Other Co-Sponsorships and Grant Opportunities

In addition to our groups’ initial Activities Board allocations, the sources below represent a vast list of available options for groups seeking additional funds in the form of co-sponsorships and grants.

ARTS INITIATIVE — STUDENT ARTS GRANTS

Each semester, the Arts Initiative awards grants to help students create non-curricular arts projects and share their artistic talents with the Columbia community. Past projects have included concerts, cultural showcases, dance performances, literary publications, theater, and visual arts events, among many others. Columbia and Barnard-recognized student groups are eligible to apply. Applications are reviewed once per semester per group/individual.

Please see here for additional information, eligibility criteria and application materials.

THE PRESIDENT’S AND PROVOST’S STUDENT INITIATIVE FUND

The President’s and Provost’s Student Initiative Fund is available to all recognized Columbia University student organizations. It provides financial support to projects which benefit the University community through first-time initiatives that foster inter-group communication, collaboration, and educational programming on campus. While this fund generally supports new and innovative programs, organizations that received funding in the past are encouraged to apply for funding for any new initiatives.  

Each semester the President and Provost make $10,000 available specifically for funding undergraduate initiatives. The review committee currently includes representatives from Columbia College, Barnard College, Columbia School of General Studies, and Columbia Engineering. Each semester this committee is charged with awarding funds to those applications that best align with these goals.  

A project or event should:

  • Be a first-time event and/or program

  • Cross school and university boundaries

  • Benefit the University community

  • Promote inter-group communication and collaboration

  • Be cultural, educational, or social in nature

Please see here for additional information and application materials.

SEAS DEAN TRAVEL FUND

The SEAS Dean Travel Fund is open to SEAS undergraduate student groups that engage in engineering competitions, conferences, or service projects. Domestic travel applications must be submitted at least one month prior to travel dates in order to be considered. International travel applications must be submitted at least two months prior to travel dates in order to be considered.

Once an application is submitted, the travel fund committee will follow-up with the applicant in order to set-up an interview and discuss the funding request in depth. If a trip is funded, the group will then work with the SEAS travel fund team to purchase travel. The applicant is also required to complete a debrief form at least one month after the trip has ended.

Please see here for additional information and application materials.

COLUMBIA COLLEGE STUDENT TRAVEL FUND

The Columbia College Travel Fund provides financial support to currently enrolled Columbia College students for domestic or international travel, networking, competitions, conferences and/or service work connected to recognized student group  activities.

Columbia College Student Council proposed the Columbia College Travel Fund, which is generously financed by the dean of Columbia College and administratively supported by Undergraduate Student Life.

Please see here for additional information and application materials.

CAPITAL INVESTMENT FUND (CIF)

The Capital Investment Fund was created to address the need of student groups who have difficulties securing funding for large-scale overhauls of equipment or supplies.

Such groups only need an injection of supplemental funds every 3-5 years for revamping now-outdated equipment or technology in order to remain modern, effective and/or safe. Examples might include Columbia TV’s need to purchase new cameras or Columbia Kayaking’s need to replace their boats for safety reasons. These groups have struggled to finance necessary purchases because of high overhead and historically-based allocations.

The Capital Investment Fund is capped at $20,000, and awards are granted in the Fall Term and in the Spring Term. Student groups who apply during the Fall Term will be expected to make purchases during the Spring Term, and student groups who apply in the Spring Term will be expected to make purchases during the following Fall Term. A joint committee of the four student council Vice Presidents of Finance, governing board representatives, and relevant administrators will oversee applications and determine how to allocate funds. The funds will come from the budgets of the Columbia College Student Council (CCSC), the Engineering Student Council (ESC), General Studies Student Council (GSSC), and Student Government Association of Barnard (SGA).

Eligible groups are asked to consider their needs carefully to determine whether they are a good fit for the Capital Investment fund. Due to the specialized nature of the fund, a Capital Investment Fund award is only granted to a student group once every three years. The group must prove that the grant will be used to benefit the undergraduate community, such as by elevating the level of event programming, providing academic resources, improving community, promoting wellness or more.

Please email [email protected] for additional information and application instructions.

JOINT COUNCIL FINANCE COMMITTEE (JCFC)

In order to increase campus unity and to better serve student groups, the four undergraduate student councils of Columbia University — Columbia College Student Council (CCSC), Engineering Student Council (ESC), General Studies Student Council (GSSC), and the Student Government Association (SGA) — created a joint committee in Fall 2010: the Joint Council Co-Sponsorship Committee (JCCC).

This fund covers new events, emergency funding and subsized travel for recognized and unrecognized student groups.

Please see here [link TBA] for additional information and application materials.

STUDENT GROUPS CO-SPONSORSHIP

Consult with other student organizations recognized by the University to find groups that may be interested in organizing and co-sponsoring an event with you.

CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS

Corporate Sponsorships must comply with important practices and policies, and therefore, should be discussed with the group's adviser and approved by the appropriate person prior to outreach to the external party. Student organizations seeking to reach out to sponsors for potential funds to support their events and programs draft up a detailed proposal in consultation with their organization’s adviser. The proposal should address the following questions in detail:

  1. Purpose of the sponsorship?

  2. What is the sponsor(s) seeking in return? (i.e. what will your student organization offer in return, if any)? Students must share any proposed agreements from the sponsor(s) and may not sign on behalf of CU.

  3. List all organizations that your student organization plans to reach out to.

  4. Detailed information about your student organization’s event/program.

  5. How does it align with your student organization’s mission?

  6. Is the sponsor(s) seeking a gift receipt for tax purposes?