The Minnesota Student Association provides Operating Budget Grants (OBG) to small student groups at the University of Minnesota. These grants are designed to provide operational support for student groups that are not receiving Student Services Fees.

How to Apply

To apply for an Operating Budget Grant, simply complete the OBG application and a fill out the budget template (in Excel). These documents should be printed and turned in to the MSA Office, in 235 Coffman Memorial Union.

OBG Grant Criteria

In order to be eligible to apply

  • The Student Group MUST be a registered student organization (RSO) with Student Unions and Activities (SUA).
  • The student organizations CANNOT have been established through MSA.
  • Student organizations that receive Student Service Fees (SSF) are NOT eligible to apply.
  • NO partnerships are allowed with this grant. Each organization must apply individually.
  • There will be a minimum two weeks difference between application and money received by RSOs.  Reimbursement is possible, but MSA needs time to process applications. Please plan accordingly. Student groups may participate in additional fundraising or donations.

Amount of Funding Group is Eligible to Receive

  • Grants are limited to only the funding between $75-$600
  • The first half of the grant (50%) will be given upon approval of the grant application.
  • In order to receive full year funding, student organizations MUST APPLY before October 15th of the fall semester.  (November 15th effective Fall 2010 only)
  • IF a student organization applies AFTER the deadline, the grant applied for will be prorated at the discretion of the MSA Grants Committee.
  • The second half of the grant (50%) will be given upon successful review of the student organization’s budget and/or expenditure reports to validate that the money was spent appropriately as of or before the end of fall semester. Accordingly, it is the requirement of the student organization to submit the budget and/or expenditure report no later than February 15th of spring semester, if past the deadline, the student organization will not be receiving further funding from MSA for that school year.
  • In order to receive the second half of the grant (50%), the student organization must show that a minimum of 75% of the first half of the grant has already been used—groups are to use funds effectively, and the requested amount can be lowered for the second half of the grant if fitting, but not raised.
  • IF a student organization applies for a grant, for the first time that school year, after the February 15th deadline of spring semester, the only grant the applicant group will qualify for is a maximum of $150.
  • Groups may not receive more than $600/year from the MSA organizational budget grant.
  • AT THE END OF THE SPRING SEMESTER, ROLLOVER FROM THE OBG GRANT SHOULD BE NO MORE THAN 5% OF THE GRANT RECEIVED. (5% of $600 = $30, 5% of 300 = $15, 5% of $150 = $7.50) MSA does not encourage spending money for the sake of spending money, and if the budgeted amount is not used, the remaining amount will count as part of the $600 maximum for the next year. More money will not be awarded until past awards have been properly accounted for.

Operational Budget Grant (OBG) Criteria

  • The proposed budget allows interested students to continue involvement, to learn more about the group, idea, service, or cause through attending a group meeting or event.
  • The specific group is not provided by a University of Minnesota service provider, or is not accessible to students normally
  • The grant is to allow for the high potential of interaction between students and group members, but also presenters, attendees, prospective members, etc.
  • If an OBG has funded the student organization in the past, the group must make improvements, and show how past grants have been used appropriately, and hopefully effectively.
  • The grant should attract new members, and encourage growth of the applying RSO.  Potential members should be directly solicited to join the organization by a representative or through some other promotion of the organization.

Expenses That Will Not be Funded

  • Salaries/stipends for organization members.
  • Payments to any individual, student or non-student (i.e. event organizer, staff person, etc.)
  • Personal expenses of any kind.  ALL FUNDING MUST BE SPENT FOR THE APPROPRIATE ADVANCEMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION.

Expenses That May be Funded

  • Any expense that serves to appropriately and effectively advance the RSO, including but not limited to apparel, promotional materials, small events, Student Activity Fair fees, Paint the Bridge fees, SAO fees, printing costs, equipment, and whatever else is explicitly explained as necessary for the operation of the student organization.

When a grant Will Be denied

The application will be denied if the student organization:

  • Is extensively inaccurate in budget forecasts and expense reports
  • Charges admission/ entrance fees to new potential members, as the purpose of the grant is to help RSOs grow. 
  • The student organization, or any individual, profits financially.
  • Does not meet the criteria, eligibility, or spirit of the OBG.

Reporting  & Applying

  • Every expense must be clearly shown (Keep receipts and documentation!)
  • Expected income (even pending) must be clearly shown.
  • Expenses must be broken down into as much detail as possible.
  • The budget adds up correctly—values add up, and income matches expenses
  • Any funding deemed inappropriate by the MSA Grants committee will result in termination of the organizations funding from MSA for that school year.
  • IT IS THE RIGHT OF THE MSA GRANTS COMMITTEE TO DETERMINE ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE OR INAPPROPRIATE USE OF THE GRANTS. MSA reserves the right to deny funding.