On October 21—22, 2025, TechCongress and S&T Impact Advisory Group convened science and tech policy fellowship (STPF) leaders, National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) seed grantees and partners representing 13 states (AZ, CO, IN, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, PA, VA, WI and WV) for a pre-conference ahead of the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s (AAAS) 49th Forum on Science and Technology Policy. During the pre-conference, participants collaborated on charting a course for integrating technology verticals with state legislature STPF programs. Over two days, participants networked and engaged in dialogues centered on the individual components of STPF fellowship offerings and attendant strategies for implementation, from fundraising and budgeting to recruitment and advocacy.
Follow along for a recap of our inaugural Legislative Futures Forum!
Photo credit: David Starry, David Starry Photography
Day 1: October 21, 2025
We marked the launch of the Forum with an evening reception at Oyamel in Washington D.C., where TechCongress, S&T Impact Advisory Group, Forum participants and partners met for an evening of networking ahead of a full day of programming.
Photo credit: David Starry, David Starry Photography
Day 2: October 22, 2025
Opening
At the Forum’s opening, Travis Moore (Executive Director, TechCongress) and Hallie Thompson (CEO, S&T Impact Advisory Group), welcomed participants and outlined the day’s agenda.
Participants could expect to engage in exercises and dialogues surrounding:
Fundraising Fundamentals, and Building Your Budget
S&T Impact Advisory Group’s Interactive Dashboard
Designing Shared Services & Building a Recruitment Process
A Participant-led Unconference
The group recognized the heightened momentum—catalyzed by pioneer programs such as Missouri’s MOST Policy Initiative—driving the growth of STPF programs. Among the states represented were fellowships with established tech verticals, recipients of NCSL seed funding to launch STPF programs, and groups interested in starting new programs. In 2025, NCSL disbursed planning grants to accelerate STPF fellowship implementation, helping expand technical capacity across a range of state legislatures nationwide. NCSL provided an overview of the monthly webinars they convene—available to current and prospective STPF programs—for dialogue and learning. Moreover, attendees were reminded of NCSL’s shared ecosystem of resources and tools that can be used to guide sustained implementation. TechCongress looks forward to continued collaborations with NCSL to support the implementation and design of STPF tech verticals.
The group’s diversity of experience cultivated fertile ground for thorough conversations and exchanges of ideas. Sustained collaboration and knowledge sharing were underscored as the drivers of effective state-level governance.
Photo credit: David Starry, David Starry Photography
Photo credit: David Starry, David Starry Photography
Fundraising Fundamentals, and Building Your Budget
Fundraising was cited as the biggest challenge facing current and prospective STPF programs. Participants discussed tactics, templates and lessons conducive to building a successful organizational fundraising model. This began with a conversation on articulating an organizational theory of change predicated on needs assessments and desired outcomes for individual states as the core of a successful strategy.
Exchanges among the group centered on comparisons and contrasts distinguishing various state legislatures, and the need to fundraise around unique contexts in lieu of adopting a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
Using a sample line-by-line budget template as an example, participants explored the components of a comprehensive fellowship budget. A selection of resources available to program leaders for creating and executing a budget were shared, in addition to the range of strategic and programmatic considerations that inform the makeup of an organizational budget. Participants expressed particular interest in tactics for operationalizing their budgets, such as by fundraising early for necessary expertise and strengthening internal capacities for sustained development.
Photo credit: David Starry, David Starry Photography
S&T Impact Dashboard Demo
Next, S&T Impact Advisory Group presented their interactive map of ongoing and developing STPF programs in 19 states. This map was co-developed with program leaders and contains a plethora of state-specific resources, knowledge and contact information. As a visual guide, the dashboard provides a navigable overview of STPF capacities and will continue to be populated with new and evolving STPF programs.
Photo credit: David Starry, David Starry Photography
Designing Shared Services & Building a Recruitment Process
Dialogues surrounding existing pools of shared resources available to STPF program leaders preceded a joint presentation with AAAS on planning for and executing a recruitment strategy. This included an “asks/offers” exercise, whereby participants shared—and responded to—the most pressing needs and challenges they face when operating their programs. The crux of this exercise revolved around states contributing their own knowledge and resources to foster sustained collaboration, and partnership opportunities beyond the Forum.
Photo credit: David Starry, David Starry Photography
Strategies and tactics for implementing a fellowship are contingent on guidelines, toolkits and network connections that maximize reach and applicant engagement. A shared forum for circulating and co-authoring these materials fosters cooperation and iterative growth. Aleena Khan (Senior Program Manager, TechCongress) and Mehrab Sarwar (Recruitment Director, AAAS) shared their respective experiences planning cyclical recruitment strategies.
This began a conversation among the group about the importance of building relationships with civil society organizations, universities, and the full spectrum of partners who can amplify recruitment efforts. Moreover, exercises on articulating fellowship value offerings to prospective fellows and the various application portals available for use were discussed.
Photo credit: David Starry, David Starry Photography
Unconference and Closing
The Forum concluded with a participant-led unconference, where attendees probed an array of topics for deep dives and constructive discussions. Numerous insights paved the way for granular, procedural questions pertinent to fundraising, program management, strategy setting and best practices for fellow placement.
Photo credit: David Starry, David Starry Photography
In closing, participants were thanked for their attendance and valuable contributions to the Forum’s discussions. Insights gleaned from preceding conversations and interactive exercises were documented and will guide future collaborations as states continue to expand the breadth and scope of their programs.
TechCongress is a technology policy nonprofit that helps Congress meet the demand for tech expertise through our Congressional Innovation Fellowships. S&T Impact Advisory Group supports emerging and established science and technology advising programs across the U.S. to increase scientists and technologists' involvement in government and policymaking. The Legislative Futures Forum was led by TechCongress and S&T Impact Advisory Group, in partnership with AAAS.