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FINANCE FOR STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Every year, all registered organizations on campus have the opportunity to submit a budget and receive funds from the Student Association.
ALLOCATION PROCESS
General allocations
Each spring, student organizations submit to the Finance Committee their proposed budgets for the coming year. The Finance Committee then deliberates on these budget requests and, in accordance with the Bylaws, allocates no more than 70 percent of the total SA budget for the coming fiscal year. FY18’s budget was about $1.7 million, and about $887,000 was allocated initially (~70 percent of $1.7 million). Typically, around $5 million is requested by organizations for their initial budgets. Because of this, almost no organization ever receives 100 percent of their general allocations request.
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Appeals
Organizations dissatisfied with their budgetary allocation may file an appeal within a set timeframe, which occurs shortly after allocations are announced. They can also request a more detailed explanation from the Committee explaining how the Committee arrived at the relevant budgetary allocation, and if this explanation is satisfactory, they may cancel their appeal. Appeals are handled by the Allocations Appeals Committee, which is comprised of the Leadership Committee (minus the Finance Chair and Vice-Chair) as well as, in a non-voting role, the Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion. The AAC reviews only original, unmodified budgets – no changes can be made by the organizations between their original submission and their subsequent appeal. The AAC then, by simple majority, votes to either affirm or modify the Finance Committee’s allocations in line-item form. In accordance with the Bylaws, the AAC may not allocate more than 5 percent of the total SA budget. About $88,000 was disbursed by the AAC in spring 2017 (~5 percent of $1.7 million).
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Food at events
The Finance Committee only considers funding food during general allocations if it is cultural or religious food at relevant cultural or religious events put on by relevant cultural or religious organizations (only those that self-selected the Cultural/Ethnic & Religious cohort, as this is the self-defined purpose and nature of their organization). Funding for all other food shall only be considered during supplemental allocations under Bylaw 303, Section 1(e).
CO-SPONSORSHIPS AND MICRO-LOANS
HOW TO REQUEST A CO-SPONSORSHIP?
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What is a co-sponsorship? It's a request for funding of an on-campus event open to all GW students. Your request is considered by the SA Senate Finance committee.
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My organization wants to ask for a co-sponsorship. How?
Step 1: Login to OrgSync and select your organization.
Step 2: Select "Treasury" from the dropdown menu and navigate to "Manage Budgets."
Step 3: Create a new budget by selecting "New Budget."
Step 4: Under the Budget item tab, select "SA Co-Sponsorship Request" from the dropdown.
Step 5: From there, fill out the request and click "Submit." You're done!
Once you submit the request, you should expect to get a decision from the Finance committee in a few weeks. As with all other requests, be as detailed as possible.
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HOW TO REQUEST A MICRO-LOAN?
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What is a micro loan? It's a request for a loan to a student organization. Your request is considered by the SA Senate Finance committee.
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My organization wants to ask for a micro-loan. How?
Step 1: Login to OrgSync and select your organization.
Step 2: Select "Treasury" from the dropdown menu and navigate to "Manage Budgets."
Step 3: Create a new budget by selecting "New Budget."
Step 4: Under the Budget item tab, select "SA Loan Request" from the dropdown.
Step 5: From there, fill out the request and click "Submit." You're done!
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Once you submit the request, you should expect to get a decision from the Finance committee in a few weeks. As with all other requests, be as detailed as possible.
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LINE ITEM TRANSFERS
HOW TO REQUEST A LINE ITEM TRANSFER?
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What is a line item transfer? You may find that you have under/over estimated costs for parts of your program. Line Item Transfers may be used to transfer allocated funds from one category to the same category within an approved program (i.e. General Supplies to General Supples; not General Supplies to Food).
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My organization wants to ask for a line item transfer. How?
Step 1: Login to OrgSync and select your organization.
Step 2: Select "Forms" from the menu and navigate to the "SA Annual Allocation Line Item Transfer Request" document.
Step 3: Click "Begin Form" and fill out the request. You're done!
Once you submit the request, you should expect to get a decision from the Finance committee in a few days or weeks.
As with all other requests, be as detailed as possible.