The Alma Ostrom and Leah Hopkins Awan Civic Education Fund was developed to expand the Associations promotion of democratic engagement.  This commitment has been and will continue to be expressed in efforts to advance our understanding of self-governing systems, the possibilities of moving from authoritarian to democratic systems, and the role of informed citizens in enhancing the adaptive capability of democratic systems to ever-changing environments.

The Alma Ostrom and Leah Hopkins Awan Civic Education Endowment, named in honor of Elinor and Vincent Ostrom's mothers, will support training seminars, publication, out-reach activities, and research that improves the training of political scientists related to the critical role of citizens in a democratic polity.