Through our chapters, we maintain an ongoing grassroots campaign that builds relationships with district and state offices for the House and Senate, respectively. This outreach includes visits to those offices as well as the extension of invitations for members to attend local events. Chapters also raise the profile of Fulbright locally through international education programs and outreach to regional media outlets.
Through the Fulbright Association’s national office, we build and sustain strong working relationships with Congressional offices and stakeholders in Washington, D.C. With a focus on key appropriations and authorizing committees, we educate members and their staffs on the impact of the Fulbright Program through regular visits and designated Advocacy Days that bring large delegations to Capitol Hill. The national office sets the overarching strategy and messaging for advocacy efforts, leads campaigns, and coordinates with partner organizations.
While international alumni are not political constituents of the U.S. Congress, they have a powerful voice in sharing the impact of the Fulbright program. The national office works with Fulbright Commissions and alumni associations worldwide to magnify that voice by coordinating international participation in Advocacy Days, organizing petitions when needed, and gathering testimonials.
The primary source of funding (approximately 65%) for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support.
Please return to this site regularly for updates and advocacy campaigns. Become a member or join our mailing list to receive updates directly. Your donations provide needed resources for our advocacy work, and we appreciate your continued support.
Direct outreach to Congressional representatives is a critical part of our advocacy strategy, and it is important to remain positive and non-partisan in all advocacy communications. We ask that you share our message and tell your story in your letters and phone calls to elected officials.
Thank you for supporting the Fulbright Program. Celebrating 75 years as America’s flagship international exchange program, Fulbright advances the national interest and promotes peace through mutual understanding. The Program has built a network of experts and leaders that is crucial at a time of global crisis. Fulbright alumni fighting this pandemic include heads of state, ministers, leading researchers, and public health officials—some of the 400,000 alumni worldwide, including 140,000 Americans.
On behalf of the Fulbright Association, the alumni organization of the United States with members and institutions in every state and district, I am asking for your continued support of the Fulbright Program. Please support the Fulbright Program at $300 million for FY 2022 ($26m over $274m for FY 2021).
This modest increase will help reverse eleven years of effectively flat funding that has diminished the financial capacity of the Program by 17% due to inflation. We must stop falling behind. An increase in America’s Fulbright investment will…
- Reaffirm the U.S. as a partner to 165 countries
- Restore global leadership ceded to China and countries that fund other exchanges—China funds 13 times the number of inbound scholars
- Strengthen 49 bilateral agreements with countries that together contribute another $100m annually
- Widen the global reach of U.S. Fulbrighters, increasing the impact
Fulbright already strengthens national security and promotes goodwill:
- The Program builds strategic relationships in key countries such as Afghanistan, Egypt, Germany, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Pakistan, and Mexico
- American “Fulbrighters” serve as citizen-ambassadors, reflecting our diversity and building relationships that promote mutual understanding and respect for the U.S.
- Half of all Fulbrighters come to the U.S. as scholars, professionals, and students, bringing financial and educational resources to communities in all 50 states
Thank you for supporting the Fulbright Program. Your Fulbright constituents will be (virtually) visiting, writing, and petitioning Capitol Hill in April. We will share our stories and impact then, but please contact the Fulbright Association anytime: advocacy@fulbright.org.
The resources compiled here are available to assist in your chapter and individual advocacy efforts on behalf of Fulbright.
For additional advocacy materials, or with any questions, please reach out to the Fulbright Association at advocacy@fulbright.org.