Overview
The American Medical Association is proud to support local initiatives through its medical student leaders. The Section Involvement Grant (SIG) program is available to all medical schools to assist local AMA medical school section recruitment and engagement efforts throughout the school year.
Local AMA sections are eligible to receive up to $1,500 (maximum $500 per application) in total funding per academic year.
SIGs play a critical role in local chapter "seed funding." While the grant program may not match anticipated expenses dollar for dollar, the goal is to help with events, projects and initiatives.
Recruitment
A recruitment grant supports the efforts of a local AMA medical student section to recruit the incoming M1 class as AMA members led by a medical student outreach leader. Plan events, activities and recruitment campaigns to promote the importance of an AMA membership, member incentives and benefits, and leadership opportunities within the AMA. Recruitment events are most effective July through September.
Examples include but are not limited to:
- Virtual orientation
- Lunch and learns or coffee chats
- "What is the AMA?" webinar presented by student e-board
Engagement
An engagement grant is intended to serve as seed funding to energize, empower and support a local AMA medical student section for an advocacy or education event/webinar. Organize an activity that addresses topics relevant to public health, medical education, medical practice, patient safety or community outreach.
Examples include but are not limited to:
- Lunchtime lecture on the opioid epidemic with a guest speaker
- AMA Advocacy Week education event or webinar
- Health fair
- Care kit packing for the homeless
Community service
Medical students are taking initiative and are finding ways to support their local communities. These initiatives may include COVID-19 relief efforts, equity training and more.
Examples include but are not limited to:
- Health Equity Workshop
- Care Kit packing for the homeless
- COVID-19 education materials for distribution within the community
- Letter writing to elderly individuals in isolation without access to technology
- Local community service clean-up
Apply for funding
Please submit a brief recap following your activity within 2 weeks. (Required.*)
Please submit a brief recap following your activity.
If you have any questions on the program, please contact us at [email protected].
*Not completing this requirement may result in the loss of future funding opportunities.
Frequently asked questions
Q: How are grants awarded?
A: Once activity/event has been determined, a student applies for either recruitment, engagement or community service grant. Grant awards are at the sole discretion of the AMA and are not a guaranteed source of funding. Each application is evaluated on an individual basis. Local sections are eligible to receive up to $1,500 (up to $500 per application) in total grant funding during the school year.
Q: What is the timeline to apply?
A: To receive funding before an event, students must submit the application 4 weeks prior to the activity date. Requests for funding are welcomed after the event. The check will be distributed approximately 4 weeks from the time the submitter is notified of grant approval. If you’ve been approved for a grant and have not received your check within 30 days, please contact [email protected] for assistance.
Q: Who is the check made payable to?
A: Checks are made payable directly to the student’s medical school section: “SCHOOL NAME AMA-MSS.” Checks are mailed to either the student applicant’s address (preferred) or directly to the medical school.
Q: Is grant funding guaranteed?
A: The Section Involvement Grant program is not a guaranteed funding source. We highly encourage students to seek funding from multiple sources (student activities office, state society, etc.) to reach funding goals/needs.
Q: What are some activities that grant funding is not used for?
A: The Section Involvement Grant is unable to provide funding for the following activities (but not limited to): Purchase of AMA membership, donation matching, monetary incentives (cash or otherwise) for event participation, events/activities in violation of the AMA Code of Conduct, gift cards/gifts exceeding in $5.00 value per event/activity attendee, and raffle items of any kind.
Q: Is grant funding available for reimbursement?
A: The application for grant funding should be submitted in advance of the event or initiative. However you’re welcome to submit a grant request for events previously held during the academic year, but approval is not guaranteed.
