Princeton USG
Princeton Undergraduate Student Government

Projects Board Club Funding

Club Funding

ABOUT PROJECTS BOARD

The USG Projects Board is the main funding source for student organizations across campus; all ODUS, ORL, Campus Recreation, and PACE center groups are eligible for pboard funding. We meet every Thursday afternoon in the second floor conference room of Campus Club.

Projects Board wears many hats – in addition to being a funding body, we also advise and support groups who apply. We’re always happy to give suggestions and recommendations on events! We fund events of all types and sizes -- the more creative and content-rich, the better!

Groups applying to Projects Board are encouraged to start planning their event far in advance, and to reach out to us beforehand for advice on all aspects of the event – brainstorming, publicizing, efficient budgeting, organizing venues, or anything else involved in making an event happen on campus. The co-chairs can be reached at pboard@princeton.edu with questions, comments, or suggestions.

Read the Projects Board Charter.

THE PROCESS

The Projects Board meets to consider funding requests each Thursday on a weekly basis for the entire academic year (apart from breaks). In order to be considered for funding, you must submit an application through SAFE for the appropriate Projects Board funding opportunity, email applications will not be accepted. Be sure to log in to SAFE with your student organization netID and not your personal ID, and to log in during our active application windows of Fridays at 12:01am until Mondays at 11:59pm. Applications will not be visible on SAFE outside of this window. After submitting your application, the emails listed in your SAFE application will receive an email regarding signing up for a time slot to meet with us on the following Thursday. Failure to schedule a time to meet with us will prevent your funding request from being considered/funded. After meetings are held, a decision will be released within your SAFE portal (the same place where you applied) with your funding information.

When submitting your application, be sure that your event meets our funding requirements:

  • Your event will be open for attendance from anyone in the entire undergraduate study body, or have a registration process that allows equal opportunity for participation for students interested regardless of club affiliation.

  • Your event request is submitted with an itemized budget.

  • Your event is free for students to attend.

  • You are not requesting funding for advertising materials, giveaways, or merchandise (as these types of requests can not be funded by the Projects Board)

  • If you are applying to the transportation fund only, be sure that you are only requesting the costs of transportation such as car rental, bus rental, or train tickets within a 2 hour radius to Princeton.

  • You are compliant with our timeline requirements (SEE BELOW)

Projects Board Timeline Requirements:

If you are requesting $750 or less for your event, you need to hold your event at least two weeks out from the Thursday you meet with us (not based on two weeks from when you submit your SAFE application).

For instance, if you submit your SAFE application on Saturday 2/15, you will be meeting with us on Thursday 2/20, and your event needs to be held at least two weeks from then (on 3/6 or any date after that).

If you are requesting more than $750 for your event, you need to hold your event at least three weeks out from the Thursday you meet with us (not based on two weeks from when you submit your SAFE application).

For instance, if you submit your SAFE application on Saturday 2/15, you will be meeting with us on Thursday 2/20, and your event needs to be held at least two weeks from then (on 3/13 or any date after that).

Failure to follow these timelines will make your event ineligible for funding.

In short, the funding process is as follows: submit a SAFE application for the appropriate Projects Board funding opportunity by Monday at 11:59pm, sign up for an appointment using the spreadsheet we email you, and come meet with us Thursday afternoon, and then hold a successful event! The steps must be followed in this order.

Note: we do not reimburse or retroactively fund- you may not make purchases if you haven’t had the funding for it approved.

DECISIONS AND FUNDING

Decisions on project grants are typically released within a few hours of the presentation. The Projects Board distributes funds from many sources, including USG, ODUS, the Politics Department, and SPIA.

Should we vote to allocate over $1,000 of the USG’s funds to your event, we must get approval from the USG Senate, which meets most Sunday nights at 5:00pm in Aaron Burr 219. Groups requesting approval for their funding are required to send a representative to answer any questions the Senate may have; if this is applicable to your group, we will reach out to you with more information when Projects Board makes their funding decision.

Some SAFE applications may qualify for the Projects Board Pre-Check process, which means that your funding request will be considered by the Projects Board without the need for your club to attend our meeting on Thursday to present your event request. However, the same timeline requirements noted above still apply. This does not mean your event will automatically be funded to the full amount requested, just that you do not need to meet and present it to us. If your event qualifies, the emails listed in your SAFE application will receive an email from the Projects Board notifying you and sharing more details.

FUNDING FROM OTHER SOURCES

Alcohol Initiative: event must be on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night between 10pm and 2am, events that coincide with events that are typically associated with alcohol consumption are also considered

Academic Departments: work with the academic department manager, each has its own deadline

Campus Conversations Fund: for student-sponsored programming around issues of cultural diversity

  • Application: Apply through SAFE.

  • Official Page: https://inclusive.princeton.edu/identity

Carl Fields Student Event/ Program Funding
The Carl A. Fields Center provides financial support for innovative programs and events that promote community and diversity at Princeton University. The Carl A. Fields Center sponsors this fund to facilitate inter-group collaboration in exploring critical issues on campus, including race, class, gender, social justice, civic engagement, sexual orientation, and the historical and current realities that impact the understanding of these topics. http://fieldscenter.princeton.edu/funding/

Carl Fields Student Funding for off Campus Conferences and Cultural Events
The Carl Fields Center will help support students or groups attending off campus events related to the mission and vision of the Carl Fields Center such as conferences and cultural activities. We do no support funding for Study Abroad, fellowships, and internships. http://fieldscenter.princeton.edu/funding/

Princeton Student Events Committee: supports events through securing venues, marketing, and funding, that will help fulfill ODUS’s mission to create an inviting, inclusive community that celebrates diversity and encourages collaboration. Programs must be open and accessible to all members of the University and provide a positive learning and/or social experience.

  • Deadline: Proposals should be submitted while the event is still in its planning stages, to increase extent of collaboration.

  • Official Page: http://psec.weebly.com/ OR Contact Amanda Zeltner (azeltner@princeton.edu)

High Meadows Foundation Sustainability Fund: proposals for startup support of sustainability initiatives using the campus as a living laboratory

  • Deadline: Proposals are accepted at any time and reviewed on a rolling basis. The review process for funding requests can take up to 30 days prior to final approval.

  • Official Page: https://sustain.princeton.edu/lead/funding

ODUS Conference Fund: funding for conferences and events off campus that benefit the greater campus community

  • Deadline: Rolling. Apply through SAFE—the Conference Fund can be found among the off-campus funding opportunities.

Pace Council for Civic Values: supports civic engagement activity that cannot obtain funding through the USG Projects Board. Funding may be allocated to recognized student groups planning an off-campus event, or to unrecognized groups of students planning an on or off-campus event.