Advocacy Day Travel Grants - Midwest Political Science Association

Take Action: Share Your Message on the Hill in Support of Federal Funding for Our Discipline

Each year, there are two opportunities for MPSA members to meet with their elected officials to help underscore the importance of Federal funding to our discipline. To support participation, MPSA funds two grant programs for MPSA members to participate in the following events in Washington, D.C.

This year, both the National Humanities Alliance (NHA) Annual Meeting and Humanities Advocacy Day (March 10-12) and COSSA’s Social Science Advocacy Day (April 8-9) will be held in-person. You may apply for one or both of the grants to attend the events.

Consortium of Social Science Association (COSSA) Social Science Advocacy Day (April 8-9, 2024)

MPSA’s COSSA Social Science Advocacy Day Grant

The MPSA will be providing grants of $500 for members to participate in COSSA’s 2024 Social Science Advocacy Day, being held in-person in Washington, D.C. on April 8-9, 2024.

Those selected as grant recipients are responsible for their own travel, lodging, meeting registration, and incidentals. In order to qualify to receive the advocacy day travel grant, attendees must be MPSA members, U.S. citizens, faculty at a college or university or a researcher or professional, and be registered to vote at the national level in the United States.

Completing the application form does not guarantee you will receive a grant. After you submit the form, the MPSA will determine grant eligibility. If you are selected for the grant, MPSA will contact you directly. 

Individuals are responsible for registering for the event on their own; submission of the grant application form does not mean you are registered.

Grants will be distributed after your participation in the event is verified. If you fail to participate in the event, the grant monies will not be distributed.

The deadline for applications has passed. MPSA will contact those who are eligible directly.

Learn more about the COSSA Social Science Advocacy Day below or visit the event website.

WHAT is Social Science Advocacy Day?
Social Science Advocacy Day brings together social and behavioral scientists and science advocates from across the country to engage with policymakers in Congress about issues important to our community, such as federal funding. You will be teamed up with a group of advocates and participate in a day of in-person meetings (Tuesday, April 9) with House and Senate offices on Capitol Hill. Through these meetings, you will share reasons why federal government support for social and behavioral science research is so critical and discuss how you and your institution can be helpful to your elected officials. Advocates will be given all the resources they need to have successful meetings, including a preparatory seminar on Monday, April 8. All of your meetings will be scheduled for you, the only thing you need to do is come to Washington prepared to talk about why you love social and behavioral science!

WHY should I participate?
Funding for federal agencies and programs that support social and behavioral science research is never guaranteed. COSSA needs all social scientists to lend their voices in support of funding for social and behavioral science research programs.

WHO can participate in Advocacy Day?
Social Science Advocacy Day is a benefit of COSSA membership. Therefore, this opportunity is available to individuals affiliated with a COSSA member organization. You are eligible to participate if you are a member of, or employed by, one of COSSA’s member organizations.

WHERE is everything happening?
Washington, DC! The location of the preparatory seminar on April 8 will be decided in the coming weeks. The meetings with your state groups on April 9 will take place in the House and Senate office buildings on Capitol Hill. All appointments will be scheduled for you.

National Humanities Alliance (NHA) Annual Meeting and Humanities Advocacy Day

MPSA’s NHA Annual Meeting and Humanities Advocacy Day Grant

The MPSA will be providing grants of $500 for members to participate in the National Humanities Alliance Annual Meeting and Humanities Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. (March 10-12, 2024). 

Those selected as grant recipients are responsible for their own travel, lodging, meeting registration, and incidentals. In order to qualify to receive the advocacy day travel grant, attendees must be MPSA members, U.S. citizens, faculty at a college or university or a researcher or professional, and be registered to vote at the national level in the United States.

Grants will be distributed after your participation in the event is verified. If you fail to participate in the event, the grant monies will not be distributed.

Individuals are responsible for registering for the event on their own; submission of the grant application form does not mean you are registered. Be sure to indicate during registration that you are an MPSA member to receive the NHA member discount.

The deadline for applications has passed. MPSA will contact those who are eligible directly.

Learn more about the NHA Annual Meeting and Humanities Advocacy Day below or visit the event website.

NHA Annual Meeting – March 10 and 11
The NHA Annual Meeting brings together faculty, administrators, and representatives from scholarly societies, museums, archives, and other humanities organizations to build their capacity to advocate broadly for the public value of the humanities.

We will kick off the program with a reception on Sunday evening, March 10, at The Line Hotel DC. On Monday, March 11, we will offer a mix of sessions on engaging students in the humanities, documenting the impact of a wide variety of humanities programs, and showcasing the local value of the humanities. This is in addition to a variety of trainings for Capitol Hill advocacy. We will conclude the day with a reception on Capitol Hill and the presentation of the Yates Award for Distinguished Public Service to the Humanities.

Humanities Advocacy Day – March 12
On Humanities Advocacy Day, state-based delegations will travel to Capitol Hill to meet with Members of Congress and their staff.

As we prepare for Humanities Advocacy Day, we are confronting challenges to federal humanities funding. Just last month, we rallied the humanities community to defeat an amendment that would defund the NEH. Humanities Advocacy Day is a crucial opportunity to build relationships with Members of Congress and staff on both sides of the aisle to ensure that we are well poised to confront threats like these.

Together, we will advocate for increased FY 2024 funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Archives and Records Administration, and the Department of Education’s international education programs (Title VI and Fulbright-Hays).

In the weeks leading up to Humanities Advocacy Day, we will offer a virtual orientation on Capitol Hill advocacy. New and seasoned advocates are welcome—learn more about the experience here.