Frequently Asked Questions
For universities, academic leaders, industry, associations, professional societies, nonprofits, and individuals interested in strengthening U.S. engineering research and workforce development.
Updated July 2026
Membership at a Glance
CUE is an incorporated 501(c)(4) organization with three annual membership levels.
| Membership Level | Annual Dues | Core Participation |
|---|---|---|
| Affiliate | $5,000 | Annual meeting, four federal update webinars, and optional identification on external CUE communications. |
| General Member | $10,000 | Affiliate benefits plus a weekly federal briefing memo, input at the annual meeting, and coordination for Hill visits and policy materials. |
| Leadership Circle | $20,000 | General Member benefits plus agenda-setting responsibilities, quarterly meetings, and an annual policy retreat. |
About CUE
What is the Coalition for U.S. Engineering?
The Coalition for U.S. Engineering (CUE) is a national advocacy coalition created to be a unified voice for the U.S. engineering community. CUE advocates for targeted increases in federal investment in engineering research and workforce development.
Why was CUE created?
Engineering is essential to turning scientific discoveries into technologies, products, infrastructure, and skilled jobs. CUE was formed because the engineering community needs a focused, coordinated voice that can consistently explain this value to Congress, federal agencies, and the White House.
Is CUE focused only on universities?
No. Universities are central to CUE's founding and mission, but the coalition's strategy depends on collaboration among research universities, community and technical colleges, industry, nonprofits, associations, professional societies, state and local partners, and other stakeholders in the engineering ecosystem.
Does CUE represent a particular engineering discipline?
No. CUE is intentionally cross-disciplinary. Its work spans engineering fields and national priority areas that require contributions from multiple disciplines.
How is CUE different from an engineering professional society or higher-education association?
CUE complements, rather than replaces, existing organizations. Its distinctive role is sustained federal advocacy for engineering research and workforce investment, backed by coordinated institutional, geographic, technical, and industry examples.
Is CUE affiliated with the federal government or NSF?
No. CUE is an independent 501(c)(4) advocacy organization. It advocates before federal policymakers and agencies but is not part of NSF or any other government entity.
Who provides CUE's federal advocacy support?
Van Scoyoc Associates serves as CUE's federal advocacy team, supporting lobbying, strategic planning, policy materials, legislative drafting, federal engagement, member communications, meetings, and fly-ins.
Membership and Benefits
Are membership dues annual?
Yes. The membership levels presented by CUE are annual. Prospective members should contact CUE for billing timing, renewal terms, and any midyear onboarding questions.
What do membership dues support?
Initial dues support federal advocacy and strategic services, accounting, legal and administrative needs, website and communications services, policy materials, meetings, information exchange, legislative drafting, internal and external communications, and fly-in coordination.
How does additional membership strengthen CUE?
A larger membership allows CUE to broaden its geographic and technical reach and may support dedicated staff, fly-in expenses, communications capacity, independent economic-impact studies, policy research, recruitment, partnerships, webinars, and working groups.
Can an organization change membership levels?
Yes. If you join as an affiliate for your first year and decide you'd like to further participate in an outsized role, you can upgrade your membership level in the following year.
Will a member's name automatically appear on every CUE communication?
No. CUE materials state that names may be attached to external-facing communications if desired. CUE will coordinate public identification and coalition sign-on activity with participating organizations.
Does membership require endorsing every CUE position?
Membership reflects support for CUE's mission and collaborative advocacy. CUE coordinates coalition positions through its governance process and should give members appropriate visibility into public statements; organizations remain responsible for their own institutional positions and approvals.
Can more than one person from an organization participate?
Yes. Organizational participation may involve engineering leadership, government relations, research administration, communications, finance, and subject-matter experts. Access to particular meetings or materials may depend on the membership tier and event.
Should an institution involve its government relations team?
Yes. CUE encourages coordination with institutional government relations teams so federal outreach is accurate, well timed, and consistent with each member's policies and relationships.
Are CUE materials public or member-only?
CUE produces both external-facing advocacy materials and member programming. Public materials may be shared broadly, while briefings, meeting discussions, strategy materials, and other member services may be limited according to membership level.
Does a university need an existing NSF ERC to participate?
No. CUE welcomes institutions with current or past ERC experience as well as institutions seeking stronger center-scale research, infrastructure, education, and workforce opportunities.
What types of university stories should members share?
Useful examples include ERC outcomes, research translated into products or services, industry partnerships, startups, regional economic impact, engineering workforce shortages, student pathways, infrastructure needs, and research connected to national priorities.
Why should industry participate in CUE?
Industry can help document real workforce needs, technical bottlenecks, supply-chain challenges, commercialization pathways, and the value of university-industry research partnerships. That evidence makes the federal case for engineering investment more concrete.
Can organizations partner with CUE without becoming full members?
CUE may work with aligned organizations on outreach, events, information sharing, and specific advocacy objectives. The scope of any partnership should be confirmed directly with CUE.
Governance, Advocacy, and Communications
How are CUE's priorities set?
Leadership Circle Members set the coalition's agenda and direction, supported by quarterly meetings and an annual policy retreat. General Members can provide input on policy priorities and direction at the annual meeting.
How does CUE engage federal policymakers?
CUE's advocacy may include meetings with congressional authorizers and appropriators, federal agencies, and the White House; policy papers and legislative materials; briefings; coalition letters; fly-ins; and coordinated local engagement.
Legal, Tax, and Funding Questions
What does CUE's 501(c)(4) status mean?
According to IRS guidance, a section 501(c)(4) social-welfare organization may lobby in furtherance of its exempt purpose. This structure supports CUE's role as an advocacy coalition.
Can federal grant funds be used to pay CUE dues?
Members should not charge CUE dues or related lobbying costs to a federal award unless specifically permitted. Federal cost principles generally treat lobbying costs and membership in organizations whose primary purpose is lobbying as unallowable. See also 2 CFR 200.454. Institutions should use appropriate non-federal or otherwise unrestricted funds and consult their grants-compliance offices.
Can a 501(c)(3) organization participate in or join CUE?
Participation may be possible, but each organization must evaluate the activity under its own tax status, governing documents, lobbying limits, and funding restrictions. Joining CUE does not change the member organization's tax status or compliance obligations.
Who is responsible for lobbying and ethics compliance?
CUE is responsible for its organizational filings and advocacy compliance. Each member remains responsible for its own approvals, gift and ethics rules, lobbying disclosures, funding restrictions, employee-activity rules, and recordkeeping.
Questions not answered here? Email Holten Stringer at hstringer@vsadc.com or visit www.cuedc.org.
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