Greetings, Guest | Login
ASCIT Donut

Services

ASCIT

Publications

Committees

Caltech Club Resource Handbook

Fundraising

The funding sources listed in the first half of this section are fairly well-established and well-advertised; the ones near the end with less information are included for the sake of completeness, and may be mere rumours. Clubs seeking funding would do well to contact other organizations that may not actively advertise and run specific support programs.

General Funding

Dues

This may seem obvious. However, it's rather difficult to convince people to give up their money. To get around this, some clubs offer their dues-paying members discounted event admission and let non-members attend at cost.

ASCIT

ASCIT spends roughly $5000 on club funding each year. To be eligible, you must have some unknown but substantial number of ASCIT members in your club. (All undergraduates become ASCIT members by default when they enroll at Caltech. It is possible, but rare for students to drop ASCIT membership.)

A proposal includes a cover letter, roster, the previous year's fiscal reports, a proposed budget, and a calendar of events. Funding proposals are usually due in early April; check for fliers and ASCIT directory emails.

Awards seem to range between $60-$500 per year, and are distributed three times a year, at the beginning of each term.

GSC

To be eligible for GSC Club Funding, the club must:

  1. be open to all graduate students, and be willing to advertise all its events as such
  2. be listed on the main Caltech website and in the Technique
  3. maintain clear andn accurate financial records
  4. have previously conntacted the GSC to let them know of the club's existence
  5. seek additional funding from other organizations

More detailed information is available on the GSC website. Annual proposals are usually due in the beginning of September.

Equipment Funding

Student Investment Fund

The Student Investment Fund (SIF) is unique in that it is the only on-campus organization that specifically offers funding for durable equipment. Notably, team uniforms are not a valid request; proposals for common-use equipment seem to have better chances for consideration. Additionally, as of 2005, all equipment purchased with SIF cannot be used for fundraising.

SIF proposal requirements include:

  1. A club roster that distinnguishes between active and inactive members
  2. A calendar of events
  3. A budget for the next year
  4. A list of the previous year's events, and accompanying fiscal records

Refer to the SIF website for a cover letter and more details.

SIF proposals are due at the beginning of third term (early April), and the program is usually advertised through Directory email.

SIF Website

Moore and Hufstedler Funds

MHF funds can be used for buying equipment or for funding new initiatives (see below). Note that equipment purchased with MHF funds belongs to Caltech, and must be treated like a rented or borrowed good.

Refer to the MHF website for detailed proposal guidelines, past proposals, and deadlines. MHF allocates awards at the beginning of each quarter. Generally, the deadline for submitting a proposal coincides with the beginning of the previous quarter, and the committee's final decisions are announced near its end.

MHF Website

Single Events and New Initiatives

Many organizations set aside money specifically for new activities, or ideas that may come up after the end of the general fund proposal period:

GSC

The GSC has a "Quickfunding" program with well-defined application procedures and requirements. Proposals must be submitted via email at least 24 hours before the event, and can request any amount up to $300.

The GSC also runs "Scientists as Citizens of the World", which sets aside money for clubs to invite speakers to campus who "raise awareness and foster debate on topics of ethics in science, of the social consequences of scientific research, and philosophical implications of scientific discoveries." Preference is given to funding smaller requests (under $250) or local speakers.

Proposal requirements for both programs are the same; refer to the Quickfunding Approval Guidelines.

ASCIT

A portion of ASCIT's club budget is set aside for "special club events". (In 2004-2005, the amount was $1899, but this may increase in 2005 due to an increase in ASCIT dues)

To request special club funding, you must attend a BoD meeting to register your interest and present an event budget. Although the ASCIT BoD currently does not have established proposal guidelines, you should ideally provide them with the same information that the GSC requests.

Meetings are held weekly on the Olive Walk; check the California Tech for the meeting day and time, which may vary between terms. Check the ASCIT minutes in the California Tech for information on meeting dates and times.

MHF

The majority of MHF funds are awarded to larger, more expensive projects that cannot easily obtain money from other student organizations, but a few smaller events have won MHF approval in the past. Refer to the MHF website for detailed proposal guidelines, past proposals, and deadlines.

MHF allocates awards at the beginning of each quarter. Generally, the deadline for submitting a proposal coincides with the beginning of the previous quarter, and the committee's final decisions are announced near its end.

MHF Website

Alumni Association

It is possible (and a popular option) for any student organization to apply for event funding from the Alumni Association at any time of year. They sometimes advertise formal club funding programs; the last one was held in January 2004.

2004 Alumni Fund Site

Student Affairs Program Fund

The SAP fund provides funding for "social, cultural, and recreational events and activities that encourage participation from the student community." Instead of approaching them directly, you must obtain guidance and approval from one of its many satellite offices:

  • Athletics
  • Career Development
  • Counseling
  • Fellowships and Study Abroad
  • Graduate Studies Office
  • Health Center
  • International Student Programs
  • Minority Student Education
  • Performing and Creative Arts
  • Campus Life
  • Undergraduate Deans
  • Women's Center

A SAPF cover letter, guidelines, and list of eligible offices may be obtained from their site. The submission deadline is 3 weeks before the event.

SAPF Website

Caltech Y

The Caltech Y's funding program is similar to Student Affair's, and both reference the other, but you may apply to them concurrently. The proposal deadline is 11am on the Monday 2 weeks before your event, and you must attend the Caltech Y excomm meeting at 12pm to discuss your club's activities with the student board.

The Caltech Y co-sponsorship form is available on their website.

President's Diversity Fund

Events that support campus diversity (e.g. those that raise awareness or provide support for women and ethnic or racial minorities) are encouraged to apply to the President's Diversity Fund.

"The Fund provides support for new diversity initiatives...large or small and may be for short-term or longer-term projects. For example, they may involve starting a program, partial support of a larger program (either new or continuing) that addresses diversity among its goals, or funding for a single event."

Proposals consist of a 2-5 page written component and 2 letters of support from Caltech administration or faculty. The fund has rolling submission deadlines, and proposals are usually evaluated within 2 months of submission.

Website

Informal Sources

Interhouse Committee/Undergraduate Student Houses

The IHC is made of the seven undergraduate student house presidents, who meet to discuss inter-house communications and general undergraduate student life issues.

The IHC doesn't actually have any money, and is only listed here because some offices seem to think they do. Individual houses have money, which comes mainly from membership dues. Thus, it is very difficult to get money unless your club activities will strongly benefit house members.

If your activity does fall into this category, you can ask for money by contacting the house treasurer, who will usually then call a meeting with other house officers. House officers are listed in the little t or on house websites.

IHC Website

MOSH

The Master of Student Houses provides support to organizations that primarily affect undergraduate life. The current MOSH (as of 2007) is Catherine Jurca.

President's Office

It's rumored that you can ask the Caltech President (currently Dr. Jean-Lou Chameau) for funding, separate from the President's Diversity Fund.

Provost's Office

It's also rumored that you can ask the Caltech Provost (currently Dr. Edward Stolper) for funding.

UG and Grad Housing

Although Housing is technically part of Campus Life (and by that extension, a satellite of Student Affairs), it may be worthwhile to approach Housing for funds if you have an event that will primarily benefit students in Caltech housing (e.g. campus parties.)

Housing Contacts

Caltech Public Events Sponsorship

If your organization is planning a public event that has the potential to appeal to a larger audience (such as a cultural performance or speaker), you may want to consider asking Caltech Public Events for sponsorship.

  • Website
  • Genenral Inquiries: events@its