APSA is pleased to provide travel grants to members for attendance at annual advocacy days in Washington, DC. Each year, advocacy organizations such as the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA) and National Humanities Alliance (NHA) host advocacy events that address conditions for federal funding in the social sciences and humanities, provide advocacy training, and feature meetings with congressional staffers on Capitol Hill. These organizations’ advocacy days are opportunities for APSA members to learn how to effectively advocate for political science at home and in the nation’s capital and to educate congressional representatives and staff about the need for robust federal funding for political science research and education.

A grant can be used to supplement the cost of registration, travel, and lodging for advocacy events up to $500. For questions about the travel grant program or applications, contact advocacy@apsanet.org.

Applications for the 2026 Advocacy Travel Grants are now OPEN. Applications will be accepted through February 13, 2026.

Learn more about other grant opportunities within the association.

Travel Grant Use

An Advocacy Travel Grant from APSA can cover the following costs:

• Event Registration: registration fees for the advocacy events
• Travel: Economy bus, train, and plane tickets are covered
• Hotels: The cost of a stay in a hotel, hostel, or other rented lodging such as Airbnb during the conference is covered

An APSA travel grant does not, however, cover any of the following costs:

• Meals
• Business or first-class tickets
• Rental cars
• Gasoline
• Alcohol

To accept an advocacy travel grant, APSA requires that all recipients complete and return a W-9 or W-8BEN tax form.

• Form W-9
• Form W-8BEN (for non-U.S. citizens)

For a downloadable copy of APSA’s Advocacy Travel Grant policy, please click here.