¶ Overview
It is generally known that with money comes freedom and power. Not only does a plentiful and stable financial foundation allow the MSA to sustain its important services to our community, through experience, we've noticed that when the MSA is financially prosperous, our leadership naturally strives towards loftier goals and proposes bigger ideas and bolder events. Finances determine our association's potential. For these reasons, it is incredibly important that the Treasurer prioritizes fundraising and grant writing.
¶ Applying
¶ Deadlines
During the summer, it is important that the Treasurer look up the deadlines for all the grants listed below (and more) and add them to the MSA calendar. Many grants will not post deadlines until the beginning of the academic year. The Treasurer should continue to check in throughout their term and update deadlines.
¶ Data
One of the most important determinants of a successful application is providing solid data to back up our appeal. It is important that the MSA support data collection through surveys and community forums that may later be accessed by the Treasurer to tell a story. Some data may also be collected from other campus departments like the 2019 Campus Climate Survey linked here.
¶ Grants
Below is a list of grants to which were previously applied. General submission deadlines and previous submission materials are linked below. Most grants are under-utilized by student organizations. With the importance and size of the services that the MSA offers, our association is usually a competitive candidate. Many grants originate from a student fee that our members pay as part of their tuition. By applying for grants, then, we attempt to reclaim our members' own investments.
¶ ABSA
Each semester, every student is charged $27.50 as a student activity fee. The ASUC is in charge of distributing this fee to Registered Student Organizations (RSO) through the Annual Budgeting and Spaces Allocation (ABSA) application every spring. Through this application, RSO's may also apply for storage and office space. The MSA has been sponsored by the ASUC for over 30 years, making this source our most reliable form of grant funding.
Applications usually due early March. View website for updated deadlines.
¶ Previous Submissions
- 2020-2021 Submission Materials Awarded $16,390, Cubicle, Large Cage
- 2019-2020 Submission Materials Awarded $14,900, Private Cubicle, Large Cage
- 2018-2019 Submission Materials Awarded $12,400, Cubicle, Large Cage
- 2017-2018 Submission Materials Awarded $12,400, Cubicle, Cage
¶ Wellness Fund
Each semester, every student is charged $174 in student fees that go into the Wellness Fund. This fund supports campus services like Recreational Sports, University Health Services, and PATH to care. A portion of these funds also formulate the Wellness Fund grant to which campus organizations that provide wellness services may apply.
¶ Previous Submissions
- 2021-2023 Submission Materials Awarded $6,000 for 1 year
- 2020-2023 Submission Materials Denied, Requested $51,000 annually for 3 years
- 2020 Spring Submission Materials Awarded $30,640
¶ The Big C Student-Initiated Projects Fund
Passed by student referendum in April 2017, The Big-C (Big Community) Fee Referendum funds, among other things, student initiated projects that serve the Berkeley community. The Big C Student Initiated Projects Fund is intended to create a more inclusive campus community providing funding for student-centered and student-initiated direct service projects that focus on needs of underrepresented and historically marginalized populations including educational projects & programs impacting the broader community and the climate of the Berkeley campus.
¶ Previous Submissions
¶ Chancellor's Community Partnership Fund
"The Partnership Fund supports neighborhood improvement projects and community service programs that utilize collaborative relationships between UC Berkeley and the community to address critical needs in the following thematic areas: Arts and Culture; Community Safety, Health and Wellness; Economic Development; Education; Environmental Stewardship"
¶ Previous Submissions
¶ PSC Student-Initiated Community Projects Grant
This grant is offered by the Public Service Center (PSC) to student organizations engaged in service projects with amounts between $200-$5,000. The PSC also offers leadership and project management training to every grant recipient.
¶ Previous Submissions
¶ Student Tech Fund
Each semester, every student is charged $51 in student fees that go into the Tech Fund. At least $14 per student is allocated into student-initiated technology projects which the MSA can apply for. This fund supports the following categories: Apps & Software Development; Commercial Software; Licensing; Equipment Acquisition; Investigative & Planning Projects; Technology Events; Training, Support & Access to Technology
¶ Previous Submissions
¶ Comprehension Quiz
If you were instructed to read this page as part of an online training curriculum, you must submit this quiz and answer all questions correctly. In the case that you do not answer a question correctly, you may view which questions were incorrect and take the quiz again.
