2026-27 GSC Student and Departmental Group Funding Instructions

GSC Funding for Student Groups & Departmental Groups

The Harvard Griffin GSAS Student Council (GSC) provides funding to recognized Student Groups and Departmental Groups for events, recurring programming, meetings, supplies, and other activities that support the Harvard Griffin GSAS community.

This guide focuses on funding for Student Groups and Departmental Groups. It does not cover individual GSC grants for conference attendance, summer research, or January@GSAS mini-courses. Information about those grants is available in this article.

Who Can Apply?

Student Groups

Only Student Groups recognized by Harvard Griffin GSAS are eligible for GSC Student Group funding. Student Groups are independent of a Harvard department, division, or program; their leadership must consist entirely of Harvard Griffin GSAS students, and a majority of their membership must be Harvard Griffin GSAS students.

Student Groups must complete the Annual Student Group Renewal process through the Student Center each fall to remain active and eligible for funding.

View recognized Student Groups on Engage.

Departmental Groups

Departmental Groups are affiliated with a Harvard department, division, or program and must have the official support of that academic unit. They are generally expected to receive at least 50% of their funding from their affiliated department, division, or program.

The GSC maintains a separate Departmental Group funding pool equal to 15% of each funding cycle's group-funding budget. GSC awards to Departmental Groups are processed through the group's affiliated department, division, or program rather than directly to the student group.

Departmental Groups must provide current leadership and departmental contact information to the Student Center each academic year to remain active on Engage and eligible for GSC funding.

View Departmental Groups on Engage.

Starting or Reactivating a Group

• New Student Groups: contact the Student Center for guidance on preparing a proposal for consideration at a GSC Deans' Meeting.
• GSC Start-Up Fund: newly approved Student Groups may request up to $200 for start-up expenses. Indicate that your group is newly formed in your first funding application.
• Reactivating a Student Group: contact the Student Center before applying for funding.
• New Departmental Groups: Click here for how to apply and then complete the Departmental Group Engage form.

Questions about group recognition, renewal, or reactivation can be directed to the Student Center at stugroups@fas.harvard.edu.

2026–2027 Funding Deadlines

Student Groups and Departmental Groups follow the same GSC funding deadlines. Your completed Budget Request must be submitted by the applicable deadline.

What Can GSC Funding Support?

Examples of fundable expenses include:

• Expenses associated with regular group meetings
• Ongoing or recurring programming and events
• Pamphlets or other materials explaining the group's purpose
• Programming that appeals to students from more than one department
• Other reasonable expenses that directly support the programming described in the funding application

There is no stated maximum request amount. However, every expense should be reasonable, clearly itemized, and justified in the application.

GSC funding may be used only for the event, program, or expenses described in the approved application.

Expenses the GSC Does Not Fund

The following list is not exhaustive:

• Group luxuries, such as executive board dinners
• Unreasonably expensive airfare
• Payment for executive board members' duties
• Honoraria or gifts for conference speakers
• Expenses associated with bank accounts
• Web accounts or general website management

If you are uncertain whether an expense is eligible, contact the GSC Treasurer before submitting your Budget Request.

How to Apply

All GSC Student Group and Departmental Group funding applications are submitted as Budget Requests through Engage.

1. Open your Student Group or Departmental Group's back-end Dashboard on Engage.
2. Go to Money > Budgeting. Make sure to select GSC Student and Departmental Groups Grant on the left, and select Create Budget Request.
3. Select GSC Funding and provide a clear title and description for the request.
4. Enter a complete itemized budget. Each requested expense should be listed separately and clearly explained.
5. Complete the required GSC supplemental form.
6. Review the application and submit the Budget Request by the applicable funding deadline.

Applications must be submitted on time, completed in full, and accompanied by a comprehensive itemized budget.

If your group is requesting funding for more than one event, there is no upper limit on the number of events that may be considered, but complete information must be provided for each proposed event.

How Applications Are Evaluated

The GSC Funding Committee is chaired by the GSC Treasurer and includes additional Harvard Griffin GSAS students. Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and are subject to the funding available in each cycle.

The committee considers six primary criteria:

1. Inclusivity: how accessible and inclusive the proposed programming is to the relevant Harvard Griffin GSAS community.
2. Reasonableness: whether costs are appropriate and the group has made a sincere effort to minimize expenses.
3. Specificity: whether the application clearly explains how the requested funds will be used.
4. Creativity: the distinctiveness or value of the proposed programming.
5. Track record: whether the group has completed required reporting for previously funded initiatives.
6. Other funding sources: the amount of support the group can reasonably obtain elsewhere.

Groups are encouraged to collaborate. The GSC aims to allocate approximately 15% of Student Group funding to collaborative events and approximately 15% of the Departmental Group funding pool to collaborative events.

After You Receive an Award

Claim Your Funding Within Three Months

Students and groups have three months from the date of the GSC grant award email to complete the required steps to claim their funds.

Depending on the award, this may include completing payment paperwork, Buy2Pay requirements, Budget Requests, or correspondence with the Student Center or your department administrator.

If the required steps are not completed within three months, the award will be rescinded and payment will not be issued.

Payment

• Student Groups: checks expire six months after issue and will not be reissued after expiration. Groups may opt into direct deposit using Zelle through the Harvard University Employees Credit Union.
• Departmental Groups: funding is processed through the group's affiliated department, division, or program administrator. Departmental Group payments also expire after six months.

Post-Initiative Report

Groups receiving GSC funding must submit the required post-initiative report. Failure to submit the report will make the group ineligible to request future GSC funding. Previous reporting is also considered when evaluating future applications.

Publicity & Acknowledgement Requirements

Groups receiving GSC funding must identify the Harvard Griffin GSAS Student Council as a financial contributor in publicity associated with the funded event or initiative.

Funded groups should also:

• Create an event listing on Engage for funded events
• Publicize events to the broader Harvard Griffin GSAS community
• Display flyers on appropriate bulletin boards in the Student Center when applicable
• Inform group members about upcoming GSC meetings
• Submit the required post-initiative report

Groups that fail to acknowledge GSC sponsorship may become ineligible for funding in future cycles.

Any merchandise purchased with GSC funds should display the GSC logo. Contact the GSC Treasurer to request the appropriate logo file.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much funding can our group request?

There is no maximum request amount. However, every requested expense must be reasonable, itemized, and clearly justified. Awards are subject to the GSC's available funding.

Can we request funding for more than one event?

Yes. There is no upper limit on the number of events for which a group may request support, but complete information must be provided for each proposed event.

What constitutes a complete application?

A complete application includes all required Budget Request fields, a clear description of the proposed activity, a comprehensive itemized budget, and the required GSC supplemental form.

Can we submit an application by email or on paper?

No. GSC funding applications must be submitted electronically through an Engage Budget Request.

Can we apply after we have already spent the money or held the event?

No. Funding must be requested and approved before the funds are needed. GSC funding is not retroactive.

Who decides how funding is allocated?

The GSC Funding Committee reviews applications and determines award amounts. The committee is chaired by the GSC Treasurer and includes additional Harvard Griffin GSAS students.

How will our group learn whether we received funding?

Funding decisions are announced at the Open Council Meeting following the applicable application deadline. The exact award amount is also emailed directly to the group's leadership.

What if our group's leadership changes?

Notify both the GSC Treasurer and the Student Center so that funding and administrative communications continue to reach the correct student leaders.