National Lupus Advocacy Summit: Scholarship Program
The Lupus Foundation of America’s 2026 National Lupus Advocacy Summit will take place April 19-21 at the Westin Downtown in Washington, DC.
Lupus advocates play a critical role in increasing funding for lupus research and enacting policies that ensure people with lupus have access to the care they need. Each year, the National Lupus Advocacy Summit unites the entire lupus community in raising the profile of this challenging disease among legislators in our nation's capital and encouraging them to join our fight against lupus. By hearing directly from people affected by lupus, legislators will better understand the urgency to take action and advance policies that will benefit the lupus community.
2026 Summit Scholarship Program
The Lupus Foundation of America believes that every person with lupus would benefit from attending the Summit, but understands that traveling to Washington, DC to participate can be expensive. To open the Summit up to as many people with lupus as possible, the Foundation created a scholarship program to reduce financial barriers of attending for selected advocates.
New this year: Scholarships are available in two categories--full and partial. Full scholarships are intended for individuals who would otherwise be unable to attend the Summit. Partial scholarships offset a significant portion of the cost, though not all expenses. By selecting the partial scholarship option, you help the Foundation extend scholarship opportunities to more attendees. Scholarships are limited. Applicants are welcome to apply for either option.
Please note that we receive many more applications than we are able to fund, and the review process is highly competitive. For those advocates who do not receive a scholarship, we are pleased to provide a fundraising guide that can help advocates budget for their trip and secure funds to offset or completely cover the costs of their trip to the Summit.
The deadline to apply for a scholarship to attend the 2026 National Lupus Advocacy Summit is January 23, 2026 at 11:59pm EST. We are unable to accept or consider applications submitted after the deadline.
A full scholarship covers the Summit registration fee, travel to and from Washington, DC, and lodging at the Summit's host hotel for 2 nights. For advocates under the age of 18 who receive a scholarship, it will also cover these costs for one parent or guardian.
A partial scholarship covers the Summit registration fee, a $150 travel stipend, and lodging at the Summit's host hotel for 2 nights.
To be eligible for a scholarship to attend the Summit, you must be:
- Living with lupus;
- A U.S. resident;
- Available to travel to Washington, DC for the Summit from April 19-21, 2026;
- Willing and able to share your story with your members of Congress;
- Willing to share your Summit experience (via blog, video, etc.) after the event.
Online applications will be accepted here. The deadline to apply for a scholarship to attend the 2026 Summit will be 11:59 PM EST on January 23, 2026. We are unable to accept or consider applications submitted after the deadline. All scholarship applicants will receive a decision on February 6, 2026.
Even without a scholarship, there are ways that you can offset the cost of your trip to Washington - check out our guide to fundraising to attend the Summit. If you have applied for a scholarship, we do not recommend that you begin fundraising until you receive notice that you have not been selected to receive a scholarship. In the meantime, however, you can plan your fundraising activities so you're ready to begin fundraising immediately should you not receive a scholarship.
All scholarship applicants will receive a decision by February 6, 2026. For those advocates receiving a scholarship, it must be accepted within one week of notification.
For questions about the scholarship program or the Summit, please contact Sara Chang at advocacy@lupus.org.