Domestic Chapter Membership Recruitment Grant Program 2023 Criteria

To help stimulate recruitment efforts for domestic chapters, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) launched the Domestic Chapter Membership Recruitment Grant Program in November 2020. The aim of the program is to financially support domestic chapters seeking to increase chapter revenue from dues-eligible Fellows and Associate Fellows.

Chapters may request up to $1,000 under this program. Chapters must match at least 50% of the requested amount. For example, if a chapter applies for $1,000, a $500 contribution from the chapter is required.

Chapters must meet the following criteria to apply for a grant:

• Be an ACS chapter in the United States or Canada
• Have completed the most recent Chapter Annual Report (currently 2022 year)
• Have a valid EIN number and be current with IRS tax returns (US chapters only)

Chapters must complete a brief online application, which requires the following information:

• Chapter name and contact information
• Name and role of at least one Chapter Officer who champions application
• List recruitment goals for 2023
• Overview of how the grant funds will be used to recruit dues-paying Fellows and Associate Fellows
• Detailed budget for how the funds will be used
• Grant amount requested from ACS and the chapter match
• List of current dues-paying Fellows and Associate Fellows

Chapters may apply for the Recruitment Grant throughout the year. All grant applications must be submitted via Recruitment Grant Application Form.

All reasonable recruitment initiatives will be considered provided they target dues-eligible Fellows and Associate Fellows. We want chapter leaders to use their imaginations so that successful recruitment initiatives can be shared with the chapter community.

• Subsidizing dues for a targeted member category
• Initiatives involving medical students
• Initiatives involving residents or those in fellowship except for aiding to transition them to Associate Fellows
• Initiatives involving retired or senior Fellows unless they are eligible to pay dues to the chapter
• Advocacy and lobby day initiatives

Chapters will be required to provide a report on how the grant funds were used and the overall impact the funds had on increasing dues-eligible members. Chapters will be ineligible to apply for grants in subsequent years until the report is submitted. Grants should be spent within a year of them being approved.

Funds that chapters receive but are unused after a year will be returned to the ACS.

All grant applications must be submitted via Recruitment Grant Application Form.

All questions about the grant program should be directed to Luke Moreau at lmoreau@facs.org or 312-965-2922.