Leverage the Double Pell Alliance (over 1,200 organizations) to run a public campaign highlighting stories of students for whom a larger Pell would be life-changing.
Use the Double Pell Alliance to run a sustained public campaign that makes the affordability gap vivid and politically costly to ignore. Pair stories of students who struggle with tuition, food, and housing costs with clear explanations of what a Pell increase and indexing would change. This matters now because public support is broad, the coalition is already organized, and recent Pell changes show policy can move.
Why this works
- Personal stories can sway key lawmakers and galvanize public pressure.
- The idea of doubling Pell polls extremely well across party lines, so a campaign can give political cover to legislators to support it.
The Institute for College Access & Success
Tax-deductibleImproving college affordability and outcomes for students
Mechanism
About MediaHow The Institute for College Access & Success uses funding
- Coordinate with Double Pell Alliance organizations to align messaging and targets
- Build a story bank of students facing gaps and highlight how higher Pell supports basic costs
- Pair stories with simple explanations of indexing and part-time eligibility improvements
- Run earned media and rapid-response to counter misinformation about how aid affects tuition
- Mobilize supporters to contact lawmakers during key budget and legislative windows
- Track narrative and legislative signals and adjust the campaign focus as needed
Milestones
Checkpoints and the expected timing for each step
- 1
Align coalition messaging and campaign calendar
Near-termAlliance partners agree on shared messages and target decision points
- 2
Launch story bank and media assets
Near-termStories and explainers are published and distributed across partners
- 3
Run a pressure push during a budget window
Mid-termLawmakers receive coordinated constituent outreach and endorsements
- 4
Rapid-response to misinformation and attacks
Mid-termCoalition responds quickly with consistent rebuttals and facts
- 5
Secure a legislative win and communicate impact
Longer-termPell changes advance and the campaign explains what students should expect