Obtaining Funding for PLEN Programs
Many students have been very successful in finding funds from various sources to cover costs associated with a PLEN program. This page suggests sources and how to ask for funding. Possible sources of funding include:
Campus
- Your major department (particularly if the PLEN program is applicable to your studies)
- Career services
- Student activities director/dean of students
- College/university president or chancellor
- Clubs and organizations
- Student government
- Women's Studies program
- Women's Center
- Alumnae interested in women and public policy
Community
- Parents' workplace or your workplace
- Religious groups
- Community/civic organizations (like the Lion's Club, Rotary Club, local NOW chapter)
- Friends and family members
Steps to Asking for Funding
- Be prepared. When you explain the program, list talking points that will help you make your case effectively. Be knowledgeable about what you hope to get out of the program and your expectations of the group you would like to fund you. Think about:
- Why do I want to attend the program?
- Why should this group fund my participation?
- What will the group get out my participation?
- Have a clear request. Write down your request, including detailed funding needs, to bring with you when you speak to someone about funding.
- Be willing to spend some of your own money. A good approach might be to state that although you can cover transportation, housing, and the registration fee, you are looking for the group's support to cover the program fee.
- Have a detailed outline of how much money you need and exactly what the money will be used for.
- Bring along PLEN materials to show more about the program.
- Start early. As soon as you know you want to attend a program, make appointments to meet with directors, professors, deans, presidents- anyone who might be able to allocate funds to you.
- Don't be afraid to ask! If you don't ask, you'll never know. If the first person is unable to fund you, keep trying.
- If one group or department can't give you the entire amount you need, check with another. You may be able to obtain some funding from one organization and additional funding from another.
- Offer to present a report or perform a leadership task in return for funding. Show that your participation in the program will have positive effects back home. Examples:
- Write an essay on your experience and present it to a class or professors
- Give a presentation to a group on campus about what you learned
- Organize and lead a community program about public policy (i.e. with a high school, Girl Scouts, youth tutoring program, etc.).
- Speak to alumni or prospective students about the opportunities at your university- including receiving support to attend a PLEN program.
- Donate your time to help the department or professor with any projects they might have.
- Send thank you letters to your supporters after the program mentioning highlights from the program and what you learned.
