Chapter involvement grant guidelines

Chapter involvement grants (CIG) provide seed money to allow chapters to implement programs or activities inspired by AMA policy. Chapters are eligible for grants totaling $1,000 per academic year (maximum of $500 per project). Applications must be received at least 30 days before your event.

CIG program objectives

• fund projects that increase AMA and AMA-MSS visibility in a positive and proactive way
• fund projects to develop and strengthen your chapter by providing an opportunity for students to get more involved
• fund projects that help put AMA policy into action by providing information or a service of value to your campus or community

Funding

Chapters are eligible for grants totaling $1,000 per academic year, with a maximum of $500 per project. Depending on the project, grants generally range from $150 to $500 so we encourage you to organize several projects throughout the year to meet the $1,000. Please submit one application for every project you are organizing. In order for us to evaluate the funding your project requires, we need detailed information on your expected costs. Please be as specific as possible. Please remember that funding is not guaranteed, and each project will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Project types

Your chapter can organize many types of projects. The MSS has compiled abstracts of various projects that have been implemented through the grant program. These project ideas will help get you and your chapter started. We can also assist you with ideas for projects—please contact us and we can help.

Below are various categories of projects. Please select one of these categories on the application so that we may keep track of the types of projects most chapters are planning.

1. National Service Project:  Projects that focus on our current National Service Project campaign "Covering the Uninsured and Protecting Access to Care." Projects that focus on the MSS top priority, covering the uninsured. Some projects include organzing a chapter event for Cover the Uninsured Week in May; signing up local families for the state CHIP; and organizing a panel discussion of leaders on this issue.
2. Community service, advocacy, or educational activities regarding an issue addressed by AMA or AMA-MSS policy. Promoting chapter involvement and visibility through coordinating community service projects or campus activities are among the best ways to build a strong chapter and to make a difference at your school and in your town. The AMA and AMA-MSS have many policy statements that address topics that are relevant to public health, medical education, medical practice, patient safety and community outreach, to name just a few. Chapters are strongly encouraged to use the grants as "seed money" to support a project that has start up costs, but can then be maintained for little or no money. Examples of projects in this area include: starting a music library at a local hospital that is periodically staffed by chapter members; organizing a workshop to train students on vision screenings so that they can do screenings in the community throughout the year, day care centers; or purchasing blood pressure cuffs for use in hypertension screenings.
3. Membership recruitment. Membership recruitment and chapter development are important activities at every chapter. The AMA can provide numerous materials, including banners, brochures, flyers, applications, etc for your events. We encourage you to work with your chapter recruiter on these events (contact mssop@ama-assn.org for your chapter recruiter’s information). Some projects in this category include recruitment booths at your school’s orientation, educational program for incoming 1st years, member bring a non-member socials, and inviting AMA leadership to present on the benefits of joining the AMA.
    
   Meet and Greets/Socials - The AMA finds "meet and greets" and "socials" to be ineffective membership recruiting events unless there is a membership component to the event. In order for the AMA to fund these types of events, we require the following criteria to be met at the event:

The meet and greets and social format for recruiting events are a more effective recruiting tool later in the academic year when the chapters are more defined. These events can be used as a member bring a non-member event.

Apply before your event

CIG applications must be received at least 30 days before the event is scheduled to take place. We want to support your event by sending you the materials, money, and even staff if possible, you need for it to succeed; however, we need to be notified well in advance to get you the resources you need.

Required information

• Completed application, including description of program, description of how the program will promote the AMA brand and chapter visibility, relevant AMA policy using AMA PolicyFinder and detailed budget information. Applications must be submitted online at least 30 days in advance and applicant must be AMA member.
• Students will be notified of applications that are incomplete. All incomplete applications must be completed within two weeks of notification of missing information or they will not be considered. 
• Chapters must provide a follow-up form within 30 days of the event sponsored by a chapter involvement grant. Any additional grant applications will not be approved without a summary form submitted for the previous grant.

How projects will be evaluated

The AMA will evaluate projects based on the information provided in the application and on how well the project meets the objectives of the chapter involvement grant program so please be as thorough as possible. Please note that funding is not guaranteed and the AMA can reject applications that do not meet the goals of this program. The AMA will not provide funding for speakers’ honoraria or travel expenses.

We encourage chapters to apply for funding for a limited number of quality projects per year to meet the $1,000 rather than seek support for a series of more routine activities. Coordinate with others in your chapter to make sure you all are "on the same page."

Involve your state medical society

Students are strongly encouraged to share information about your projects with the staff person who works with medical students at your state medical society. If you are unsure of who that person is, contact the MSS and we can provide the name to you. Your state medical society can be a great source of ideas and support for medical student projects.

Conditions

The local project, while funded by national AMA, is administered and controlled by the local AMA chapter. The local chapter acknowledges and retains ownership of the project and its name must be on all publicity and promotional materials (e.g., The AMA Local Chapter at the University of _______ or AMA, University of ________Chapter). No program materials or participants should make statements that suggest or imply that the project is a project of national AMA or that the chapter or participants are acting as agents of AMA.

The AMA name may be used on materials; however, to use the AMA logo, please contact the MSS for AMA guidelines. The AMA can also provide materials to support your event—visit the Chapter Resource Center to order materials.