Section Involvement Grant program for recruitment and engagement

Overview

Through the Section Involvement Grant (SIG), the American Medical Association (AMA) is proud to support the local initiatives of medical student leaders. The SIG program is available to support AMA local campus sections with local AMA student recruitment and engagement efforts. The SIG program operates as a grant; all applications will be evaluated on an individual basis as funding is not guaranteed. 

Local campus sections can be eligible to apply for and may receive up to $1,500 per academic year (May 1–April 30), split into three categories: Recruitment ($500 maximum), Engagement ($500 maximum), and Local Section Policy Participation ($500 maximum), each with different eligibility requirements. Review the eligibility requirements, application instructions and descriptions for each grant type before applying. 

Review the FAQ and then direct all unanswered or campus specific questions to [email protected]. 

We strongly encourage campus section leaders to attend a SIG training session and meet with their student outreach manager to confirm eligibility prior to applying for a new grant. Email [email protected] for details on our next training session or to schedule a call with your student outreach manager.

How to apply

SIG campus eligibility

To be eligible for funding through SIG, your local campus section must meet the following criteria: 

• Have an active outreach leader.
• Engage with the AMA MSOP staff by attending virtual trainings and having phone calls with your student outreach manager.
• Submit all SIG recap forms for past SIG grants issued to your local campus section. New SIG requests will not be reviewed if recaps for prior grants are missing, including those from the past academic year.
• Demonstrate a history of successfully receiving funds issued to your local campus section or have a plan to receive the funds if your campus section is new. Collaboration with the SIG committee is important to ensure funds are not lost. All prior funds must either have been successfully cashed OR your team is actively communicating with the SIG Committee on a resolution.

If your local campus section does not meet the above criteria, your SIG application will be denied.

SIG application instructions

1. Use the online Section Involvement Grant application to apply for all SIG categories: Recruitment, Engagement or Local Section Policy Participation. 
2. Though not required for review, we recommend submitting grant applications 6-8 weeks before the event date or by an otherwise stated deadline. Applications will not be reviewed, and can expect to be denied, if the event date is within 1 week of the application submission.
3. Applications must include the following key information:
   1. Contacts: Name and email addresses of your local campus section’s president, outreach leader and faculty advisor.
   2. Event details: Date, location, guest speakers, partner organizations, expected attendance and a detailed description of your event. Please share as much information as you can.
   3. Outreach plans: Plans to engage students on your campus, drive and track attendance, and future use of the MSOP Dashboard (when applicable) to invite non-member attendees to join the AMA.
   4. Funding details: Estimated cost, amount you are requesting through this grant alongside other potential sources of funding your local campus section will be requesting and/or has received outside of this grant.
   5. Check information: Campus section’s bank account name and current mailing address for checks; funds will be awarded as checks issued to your local campus section, not to an individual person.

If your application does not meet the above criteria, your SIG application will be denied.

SIG funding restrictions

SIG is unable to provide funding for the following activities (but not limited to): Raffle items of any kind, purchase of AMA memberships, donation matching, donations for third party organizations, monetary incentives (cash or otherwise) for event participation, alcohol, bake sales, gift cards/gifts exceeding in $5.00 value per event/activity attendee, events/activities in violation of the AMA Code of Conduct.

Types of grants

Recruitment

Recruitment grants are used to support local campus sections as they introduce the AMA to students on their campus. Recruitment grant applications should clearly demonstrate the efforts of a local AMA section, led by an outreach leader, to recruit the incoming first-year students to join the AMA. Typically, recruitment events are most effective as the first event at the start of the school year, from July through October. 

Local sections who are in communication with their student outreach manager are eligible to apply for up to $500 for recruitment per academic year.

Engagement

Engagement grants are intended to energize, empower and support a local AMA section while focusing on topics important to the campus or community. Applications should include a clearly articulated goal to address topics relevant to public health, medical education, medical practice, patient safety or community outreach. Community service events are included in this category, and funding for community service events is capped at $250 per event. 

Local sections who are in communication with their student outreach manager, have met the initial SIG eligibility, and meet one or more of the below criteria are eligible to apply for up to $500 for engagement events per academic year:

1. Achieve the Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum Membership Milestones, recruiting at least 10% of your first-year class to join the AMA.
2. Demonstrate strong recruitment efforts by applying for SIG recruitment funds, uploading a list of 5+ interested students to the MSOP Dashboard, and actively sharing your recruitment plan with the MSOP team.
3. Have a membership partnership with your school, state or county medical society.

Applications for engagement grants submitted concurrently with recruitment grants will be evaluated based on the demonstrated recruitment efforts at the time the application is submitted. Students can expect to be denied until they become eligible for engagement funds in one of the above ways. 

Local Section Policy Participation

Local Section Policy Participation (LSPP) grants are used to support students in their efforts to attend a national AMA in-person event on behalf of their local campus section. Local sections who meet the below criteria are eligible to apply for up to $500 for LSPP per academic year, with a maximum of $250 per application. LSPP grants can be applied toward attendance at the following AMA events:

1. Medical Student Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C. (MAC)
2. AMA Annual Meeting in Chicago (Annual)
3. AMA Interim Meeting, location varies (Interim)

Local sections who are in communication with their student outreach manager, have met the initial SIG eligibility, and who meet the following criteria at the time their application is submitted are eligible to apply for LSPP:

1. In the same academic year (May 1–April 30), the local campus section has previously submitted a Recruitment SIG or an Engagement SIG application.
2. Clearly demonstrate the objective for AMA event/meeting participation in the application (e.g., participation for voting delegates, participation in education events or other meeting activities). Following the meeting, grant recipients will be expected to submit a SIG recap describing how event participation and the information gathered at the event/meetings will further support recruitment and engagement on campus.

Students can expect to be denied until they become eligible for LSPP funds in the above ways.

Frequently asked questions

What type of event should I have on my campus?

Campus sections host many different types of successful and fun events using SIGs! Check out our SIG Event of the Month page for inspiration on a few impactful events campus sections have recently hosted. If you’re looking for additional ideas, get in touch with your campus section’s student outreach manager.

How are grants awarded?

Local campus sections are eligible to receive up to $1,500 total in grant funding during the program year (up to $500 per application for recruitment and engagement activities, and up to $250 per application for community service activities and Local Section Policy Participation).

Once an activity/event has been determined by a local campus section, a student leader may apply for a SIG. Grants are awarded at the sole discretion of the AMA and are not a guaranteed source of funding. Each application is evaluated on an individual basis, and overall funds for each category are limited.

Students should be certain that their application is detailed, thoughtful, and has a clear plan to positively impact engagement and membership. Recaps for prior local campus section events should demonstrate a detailed overview of the impact the event has had on membership and engagement. We recommend students attend a SIG training to learn more.

What is the timeline to apply?

For recruitment, engagement and community service grants: Students should submit the grant application six to eight weeks prior to the activity date. 

For Local Section Policy Participation grants: Students must submit the grant application before the provided deadline for the AMA event for which they are applying. Deadlines vary by AMA event and are typically around six weeks before the AMA event takes place. Please refer to the SIG Application form for more specific information about Local Section Policy Participation grant deadlines.

If approved, the check will be distributed approximately four to six weeks from the time the submitter is notified of grant approval.

Students who apply less than six weeks before the activity date should not expect to receive their check before the activity, but are still encouraged to apply. If you are applying outside of the recommended six-to-eight week timeline, please note:

• You should schedule a meeting with the AMA’s student outreach manager for your campus section.
• If you apply within two weeks of your activity date, you may not receive a response before your activity. Grant funding is not guaranteed. If your local campus section chooses to proceed without written notification of grant approval, please know that it’s possible you may not receive funding and your local campus section should have an alternate plan to cover costs.

How do I know if my grant application has been approved?

If your grant application has been approved, you will receive a confirmation email from [email protected]. The confirmation email will detail the amount of grant funding for which you have been approved, as well as the mailing address where the check will be sent.

What if I have NOT been notified that my grant application has been approved?

If you have not received an email from the AMA confirming your grant has been approved, that means a decision has not yet been made about your grant application. If your event date is approaching, please reach out to your student outreach manager.

Grant funding is not guaranteed. If you do not receive a written decision about your grant application before your event date, please know that it’s possible you may not receive funding and you should have an alternate plan to cover costs.

What might impact my campus section’s eligibility for a SIG?

An important requirement of SIGs is the submission of a grant recap after the event. Recaps from previously approved grant applications for your campus section must be submitted before any new grant requests are reviewed.

If your campus section has an outstanding AMA check, we cannot issue new funds until the outstanding check is deposited. Please confirm with your section treasurer or student affairs office that your school can process checks from us and that your account and mailing information are accurate.

Overall funding for grants is limited. Applications and event plans should be detailed, thoughtful and include a clear strategy to positively impact engagement and membership. If applying for Engagement or Community Service funds, students should have already applied for recruitment funds, have recruited 10% of their first-year class for membership, as identified in the MSOP Dashboard, and/or demonstrated significant efforts toward recruitment.

Who is the check made payable to?

Checks are made payable directly to the student’s medical school AMA campus section: “SCHOOL NAME AMA-MSS.” The AMA cannot make checks payable directly to individuals. Work with your section treasurer and/or student affairs office to discuss distribution of funds, and to make sure that you have correct information on the name of the bank account and address for where the check will be sent when submitting your grant. For example:

              SCHOOL NAME AMA-MSS

              Student name

              Address line 1

              Address line 2

Once the check is received, please take action to deposit or cash the check within 30 days to allow us to quickly resolve any issues that may arise with payment. 

Where should the check be mailed?

Checks should be mailed to either the student applicant’s address (preferred) or directly to the medical school. When sending checks directly to a school, there is a higher likelihood of checks getting lost on campus if they are not directly addressed to someone. If mailing to your campus, please include a faculty or staff member’s name and office number in the mailing address, and communicate to the faculty or staff member that you are expecting a check.

When can I expect to receive the check?

Once a grant is approved, the check will be distributed in approximately four to six weeks from the time the submitter is notified of grant approval. If you do not receive your check in this timeframe, please contact [email protected] for assistance. If there are any issues with the check or the bank, including cashing or depositing the check, please notify the AMA within 90 days at [email protected]. 

I didn’t receive my check, what happened?

If you’ve been approved for a grant and have not received your check within this timeframe, please contact [email protected] for assistance.

What should we do with our check if our event is canceled?

DO NOT shred or dispose of the check. If details regarding your event change or the event is cancelled, please reach out and let us know so we can advise you accordingly.

Is grant funding guaranteed?

The SIG program is designed to support local AMA initiatives on campus and is not expected to fully fund activities. Funding requests for activities are not guaranteed and each application will be reviewed on an individual basis. Students are highly encouraged to seek funding from multiple sources (student activities office, student government, state or local society, etc.) to reach funding goals/needs.

What are some activities that grant funding cannot be used for?

The SIG is unable to provide funding for the following activities (but not limited to): Raffle items of any kind, purchase of AMA membership, donation matching, monetary incentives (cash or otherwise) for event participation, alcohol, events/activities in violation of the AMA Code of Conduct, gift cards/gifts exceeding in $5.00 value per event/activity attendee.

Funding cannot be used for bake sales or to provide a monetary donation to a third-party organization.

Is grant funding available for reimbursement?

The application for grant funding must be submitted in advance of the event or initiative. Local Section Policy Participation funding applications must be submitted and approved before the event. Students should not apply for funding after an event has already taken place.

Grant funding is not guaranteed. If you do not receive a decision about your grant application before your event date, please know that it’s possible you may not receive funding and you should have an alternate plan to cover costs.

Can my campus section apply for multiple SIGs at the same time?

Yes, your campus section can submit multiple SIG applications at the same time. However, they may not all be reviewed at the same time. Your local campus section will also need to submit recaps within the required two-week timeframe. For example, if your campus section submits grant applications for your August activity fair, Local Section Policy Participation to the November AMA Interim Meeting, and your March campus section meeting, each subsequent application will not be reviewed until the recap for the previous event has been received.

Is there an option to receive additional funding for my local campus section?

Throughout the year, opportunities may arise for local campus sections to earn additional funding for strong student member recruitment (one example is the Race to Recruit!). Your section’s outreach leader will receive more information about these opportunities from the Medical Student Outreach Program (MSOP) team. Don’t forget to monitor your progress towards commissions in the MSOP Dashboard. While SIG funding is limited, commission funding is based on success in recruiting first-year student members.

Can I request funding for Local Section Policy Participation to AMA events?

Yes! Your campus section can apply for up to two grants of $250.00 each for Local Section Policy Participation to AMA events. To apply for a grant for Local Section Policy Participation, you must have previously submitted an application for a recruitment engagement, or community service activity. Local Section Policy Participation grants may have specific application deadlines based on event dates; please refer to the SIG Application form for information about Local Section Policy Participation grant deadlines. Please note that overall Local Section Policy Participation funding is limited and subject to changes by the AMA.

Can I use the AMA name and logo for my event?

1. Use of AMA name/logo approval: Use of the AMA name and/or logo for policy, advocacy or education events must be preapproved in writing by the AMA. This preapproval requirement extends to the use of the AMA local campus section name (Medical School, Local Campus Section or Local Campus Section, Medical School). Use of commission payments from the AMA or AMA Section Involvement Grant funding does not supersede the need for approval of AMA name and logo use.

2. Approval process: To seek approval for the use of the AMA name and/or logo in conjunction with an AMA local campus policy, advocacy or education events, please send the required information through this form no later than three weeks before the event.

   1. Date of event
   2. Title of event
   3. Sponsors (and any co-sponsors) of event
   4. Target audience for event
   5. Event speakers

   If approval to use the AMA name and/or logo has not been given, the AMA may require immediate removal of the name and logo from all materials related to the event.

3. Event guidelines: Before planning an event related to policy, advocacy or education, students should be familiar with the AMA’s most recent actions and statements and align their event accordingly. Events that are held at local campus sections that are not aligned with current AMA policy may be asked to remove the AMA name and/or logo.

What if I receive a media request regarding my event?

Any anticipated media-related activities that may be scheduled in conjunction with an AMA local campus section event must first be cleared by staff in AMA’s Media Relations Department. Please contact Shane McGoey, director of the Medical Student Section, at [email protected] to seek approval. Approval for this event, or use of commission payments from the AMA or AMA Section Involvement Grant funding, does not supersede the need for separate approval of media-related activities.

Can I request t-shirts as part of the Section Involvement Grant? 

No, t-shirts cannot be the only purpose of a SIG request. If t-shirts are requested as miscellaneous materials as part of a larger event such as a community service project, this will be reviewed by the committee as part of the overall request. 

AMA branded t-shirts must also go through an approval process. Please visit this logo request form for more information. We recommend allowing 6-8 weeks for approval.