to cover one-time expenses like certifications, tuition, or conferences rather than waiting months to accrue value.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Approval process: <\/strong>Require manager sign-off for transparency and alignment with performance goals. For small purchases (like books or online courses), some companies waive approval altogether for speed and ease.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tax treatment: <\/strong>If these expenses qualify as work-related expenses, then they would fall under a working condition fringe benefit and would be deductible business expenses for the employer and nontaxable for the employee. In some instances, though, professional development is a <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/guide\/employee-reimbursement-guide-whats-taxable\/\">taxable benefit<\/a>. Compt handles this automatically so HR teams don\u2019t need to manage it manually.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rollover and expiration: <\/strong>Keep it clean by resetting the budget annually with no rollover. That way, employees are encouraged to use the benefit each year and accounting is simplified.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t leave any of this vague. A well-defined structure makes the program feel more valuable and sets it up for long-term success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>7. Build the infrastructure.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once your program is scoped, you need the tools and workflows to run it smoothly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A <strong>platform<\/strong> to manage requests and track usage (like <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/learning-and-development-product\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Compt<\/a>!)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A <strong>clear process<\/strong> for employees to submit expenses or sign up for learning<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Documentation<\/strong> of eligibility rules, FAQs, and manager resources \u2014 all easy to find<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t forget internal training. Managers need to know how to support team members&#8217; learning goals and encourage use of the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>8. Roll it out like a product.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A great program that no one uses isn\u2019t a great program. That&#8217;s why you have to treat your launch like a product rollout:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Create a strong <strong>internal announcement<\/strong> with clear benefits.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Share <strong>how-tos<\/strong>: how to access funds, <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/ways-to-use-your-professional-development-stipend\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">what to use them for<\/a>, and where to start.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Highlight <strong>real examples<\/strong> \u2014 what employees are learning, how it\u2019s helping. (This is also easily visible with our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/feed\/update\/urn:li:activity:7318264506290196481\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Recommendations feature<\/a>.)\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Then keep it alive. Mention it during onboarding, performance reviews, and team meetings (and train all your managers to do the same). The more visible and easy-to-use it is, the more impact it\u2019ll have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Psst:<\/strong> Before you launch, here are <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/launching-a-professional-development-program-11-must-ask-questions\/\">11 questions you need to ask<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-compt-the-smart-way-to-power-professional-development\"><strong>Compt: the smart way to power professional development<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Compt makes it effortless to offer professional development stipends that employees want to use without creating a compliance headache for HR or Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>With Compt, you can:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Set custom eligibility rules and annual budgets by role or department<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Offer flexible learning options<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Automate approvals, receipts, and tax handling from one platform<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Track usage and impact with real-time reporting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Employees get the freedom to grow in the way that works for them. You get a program that\u2019s structured, strategic, and scalable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/learning-and-development-product\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Request a demo<\/strong><\/a><strong> to see how it works.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/request-a-demo\/?internal_source=blog_image\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/General-Compt.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18688 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/General-Compt.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18688 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/General-Compt.png 1000w, https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/General-Compt-300x75.png 300w, https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/General-Compt-768x192.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-faqs-building-a-successful-professional-development-program\"><strong>FAQs: Building a successful professional development program<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1761832993229\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What are the benefits of offering professional development stipends?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Professional development stipends give employees freedom to learn in the ways that matter most to them. They improve engagement, retention, and performance by removing barriers to access. HR teams also benefit from a stipend program run through Compt, which reduces manual tracking and keeps everything tax-compliant and visible in one place.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1761833008428\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><br\/><strong>How is Compt\u2019s Professional Development Pro\u2122 different from a stipend?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Both use the same stipend model. <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/how-it-works\/professional-development\/?internal_source=blog_text\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Professional Development Pro<\/a> adds structure for growing or global teams: shared or individual budgets, automated multilevel approvals, customizable funding windows, learning recommendations from peers, and real-time reporting to track engagement, spot trends, and measure program impact. Many companies start with a professional development stipend and move to Professional Development Pro as they scale.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1761833023712\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><br\/><strong>How do I set up a lifestyle stipend for professional development only?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Inside Compt, you can create a dedicated stipend category just for professional development. Choose your funding amount, set the eligible expense types such as courses, certifications, or AI tools, and pick a funding cadence that fits your budget. Employees submit receipts for approval, and Compt handles reimbursement and tax details automatically.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1761833038361\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><br\/><strong>What should I include in a professional development stipend policy?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Your policy should clearly outline who is eligible to use the benefit, the annual or recurring funding amount, which expenses are covered and which are not, how employees request funds and get reimbursed, and how taxes and payroll are handled.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1761833054060\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><br\/><strong>Which vendors offer Lifestyle Spending Accounts (LSAs) and professional development stipends?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Compt is a vendor-free, IRS-compliant platform that supports both <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/use-cases\/lifestyle-spending-accounts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lifestyle Spending Accounts<\/a> and professional development stipends in one place. Because spend isn\u2019t limited to a catalog, employees can use the providers they trust while HR keeps policy and tax handling consistent.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1761833069748\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><br\/><strong>Which benefits software manages both professional development and wellness stipends?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Compt does. You can manage professional development, wellness, family, recognition, swag, and more, all in one platform. Employees get a single, consistent experience while HR can track usage across every category.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1761833084020\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><br\/><strong>How do companies decide how much to offer for professional development stipends?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">According to Compt\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/resources\/2025-midyear-lifestyle-benefits-benchmark-report\/?internal_source=blog_source\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2025 Midyear Benchmark Report<\/a>, professional development stipends typically range from $200 to $3,000 per employee each year. Most employers fund them annually to match learning cycles and budget reviews.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1761833100131\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><br\/><strong>How can HR process ad-hoc reimbursements for professional development?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Compt supports both structured stipends and ad-hoc reimbursements. Employees can submit learning-related expenses anytime, and Compt routes them for approval and payroll reimbursement automatically.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1761833138409\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><br\/><strong>How can we merge different professional development budgets across teams?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Compt lets you consolidate department-level budgets under one dashboard. HR and Finance can assign funds by team, track participation, and adjust allocations without juggling multiple spreadsheets or systems.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1761833246556\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><br\/><strong>What features should I look for in software that manages professional development accounts?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Look for vendor flexibility, built-in tax compliance, payroll integration, reporting tools, and the ability to group employees and set custom rules for eligibility and approvals. Compt includes all of these features and can be up and running in about two weeks.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1761833260120\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><br\/><strong>How can companies keep professional development reimbursements tax compliant?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">If these expenses qualify as work-related expenses, then they would fall under a working condition fringe benefit and would be deductible business expenses for the employer and nontaxable for the employee. Or, if the employer offers an Educational Assistance Program for student loan repayments, then professional development benefits can be tax-free up to the IRS limit of $5,250 per employee. Professional development outside of these cases would generally be considered a taxable benefit. Compt automatically categorizes each expense correctly so payroll reporting stays accurate.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1761833277824\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><br\/><strong>What is the best way to roll out a professional development stipend?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Treat it like a new product launch or internal communications campaign. Announce it widely, make the guidelines easy to find, and share examples of how employees can use it (e.g., through Slack or a company intranet). Compt includes templates and built-in communication tools to help HR teams roll out programs smoothly.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1761833293989\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><br\/><strong>How can professional development stipends help close the AI skills gap?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">You can add an <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/guide\/the-ultimate-guide-to-getting-started-with-ai-stipends\/?internal_source=blog_text\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AI stipend category<\/a> within your program so employees can pay for AI courses, tools, or certifications. This helps build companywide AI literacy while giving employees freedom to choose how they learn.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1761833308238\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><br\/><strong>What metrics should Finance track to show ROI on professional development?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Track participation rates, employee feedback, skills growth, internal mobility, and retention data before and after rolling out a new program so you can see progress. Compt\u2019s reporting dashboard makes it easy to see details on spend, utilization, and adjustments so you can tie those numbers to other company metrics.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1761833321206\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><br\/><strong>How do lifestyle stipends support both professional development and wellness?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Professional development and wellness are separate categories, but they can live under the same lifestyle benefits program. For example, you might offer one stipend for learning and another for well-being, or combine both inside an all-inclusive <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/15-best-lifestyle-spending-account-providers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA)<\/a>. Either way, with Compt, employees get the flexibility to choose what they need most, and HR keeps clear visibility into how funds are being used.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1761833336087\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><br\/><strong>Is it better to fold professional development into an existing benefits program?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes, if it makes the benefit easier to manage and more visible to employees. Compt allows you to integrate professional development into your lifestyle benefits program so everything runs through one compliant, trackable system.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Among the things growing in importance for today&#8217;s employees is professional development. SHRM\u2019s 2023-2024 State of the Workplace report found that opportunities for growth within the workplace are the single biggest factor in employees\u2019 overall mental well-being. In addition, career-related factors like limited advancement and lack of development opportunities remain the top reasons employees leave [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":19272,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[132,134,133,135],"class_list":["post-19263","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle-benefits","tag-professional-development","tag-professional-development-program","tag-professional-development-stipend","tag-professional-development-stipend-program"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Build a Professional Development Program With Stipends<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to use stipends to build a professional development program that boosts engagement, retention, and growth.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Build a Successful Professional Development Program With Stipends\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn how to use stipends to build a professional development program that boosts engagement, retention, and growth.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"COMPT\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ComptHQ\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-10-30T15:13:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-11-04T14:34:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/How-to-Build-a-Successful-Professional-Development-Program-With-Stipends.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"480\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jess Huckins\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@compthq\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@compthq\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jess Huckins\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"15 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Jess Huckins\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/#\/schema\/person\/5a9d81acb9a5057a6ec6ca32e0ba935f\"},\"headline\":\"How to Build a Successful Professional Development Program With Stipends\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-30T15:13:37+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-04T14:34:08+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/\"},\"wordCount\":3255,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/How-to-Build-a-Successful-Professional-Development-Program-With-Stipends.png\",\"keywords\":[\"professional development\",\"professional development program\",\"professional development stipend\",\"professional development stipend program\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Lifestyle Benefits\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/\",\"name\":\"Build a Professional Development Program With Stipends\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/How-to-Build-a-Successful-Professional-Development-Program-With-Stipends.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-30T15:13:37+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-04T14:34:08+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn how to use stipends to build a professional development program that boosts engagement, retention, and growth.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#breadcrumb\"},\"mainEntity\":[{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761832993229\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833008428\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833023712\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833038361\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833054060\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833069748\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833084020\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833100131\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833138409\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833246556\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833260120\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833277824\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833293989\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833308238\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833321206\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833336087\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/How-to-Build-a-Successful-Professional-Development-Program-With-Stipends.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/How-to-Build-a-Successful-Professional-Development-Program-With-Stipends.png\",\"width\":800,\"height\":480},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Lifestyle Benefits\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/category\/lifestyle-benefits\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"How to Build a Successful Professional Development Program With Stipends\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/\",\"name\":\"COMPT\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/#organization\",\"name\":\"COMPT\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Compt_Logo.svg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Compt_Logo.svg\",\"width\":133,\"height\":40,\"caption\":\"COMPT\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ComptHQ\/\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/compthq\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/compt\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCEAwTCFBR0FVK9uZmg728AA\/featured\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/#\/schema\/person\/5a9d81acb9a5057a6ec6ca32e0ba935f\",\"name\":\"Jess Huckins\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dcf7059079f9d46c1a6d04bb6b4fdca4691448c3699898357a346c337282d4cd?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dcf7059079f9d46c1a6d04bb6b4fdca4691448c3699898357a346c337282d4cd?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Jess Huckins\"},\"description\":\"Jess Huckins is Head of Content Marketing at Compt, where she leads SEO and AI search visibility strategy that helps HR and Finance leaders evaluate lifestyle benefits and employee stipends. With more than 15 years of experience writing about HR, benefits, and healthcare, she specializes in translating complex topics into clear, research-backed guidance for today\u2019s workplace. Her work includes Compt\u2019s flagship benchmark reporting, customer case studies, and thought leadership on flexible benefits design. She enjoys adventuring outdoors with her family and border collies, and she is currently working on her first novel.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/grammarslayer.notion.site\/Grammar-Slayer-20eb4cb42ea98028b147c6006e5027ce\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jesshuckins\/\"],\"jobTitle\":\"Senior Content Marketing Manager\",\"worksFor\":\"Compt\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/author\/jhuckins\/\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761832993229\",\"position\":1,\"url\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761832993229\",\"name\":\"What are the benefits of offering professional development stipends?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Professional development stipends give employees freedom to learn in the ways that matter most to them. They improve engagement, retention, and performance by removing barriers to access. HR teams also benefit from a stipend program run through Compt, which reduces manual tracking and keeps everything tax-compliant and visible in one place.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833008428\",\"position\":2,\"url\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833008428\",\"name\":\"How is Compt\u2019s Professional Development Pro\u2122 different from a stipend?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Both use the same stipend model. <a href=\\\"https:\/\/compt.io\/how-it-works\/professional-development\/?internal_source=blog_text\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">Professional Development Pro<\/a> adds structure for growing or global teams: shared or individual budgets, automated multilevel approvals, customizable funding windows, learning recommendations from peers, and real-time reporting to track engagement, spot trends, and measure program impact. Many companies start with a professional development stipend and move to Professional Development Pro as they scale.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833023712\",\"position\":3,\"url\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833023712\",\"name\":\"How do I set up a lifestyle stipend for professional development only?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Inside Compt, you can create a dedicated stipend category just for professional development. Choose your funding amount, set the eligible expense types such as courses, certifications, or AI tools, and pick a funding cadence that fits your budget. Employees submit receipts for approval, and Compt handles reimbursement and tax details automatically.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833038361\",\"position\":4,\"url\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833038361\",\"name\":\"What should I include in a professional development stipend policy?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Your policy should clearly outline who is eligible to use the benefit, the annual or recurring funding amount, which expenses are covered and which are not, how employees request funds and get reimbursed, and how taxes and payroll are handled.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833054060\",\"position\":5,\"url\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833054060\",\"name\":\"Which vendors offer Lifestyle Spending Accounts (LSAs) and professional development stipends?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Compt is a vendor-free, IRS-compliant platform that supports both <a href=\\\"https:\/\/compt.io\/use-cases\/lifestyle-spending-accounts\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">Lifestyle Spending Accounts<\/a> and professional development stipends in one place. Because spend isn\u2019t limited to a catalog, employees can use the providers they trust while HR keeps policy and tax handling consistent.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833069748\",\"position\":6,\"url\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833069748\",\"name\":\"Which benefits software manages both professional development and wellness stipends?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Compt does. You can manage professional development, wellness, family, recognition, swag, and more, all in one platform. Employees get a single, consistent experience while HR can track usage across every category.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833084020\",\"position\":7,\"url\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833084020\",\"name\":\"How do companies decide how much to offer for professional development stipends?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"According to Compt\u2019s <a href=\\\"https:\/\/compt.io\/resources\/2025-midyear-lifestyle-benefits-benchmark-report\/?internal_source=blog_source\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">2025 Midyear Benchmark Report<\/a>, professional development stipends typically range from $200 to $3,000 per employee each year. Most employers fund them annually to match learning cycles and budget reviews.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833100131\",\"position\":8,\"url\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833100131\",\"name\":\"How can HR process ad-hoc reimbursements for professional development?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Compt supports both structured stipends and ad-hoc reimbursements. Employees can submit learning-related expenses anytime, and Compt routes them for approval and payroll reimbursement automatically.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833138409\",\"position\":9,\"url\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833138409\",\"name\":\"How can we merge different professional development budgets across teams?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Compt lets you consolidate department-level budgets under one dashboard. HR and Finance can assign funds by team, track participation, and adjust allocations without juggling multiple spreadsheets or systems.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833246556\",\"position\":10,\"url\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833246556\",\"name\":\"What features should I look for in software that manages professional development accounts?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Look for vendor flexibility, built-in tax compliance, payroll integration, reporting tools, and the ability to group employees and set custom rules for eligibility and approvals. Compt includes all of these features and can be up and running in about two weeks.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833260120\",\"position\":11,\"url\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833260120\",\"name\":\"How can companies keep professional development reimbursements tax compliant?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"If these expenses qualify as work-related expenses, then they would fall under a working condition fringe benefit and would be deductible business expenses for the employer and nontaxable for the employee. Or, if the employer offers an Educational Assistance Program for student loan repayments, then professional development benefits can be tax-free up to the IRS limit of $5,250 per employee. Professional development outside of these cases would generally be considered a taxable benefit. Compt automatically categorizes each expense correctly so payroll reporting stays accurate.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833277824\",\"position\":12,\"url\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833277824\",\"name\":\"What is the best way to roll out a professional development stipend?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Treat it like a new product launch or internal communications campaign. Announce it widely, make the guidelines easy to find, and share examples of how employees can use it (e.g., through Slack or a company intranet). Compt includes templates and built-in communication tools to help HR teams roll out programs smoothly.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833293989\",\"position\":13,\"url\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833293989\",\"name\":\"How can professional development stipends help close the AI skills gap?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"You can add an <a href=\\\"https:\/\/compt.io\/guide\/the-ultimate-guide-to-getting-started-with-ai-stipends\/?internal_source=blog_text\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">AI stipend category<\/a> within your program so employees can pay for AI courses, tools, or certifications. This helps build companywide AI literacy while giving employees freedom to choose how they learn.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833308238\",\"position\":14,\"url\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833308238\",\"name\":\"What metrics should Finance track to show ROI on professional development?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Track participation rates, employee feedback, skills growth, internal mobility, and retention data before and after rolling out a new program so you can see progress. Compt\u2019s reporting dashboard makes it easy to see details on spend, utilization, and adjustments so you can tie those numbers to other company metrics.\u00a0\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833321206\",\"position\":15,\"url\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833321206\",\"name\":\"How do lifestyle stipends support both professional development and wellness?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Professional development and wellness are separate categories, but they can live under the same lifestyle benefits program. For example, you might offer one stipend for learning and another for well-being, or combine both inside an all-inclusive <a href=\\\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/15-best-lifestyle-spending-account-providers\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA)<\/a>. Either way, with Compt, employees get the flexibility to choose what they need most, and HR keeps clear visibility into how funds are being used.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833336087\",\"position\":16,\"url\":\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833336087\",\"name\":\"Is it better to fold professional development into an existing benefits program?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes, if it makes the benefit easier to manage and more visible to employees. Compt allows you to integrate professional development into your lifestyle benefits program so everything runs through one compliant, trackable system.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Build a Professional Development Program With Stipends","description":"Learn how to use stipends to build a professional development program that boosts engagement, retention, and growth.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to Build a Successful Professional Development Program With Stipends","og_description":"Learn how to use stipends to build a professional development program that boosts engagement, retention, and growth.","og_url":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/","og_site_name":"COMPT","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ComptHQ\/","article_published_time":"2025-10-30T15:13:37+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-11-04T14:34:08+00:00","og_image":[{"width":800,"height":480,"url":"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/How-to-Build-a-Successful-Professional-Development-Program-With-Stipends.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Jess Huckins","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@compthq","twitter_site":"@compthq","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Jess Huckins","Est. reading time":"15 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/"},"author":{"name":"Jess Huckins","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/#\/schema\/person\/5a9d81acb9a5057a6ec6ca32e0ba935f"},"headline":"How to Build a Successful Professional Development Program With Stipends","datePublished":"2025-10-30T15:13:37+00:00","dateModified":"2025-11-04T14:34:08+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/"},"wordCount":3255,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/How-to-Build-a-Successful-Professional-Development-Program-With-Stipends.png","keywords":["professional development","professional development program","professional development stipend","professional development stipend program"],"articleSection":["Lifestyle Benefits"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/","url":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/","name":"Build a Professional Development Program With Stipends","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/How-to-Build-a-Successful-Professional-Development-Program-With-Stipends.png","datePublished":"2025-10-30T15:13:37+00:00","dateModified":"2025-11-04T14:34:08+00:00","description":"Learn how to use stipends to build a professional development program that boosts engagement, retention, and growth.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761832993229"},{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833008428"},{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833023712"},{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833038361"},{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833054060"},{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833069748"},{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833084020"},{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833100131"},{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833138409"},{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833246556"},{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833260120"},{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833277824"},{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833293989"},{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833308238"},{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833321206"},{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833336087"}],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/How-to-Build-a-Successful-Professional-Development-Program-With-Stipends.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/How-to-Build-a-Successful-Professional-Development-Program-With-Stipends.png","width":800,"height":480},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/compt.io\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Lifestyle Benefits","item":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/category\/lifestyle-benefits\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How to Build a Successful Professional Development Program With Stipends"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/#website","url":"https:\/\/compt.io\/","name":"COMPT","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/compt.io\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/#organization","name":"COMPT","url":"https:\/\/compt.io\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Compt_Logo.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Compt_Logo.svg","width":133,"height":40,"caption":"COMPT"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ComptHQ\/","https:\/\/x.com\/compthq","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/compt\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCEAwTCFBR0FVK9uZmg728AA\/featured"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/#\/schema\/person\/5a9d81acb9a5057a6ec6ca32e0ba935f","name":"Jess Huckins","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dcf7059079f9d46c1a6d04bb6b4fdca4691448c3699898357a346c337282d4cd?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dcf7059079f9d46c1a6d04bb6b4fdca4691448c3699898357a346c337282d4cd?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Jess Huckins"},"description":"Jess Huckins is Head of Content Marketing at Compt, where she leads SEO and AI search visibility strategy that helps HR and Finance leaders evaluate lifestyle benefits and employee stipends. With more than 15 years of experience writing about HR, benefits, and healthcare, she specializes in translating complex topics into clear, research-backed guidance for today\u2019s workplace. Her work includes Compt\u2019s flagship benchmark reporting, customer case studies, and thought leadership on flexible benefits design. She enjoys adventuring outdoors with her family and border collies, and she is currently working on her first novel.","sameAs":["https:\/\/grammarslayer.notion.site\/Grammar-Slayer-20eb4cb42ea98028b147c6006e5027ce","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jesshuckins\/"],"jobTitle":"Senior Content Marketing Manager","worksFor":"Compt","url":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/author\/jhuckins\/"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761832993229","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761832993229","name":"What are the benefits of offering professional development stipends?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Professional development stipends give employees freedom to learn in the ways that matter most to them. They improve engagement, retention, and performance by removing barriers to access. HR teams also benefit from a stipend program run through Compt, which reduces manual tracking and keeps everything tax-compliant and visible in one place.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833008428","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833008428","name":"How is Compt\u2019s Professional Development Pro\u2122 different from a stipend?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Both use the same stipend model. <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/how-it-works\/professional-development\/?internal_source=blog_text\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Professional Development Pro<\/a> adds structure for growing or global teams: shared or individual budgets, automated multilevel approvals, customizable funding windows, learning recommendations from peers, and real-time reporting to track engagement, spot trends, and measure program impact. Many companies start with a professional development stipend and move to Professional Development Pro as they scale.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833023712","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833023712","name":"How do I set up a lifestyle stipend for professional development only?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Inside Compt, you can create a dedicated stipend category just for professional development. Choose your funding amount, set the eligible expense types such as courses, certifications, or AI tools, and pick a funding cadence that fits your budget. Employees submit receipts for approval, and Compt handles reimbursement and tax details automatically.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833038361","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833038361","name":"What should I include in a professional development stipend policy?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Your policy should clearly outline who is eligible to use the benefit, the annual or recurring funding amount, which expenses are covered and which are not, how employees request funds and get reimbursed, and how taxes and payroll are handled.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833054060","position":5,"url":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833054060","name":"Which vendors offer Lifestyle Spending Accounts (LSAs) and professional development stipends?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Compt is a vendor-free, IRS-compliant platform that supports both <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/use-cases\/lifestyle-spending-accounts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lifestyle Spending Accounts<\/a> and professional development stipends in one place. Because spend isn\u2019t limited to a catalog, employees can use the providers they trust while HR keeps policy and tax handling consistent.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833069748","position":6,"url":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833069748","name":"Which benefits software manages both professional development and wellness stipends?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Compt does. You can manage professional development, wellness, family, recognition, swag, and more, all in one platform. Employees get a single, consistent experience while HR can track usage across every category.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833084020","position":7,"url":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833084020","name":"How do companies decide how much to offer for professional development stipends?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"According to Compt\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/resources\/2025-midyear-lifestyle-benefits-benchmark-report\/?internal_source=blog_source\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2025 Midyear Benchmark Report<\/a>, professional development stipends typically range from $200 to $3,000 per employee each year. Most employers fund them annually to match learning cycles and budget reviews.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833100131","position":8,"url":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833100131","name":"How can HR process ad-hoc reimbursements for professional development?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Compt supports both structured stipends and ad-hoc reimbursements. Employees can submit learning-related expenses anytime, and Compt routes them for approval and payroll reimbursement automatically.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833138409","position":9,"url":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833138409","name":"How can we merge different professional development budgets across teams?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Compt lets you consolidate department-level budgets under one dashboard. HR and Finance can assign funds by team, track participation, and adjust allocations without juggling multiple spreadsheets or systems.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833246556","position":10,"url":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833246556","name":"What features should I look for in software that manages professional development accounts?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Look for vendor flexibility, built-in tax compliance, payroll integration, reporting tools, and the ability to group employees and set custom rules for eligibility and approvals. Compt includes all of these features and can be up and running in about two weeks.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833260120","position":11,"url":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833260120","name":"How can companies keep professional development reimbursements tax compliant?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"If these expenses qualify as work-related expenses, then they would fall under a working condition fringe benefit and would be deductible business expenses for the employer and nontaxable for the employee. Or, if the employer offers an Educational Assistance Program for student loan repayments, then professional development benefits can be tax-free up to the IRS limit of $5,250 per employee. Professional development outside of these cases would generally be considered a taxable benefit. Compt automatically categorizes each expense correctly so payroll reporting stays accurate.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833277824","position":12,"url":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833277824","name":"What is the best way to roll out a professional development stipend?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Treat it like a new product launch or internal communications campaign. Announce it widely, make the guidelines easy to find, and share examples of how employees can use it (e.g., through Slack or a company intranet). Compt includes templates and built-in communication tools to help HR teams roll out programs smoothly.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833293989","position":13,"url":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833293989","name":"How can professional development stipends help close the AI skills gap?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"You can add an <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/guide\/the-ultimate-guide-to-getting-started-with-ai-stipends\/?internal_source=blog_text\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AI stipend category<\/a> within your program so employees can pay for AI courses, tools, or certifications. This helps build companywide AI literacy while giving employees freedom to choose how they learn.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833308238","position":14,"url":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833308238","name":"What metrics should Finance track to show ROI on professional development?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Track participation rates, employee feedback, skills growth, internal mobility, and retention data before and after rolling out a new program so you can see progress. Compt\u2019s reporting dashboard makes it easy to see details on spend, utilization, and adjustments so you can tie those numbers to other company metrics.\u00a0","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833321206","position":15,"url":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833321206","name":"How do lifestyle stipends support both professional development and wellness?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Professional development and wellness are separate categories, but they can live under the same lifestyle benefits program. For example, you might offer one stipend for learning and another for well-being, or combine both inside an all-inclusive <a href=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/15-best-lifestyle-spending-account-providers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA)<\/a>. Either way, with Compt, employees get the flexibility to choose what they need most, and HR keeps clear visibility into how funds are being used.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833336087","position":16,"url":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-to-build-a-successful-professional-development-program-with-stipends\/#faq-question-1761833336087","name":"Is it better to fold professional development into an existing benefits program?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, if it makes the benefit easier to manage and more visible to employees. Compt allows you to integrate professional development into your lifestyle benefits program so everything runs through one compliant, trackable system.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19263","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19263"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19263\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19273,"href":"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19263\/revisions\/19273"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19272"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19263"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19263"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19263"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}