Each student pays an additional fee on top of tuition, called the Student Activities Fee, to support undergraduate extracurricular and social activities. USG/UDC receive a portion of the Student Activities Fee in order to support the student organizations they recognize. The Finance Committees distribute these funds and tries to ensure an fairness and efficiency.
While the Finance Committees strive for consistency, a number of factors must be considered. The USG budget and available funds can fluctuate based on enrollment and the amount of money spent by organizations in the previous semester. Also, student organization requests vary greatly from semester to semester.
Learn more about USG funding guidelines and financial resources
The Process
Funding occurs on a semester basis and any recognized organization can request funding. The funding process is broken down into two parts:
Mass Funding
Starting the tenth week of the semester and ending the eleventh, groups submit their funding requests for the following semester.
- Submit Requests on CampusGroups.
- Review Funding. Once all requests are in, the Finance Committee will review the requests and allocate funds. Organizations will be notified by the 13th week of the semester.
- Committee Appeals. If an organization isn't satisfied with the funding they receive, they may appeal the decision to the committee. This consists of a short presentation from the group to the committee about why you feel the decision should be changed. Please note: Appeals are not guaranteed.
- USG General Assembly Appeals. If an organization is still not satisfied after the committee appeals, they may appeal to the entire USG General Assembly. This consists of a short speech before the General Assembly about why the decision needs to be changed.
Rolling Funding
Funding also occurs throughout the semester for events and needs during the current semester. Up to the tenth week of the semester, organizations can request additional funding not provided during the previous Mass Funding.
- Submit Requests on CampusGroups.
- Review Funding. The Finance Committee reviews requests at weekly meetings and organizations are notified of the decision.
- Committee Appeals. If an organization isn't satisfied with the funding they receive, they may appeal the decision to the committee. This consists of a short presentation from the group to the committee about why you feel the decision should be changed. Please note: Appeals are not guaranteed.
- USG General Assembly Appeals. If an organization is still not satisfied after the committee appeals, they may appeal to the entire USG General Assembly. This consists of a short speech before the General Assembly about why the decision needs to be changed.
Funding Guidelines
The funding guidelines outline the types of allocations that the Finance Committee frequently makes. They represent the typical allocation decision made by the committee and do not guarantee any funding outcome. Any expense not covered by the guidelines will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis with special attention to other policies.
Semester Funding
These are expenses that aren't tied to a specific date or event, but relate to the functioning of the organization.
Membership dues
Membership in a national, state, or local organization that the group is affiliated with should be funded. These are membership dues for an organization, not individuals.
Capital
These are items that will kept and used for multiple events. Example include: sports equipment, performance uniforms, and tools. The group must provide plan for secure storage of capital, so the items are not lost, damaged, or stolen.
On-Campus Events and Activities
These are expenses for events and activities held on-campus that further to purpose of the organization.
- General event - These are common events organizations hold. Examples include social gatherings, speaker events, picnics/barbeques, and public awareness rallies. These are 90% of the events on campus. These include food, drink, Speaker honorarium, advertising , for example. Specific amounts are available through the guideline links
- Large event - Usually over 75 students attend large events and they commonly attract campus-wide attention.
- Fundraiser - Fundraising is encouraged by the committee and seed money for costs may be funded.
- Performance - These are events which showcase members' talents and entertain the campus. Depending on the size of the production, funding may range up to several thousand dollars.
- Community service - Activities provide a service or assistance to the community in an on-campus setting. While community service is encouraged, they are typically not costly and are funded for less. No direct donations to an organization will be funded.
- Retreats - Retreats are extended on-campus organizational development events meant to strengthen and bring together the membership.
- Meeting - These can be a general body meeting or other widely attended, regularly scheduled meeting. Meetings are rarely funded, but if the meeting(s) is central to the organization's operation, some funds are available
- Hosting a Competition or Conference - Hosting other schools involves many considerations.
Off-Campus Events and Activities
These are expenses for events and activities that are off-campus and require special transportation. A higher level of scrutiny is used. All events must be critical to the functioning of the organization or further their primary purpose.
- Transportation - As-needed basis. Van rental, bus charter. Gas subsidy for extended trips (duration and distance) may be funded. Airfare may be funded only under extreme circumstances.
- Competitions - Activities include participation in a competition with similar organizations. Examples include Model UN, Mock Trial, Fencing Club, or College Trivia competitions.
- Transportation – as-needed basis
- Lodging – as-needed basis
- Fees – as-needed basis
- Conferences - Attendance and participation in a conference is aimed at developing the organization by connecting and learning from similar organizations. They are rarely funded and only under special circumstances.
- Transportation – as-needed basis
- Lodging – as-needed basis
- Food and drinks – not funded
- Fees – as-needed basis
- Community Service - Activities provide a service or assistance to the community in an off-campus setting. No direct donations to an organization will be funded. Priority is given to Cleveland-area locations.
- Transportation – low priority funding, as-needed basis, CECL vans available for free.
- Materials – funded
- Recreational - These are fun and social activities off-campus. Examples include ski trips, rock climbing, or wilderness adventure trips.
- Transportation – as-needed basis
- Lodging – as-needed basis
- Equipment – as-needed basis
- Food and drinks – not funded
- Fees – as-needed basis
Rules and Criteria
Each proposal is evaluated on its merits and taken on a case-by-case basis. However, these are the policies the Finance Committee uses as guidelines to help them make tough decisions. These also help make decisions consistent and fair.
General Criteria
The group's specific request is reviewed based on a number of factors including, but not limited to funding that will:
- Interest the student body at large;
- Educate and inform the student body;
- Encourage diversity and understanding among students;
- Aid humanitarian and community service causes; and
- Promote the University and its students.
Central to the Organization
Does the request fund an expense critical to the effective functioning of the organization? Is the primary purpose of the organization furthered by the event or expense?
Prohibited Items
The USG Finance Committee will not fund the following expenses under any circumstances:
- Student salaries
- Prizes to students
- Fines or cancellation fees
- Plastic water bottles
- Any item available at the Sparta Center
- Direct donations*
- Alcohol*
- Illegal items, weapons, etc.
- Food, event fees, etc. for non-CWRU undergraduates*
- T-shirts/apparel*
- Prizes, trophies,gift cards, awards, giveaways, etc*
*can be purchased with fundraised money
Prohibited Times
Expenses occurring at certain times of the year will not be covered, however exceptions can be made under certain circumstances. Expenses during these times are not funded.
- Before Orientation Week
- After commencement/over the summer
- Fall break, Thanksgiving break, winter break, spring break
The History and Background of a Group
The Finance Committee audits the spending of organizations on a periodic basis. Preference is given to groups that spend their funds efficiently and effectively. Annual or previously held events are also given special attention.
Date, Time, Location, and Expected Attendance
These lines on the funding form must be filled out for an event to be funded, even if they are preliminary. However, an organization must update the committee if the date or location of an event changes.
Rank Priority
Every organization must prioritize their funding requests in rank order, from most important to least important. Greater consideration will be given to top ranked requests, but funding is not guaranteed, nor are lower ranked requests ignored.
Itemization and Detail
Preference is given to requests that itemize their expenses according to the funding guidelines, but provide additional detail and further itemization where necessary. Itemize and provide more information whenever in doubt. Entire event budgets, not just funding requests should be submitted for large events. Also, additional sources of funding for club must be listed.
Fundraising
An organization that fundraises its own money is viewed favorably. Student Organizations will have a separate fundraising income through CampusGroups to account for funds raised.
Reporting of External Funding
All organizations must report all funding from external sources, including the University, Department of Student Affairs, donors, professional organizations, etc. Reporting must be done during mass funding. Any organization that does not report external sources of funding may have funding or recognition privileges revoked.
Fundraising
We strongly encourage organizations to fundraise, so they are less dependent on USG/UDC for income. When a group makes the extra effort to fundraise, it shows dedication and resourcefulness. It doesn't go unnoticed when deciding on funding.
There is assistance available in the Student Activities & Leadership office when developing a fundraising project. From the creation of a proposal to connecting to the proper administrators, all of the steps to successfully raising funds will be covered. Contact Rachel Stegemann for assistance.
Fundraising Ideas
- "Welcome to School" kits
- "Dorm Moving Out" sale
- Art contest
- "Exam Care" packages
- Dunk booth
- Birthday Cake sales
- Karaoke contest
- T-Shirts sales
- Singing telegrams
- Holiday flower sale
- Raffle for evening dinner and entertainment
- Bake Sale
- Dance-a-thon
- Pie-in-the-face
- Balloons
- Pumpkin carving contest
- Poetry night
- Spaghetti dinner
- Candy sales
- Buttons/bumper stickers sales
Deposits and Accounts
All student organizations must deposit all of their cash/checks. An organization is not allowed to hold funds in a bank account or other manner. The fundraised and deposited funds can be spent however the organization decides, as long as the use does not violate any policies of the Student Code of Conduct. The deposited funds are kept separate from USG funds and are kept intact from semester to semester.
Funds must be deposited with the Student Activities & Leadership Office. Please contact Rachel Stegemann at 216.368.2679 or via email at res200@case.edu to coordinate a meeting time to make a deposit.
If you need to know your organization's account balance, contact one of the organization's officers who can ascertain this information through CampusGroups.