Learning or development stipend
A yearly amount for courses, conferences, and growth. Many policies name coaching. Others leave it open to anything that helps you grow at work.
Employer-paid coaching
Your company may already pay for your coach.
Many learning, development, and wellness budgets cover 1:1 coaching with a certified coach. A lot of that money goes unused because asking and claiming feel like a chore. This page makes both simple.
Nima Imani · ICF Associate Certified Coach · Itemized invoice and receipt for every package
Where the money usually is
Three places to look.
Wellness or lifestyle account
Often run through Forma, Benepass, or Compt. Some list life or wellbeing coaching as an eligible category. Check the categories in your app.
Your manager or learning team
For longer work, the cost can come from your team's budget or a leadership development program. I can invoice your company directly once it is approved.
A few published examples, as of October 2026: Adobe's professional development reimbursement lists executive coaching. Microsoft's Perks+ lists wellbeing coaching. GitLab funds professional coaching for managers and leaders. The City of San Francisco's MEA training fund lists executive coaching. Policies change, so always check your current one.
How it works
Three steps.
Check your policy
Search your benefits page or app for "coaching", "professional development", or "wellness". Note the amount and any deadline.
Send a short note
Use one of the templates below. Most managers just need to know what it is, what it costs, and what you will get from it.
Book, pay, claim
After our free call, you get an itemized invoice and receipt the same day, with everything a claim usually asks for.
Templates
Copy, edit, send.
Change the brackets to fit you. Keep it short and specific.
Email to your manager
Subject: Quick ask: leadership coaching from my learning budget Hi [name], I'd like to use my [learning / wellness] budget for a short coaching series with Nima Imani, an ICF-certified leadership coach. It's [3 sessions over 6 weeks / 6 sessions over 3 months], focused on [the decision, the team situation, or the change I'm working through]. The cost is [amount], which fits within my budget. I'll come out of it with a written plan, and I'm happy to share what I'm taking from it. Okay to go ahead? [Your name]
Slack or chat
Hey [name], quick one. I'd like to use my learning budget for a short coaching series with an ICF-certified coach ([3 / 6] sessions, [amount]), focused on [what you're working on]. It fits the budget. Okay to go ahead?
Asking your manager or learning team to sponsor a longer engagement
Subject: Request to sponsor leadership coaching Hi [name], I'd like to ask whether the team or learning budget could sponsor a three-month coaching partnership with Nima Imani, an ICF-certified leadership coach. Why now: [what's changed: a bigger team, a new scope, a reorg, AI changing how we work]. What I'd work on: [one or two specific things]. What you'd see: we agree on goals at the start, I share a short update at the midpoint and a plan at the end. Session content stays confidential. Cost: [amount], invoiced directly to the company. Even a small improvement in [decision speed / how the team works together] would cover the cost. Could we talk about it this week? [Your name]
What you receive
An invoice built for reimbursement.
Stipend platforms usually reject receipts that are missing a provider, a date, or a description. Every invoice includes them.
- Provider name and address
- Your name and your company's name, plus a PO number if you have one
- Service: leadership coaching by an ICF Associate Certified Coach
- Dates of service and number of sessions
- Amount and paid status
- W-9 on request, and a short completion summary at the end
Claiming
How it usually works on common platforms.
Compt
Upload the invoice. Compt looks for the vendor, the date, and the total. Some companies limit how early a receipt can be dated.
Forma
Submit a claim with the provider, a short description, and the service dates. The invoice covers all three.
Benepass
The card may work at checkout. If it is declined, submit a reimbursement with the invoice, or ask support to approve the merchant.
Your company's own portal
Many companies run their own reimbursement. Check whether your manager needs to approve first, and when claims close for the year.
Year-end matters. Many budgets reset in January and do not roll over. Adobe's professional development claims must be approved by December 30. Microsoft Perks+ claims for the year are due by January 31.
Questions
Before you ask.
Can my learning stipend pay for coaching?
Often, yes. Many learning and development stipends name coaching, and many others cover anything that helps you grow at work. Check your policy for the words "coaching" or "professional development", then ask your manager with the template above.
Can I use a wellness or lifestyle spending account?
Sometimes. Some wellness accounts list life or wellbeing coaching as an eligible category. The categories are set by your employer, so check your Forma, Benepass, or Compt app before booking.
What if my budget is smaller than the package?
Tell me your budget on the free call and we will shape the work to fit it. Some managers cover the difference from their team budget.
What if my company says no?
Ask what would qualify instead. Sometimes it is the wording, sometimes the category. If it still does not fit, we can talk about paying personally, with split payments.
Does my employer learn what we talk about?
No. Session content stays confidential. If your company sponsors the coaching, you, the sponsor, and I agree at the start on the goals and on what, if anything, is shared.
I work for the federal government. Can my agency pay?
Federal guidance treats coaching as a development activity. You can request it through an SF-182 training request with your supervisor's approval. I can provide what the form needs.