The Future of TRIO is in Your Hands

What is the TRIO PAC?
The TRIO PAC (https://www.triopac.org/) is a registered federal political action committee focused on supporting leaders in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives who are strong advocates for college opportunity.  The PAC is deeply committed to being bipartisan.  To the extent possible, funds raised by the PAC will be utilized to support low-income, first-generation students’ and college opportunity professionals’ participation in the campaigns of advocates who are in competitive races.

Why is it called the TRIO PAC?
TRIO is a set of five federal programs – the first of which is Upward Bound–that provide students the help they need to learn about college, prepare and apply for college and financial aid, and graduate once they enroll. From 1968-1972, there were three programs. The official name, Special Programs for Students from Disadvantaged Backgrounds, was too long and the programs became unofficially known as TRIO.  When a fourth program was added in 1972, people continued to call the programs TRIO and the name was officially changed to the Federal TRIO programs in 1992. 

Are TRIO Programs race-based?
No, TRIO programs serve students based on family income and parents’ education.  

What will the monies raised by the TRIO PAC be used for? 
Monies will be used to support the involvement of students participating in federal college opportunity programs and college access professionals working in these programs in 2026 House and Senate races.  Monies will most often be used to:

• Support the development and utilization of digital messaging focused on the federal role in postsecondary education and the efforts of candidates to advance college opportunity;

• Canvassing on behalf of candidates identified by the PAC; and

• Candidate-specific get-out the vote activities.

Why shouldn’t I just give money to candidates I support?  Why the TRIO PAC?
Money given to campaigns too often ends up supporting television, digital media and other ads that are repeated over and over. Supporting the TRIO PAC amplifies your belief in the importance of federal college opportunity programs. Money given to the TRIO PAC will be used to support getting out the vote activities focused on hard-to-reach communities such as young people, people in rural areas, and individuals in communities with high concentrations of limited income individuals. This focus has the added benefit of introducing young people and adults from low-income communities to their power and their right to have their voices heard. 

How will the PAC decide what candidates to support?
The PAC will support candidates who have been leaders in the fight for postsecondary opportunity who are in hard fought races – either primaries or general elections.  Every contributor to the PAC will receive notice of the candidates supported in 2026.

Why is the PAC Bipartisan?
Both Republicans and Democrats have been leaders in the fight for college opportunity. It is critical to maintain this bipartisan agreement for the long-term future of college opportunity.