Money can come in pretty handy when it comes to running your society and
there are LOADS of ways that societies and committees can obtain funding and
generate your own income.
Make sure you get to grips with understanding your finance accounts first by
reading the ‘Treasurer’ guide (for Society Treasurers) or ‘Finance Guide for
Committee Treasurers’ (for Working and Liberation Committee Treasurers) –
all on the Student Group Support Hub.
Societies in debt must book a development meeting with
society.coordinator@sheffield.ac.uk
to discuss income generation. Whilst societies are not given funding to pay
off debt, we can help you with good income generation ideas to help you
organise events that will not lose any further money.
In August your society’s Treasurer will be sent a link to the Annual
Grant opt-in form. If your group wishes to apply for the £50 annual
A-account grant then they will need to submit the form before the
deadline. The form simply asks for your society name and whether you
want the money – easy!
This is to help you prepare for the Intro publicity push and any other
essential things you might need to kick-start the year.
A-account money must be spent during the academic year. Any unspent
money will be re-claimed by the SU in July.
Refer to the Treasurer guide on the Student Group Support Hub to find
out how to spend it.
Societies extra fund (SEF)- societies only
Top-ups during the year! If you are running special events or are in
need of new equipment, apply to SEF.
Applications are assessed by the Societies Committee and the Activities
Officer weekly during term-time.
£300 maximum per application but there are no restrictions on how many
applications you make (A-account).
Please note: you cannot apply for funding AFTER your event, Soc Com does
not accept retrospective funding applications.
For more information on what you can and can't apply for, please take a
look at our guide: 'How to Apply for SEF'.
The New Ideas fund exists to help societies and committees finance
original, innovative events or activities which they have not held
previously. This award has been used to fund trips to perform at
Edinburgh Festival for example.
Applications are assessed by the Societies Committee and the Activities
Officer weekly during term-time.
This can be applied for online throughout the academic year for funding
up to £350 (A-account).
Please note: you cannot apply for funding AFTER your event, Soc Com does
not accept retrospective funding applications
For more information on what you can and can't apply for, please take a
look at our guide: '
How to Apply for NIF'.
Must be for collaborative events/projects, organised by two or more
societies or committees.
Applications are assessed by the Societies Committee and the Activities
& Development Officer weekly during term-time.
This can be applied for online throughout the academic year.
For two groups, the fund is up to £500, for three, up to £600, for four,
up to £700 and for five groups the fund is up to £800!
You can apply to fund an activity or initiative that is organised by two
or more Societies and/or Committees to promote the aims & objectives of
all groups involved. The application for funding must be agreed by all
the groups involved.
Please note: you cannot apply for funding AFTER your event, Soc Com does
not accept retrospective funding applications.
For more information on what you can and can't apply for, please take a
look at our guide: 'How to Apply for COF'.
Does your group, club or society need help with funding? Have you got a
great idea for a project?
The Alumni Foundation understands the importance of extra-curricular
activities and projects. Whether it is in helping students to develop
lifelong skills, connecting with the local community or enhancing the
student experience - the Alumni Foundation is here to help.
The grant-making committee is made up of academic staff, Students’ Union
Officers and representatives from the Alumni community. The Committee
meets four times over the academic year to direct gifts and donations to
areas of need. The Alumni Foundation invites applications for grants from
any current department, group or individual member of the University
(students or staff) for projects and activities that directly benefit
students.
The Foundation has a policy of making a large number of small grants
(usually around £100 to £2,000) to projects and activities that add
life to the University.
These can be to assist sporting, musical, dramatic and cultural
clubs, societies and projects.
To spread resources as widely as possible, the Foundation often
requires applicants to raise part of the funds needed for their
project from alternative sources.
If you are a current student or member of staff with an idea for a
project, a member of a club, society or student group, you might be
eligible for an Alumni Foundation grant.
The panel meets four times a year to discuss applications and the
outcomes of applications will be communicated later in the same
month.
Panel meetings are held 4 times a year: in November, February, May
and August.
Please ensure that you plan in advance when considering funding
options for your event or activity. You can get budgeting advice
from staff in the SU and/or Sport Sheffield if you need to just get
in touch at:
activities@sheffield.ac.uk.
The Alumni Foundation is a grant-making committee which distributes
the philanthropic donations of alumni and friends to the most
deserving recipients.
Since its launch, a variety of projects and activities throughout
the University have benefited from the generosity of our supporters.
The Alumni Foundation can only distribute as much money as it
receives in donations. It is completely reliant upon the generosity
of donors and we are very grateful for their support.
If you would like to support the work of the Alumni Foundation,
please
make a donation
towards student experience.
Since 2003, the Alumni Foundation has helped over 450 clubs and
societies. In previous academic years, we received over 100
applications and awarded 70 grants. Here are just a few clubs and
societies that have benefited:
Ala Archa Expedition (Geography) £1,450.00
Alfred Denny Museum Bird Skull and Egg Exhibition £780.00
American Football £600.00
Artificial Intelligence Society £90.00
Athletics Club £400.00
Belly Dance Society £400.00
Bhangra Society £400.00
Brass Band £150.00
Cycling Club £1,080.00
Equestrian Club £300.00
Futsal Club £450.00
Herbarium £400.00
Lacrosse Club £300.00
Lifesaving Club £180.00
Men's Football £250.00
Mountaineering Club £500.00
Open Space Society £250.00
Scouts and Guides £400.00
Sheffield University Theatre Company £1,500.00
Sheffield World Health Organisation (WHO) Simulation (SheffWHO
2018) £500.00
Speleological Society £750.00
Stand Up and Sketch Comedy Society £350.00
Tamil Society £500.00
Trampolining Club £1,500.00
Uganda WC Project £500.00
Women's Rugby Union £400.00
Has a grant award helped you achieve something you're proud of?
Even if you've already submitted your Grant Report, if you've achieved
something you're particularly proud of, no matter how big or small, let us
know. Send an update and some high-quality photographs to
activities@sheffield.ac.uk.
South Yorkshire community fund
The SYCFF provides grants to support projects that meet the needs of
local people facing economic hardship and other barriers to aspiration.
If you are successful, please contact
society.coordinator@sheffield.ac.uk
as your group will need to collect an appendix to your current
constitution, which states the dissolution clause (should your group
fold – part of the
SYCF criteria).
Please note that volunteering must be approved first by Sheffield
Volunteering.
Hubbub
Hubbub is a website that provides UK students with the opportunity to
attract funding for educational projects based around a range of topics
e.g. media, comedy, science and technology, dance and art and design.
The website allows students to create funding proposals and attract a
range of sponsors. Please note that Hubbub charges a 5% fee.
Every society is strongly advised to charge a minimum of £3 per year to
each society member.
These fees really do add up and are stashed in your B account, so you
can spend it on anything you like for your society.
You can charge membership through the SU website (where the money will
go straight to your B-account) – read the guide ‘Editing your society
webpage’ to find out how. If you still take cash, then keep a list of
those who have paid.
Other societies and committees
By networking with other societies/committees, you could share the cost
of an event and have extra promotion to more members.
Making a profit
Your student group is allowed to make small profits on merchandise or
clothing.
For example, you could sell your hoodies for £2 more than the price you
ordered them for (including postage and packaging). It really adds up!
'Adopt a charity': fundraising with Sheffield RAG
Fundraise with RAG (Raising and Giving) to fundraise for your society or
committee - as well as a local charity that your group can ‘adopt’.
Claim back up to 45% of all the money you fundraise to your society B
account or committee account.
Please see the ‘Adopt a Charity’ guide on the Student Group Support Hub
for more information.
NB Societies can fundraise for charity independently as long as
conditions in the guide ‘Society Charitable Fundraising’ are adhered to.
Working & Committees of the Students’ Union must fundraise for charity
through RAG.
