Advocacy Center

Whether you’re inviting a freshman Representative home for First-Gen Celebration Day, rallying your local coalition, or hosting a key Appropriations Committee member, this guide turns every campus tour into an advocacy victory.

Inside this must-have resource, you’ll find:

• Visit Planning Blueprint: From coordinating with your institution’s government relations office to locking in the legislator’s schedule, our checklist ensures nothing falls through the cracks.

• Invitation Templates & Schedulers’ Contacts: Send a polished, professional invitation—complete with sample letters and guidance on how to engage the congressional scheduler.

• Day-Of Agenda & Engagement Tips: Craft an agenda that maximizes your Member’s time, from student testimonials and leadership remarks to hands-on demonstrations of TRIO in action.

• Branding & Visuals: Outfit students in TRIO swag, create welcome banners, and stage photo-ops that will make headlines.

• Media & Follow-Up Toolkit: Publicize the visit—download our ready-to-use press release and social media post templates, then keep the momentum going with thank-you letters, media clips, and periodic updates.

• Real-World Spotlights: See how programs from Alaska to Nevada have leveraged visits to secure champions on key congressional committees.

The key to TRIO’s success in creating over 6 million first-generation college graduates has been the strength of our community’s advocacy. Be part of our collective effort to fight for more funding to expand access to these life-changing services and programs. Contact your House Representatives and Senators today and tell them that TRIO WORKS!

Take action and tell your Member of Congress how TRIO works! The Take Action Now page will allow you to send a message on current TRIO issues in Congress. Use the toolkit below to stay in constant contact with Congress at each point in the appropriations process.