RSO Funding
Different Types of Funding
Student Organization Allocations
RSOs can receive up to $6,000 per semester to support their programming and needs through:
Organization Open Events: events put on by the organization that are open for all students at the University of Mississippi. This includes fees for speakers that come to the University of Mississippi campus to speak.
Organization Closed Events: events put on by the organization that are only open to members of that organization.
Speaker Fees are a part of professional development.
Operational Expenses: items needed for the organization to function and best fulfill their mission. ($25 limit per person per item)
Promotional Materials: any items that are needed by the organization to promote their organization such as apparel or marketing expenses.
Professional Development: conference fees, travel expenses, and lodging expenses for conferences that promote academic or professional development of student organization members.
Large Scale Programming
Funding is available to organizations in order to assist them in creating meaningful, large-scale campus programming open to all students. This funding has no cap, but approval is contingent upon funds available. Large-Scale Programming funds do not subtract from an organization’s possible $6,000/semester allotment. Collaboration with other organizations is not required, but it is highly encouraged!
FAQs
Are we eligible for funding?
If you are a Registered Student Organization (RSO), have been active for no less than 30 calendar days, and have no outstanding debts to the university, then YES! We look forward to reviewing your requests.
Do all events need to be registered?
Yes, if you are requesting for funding for an event whether virtual or in person, it must be registered through the ForUM before you can be approved for funding.
If we have already paid for something for our event, can we receive a reimbursement?
No. Unfortunately ASB cannot retroactively reimburse organizations for items not pre-approved by the Treasury Department.
Can we request funding for items we intend to reuse over their useful life?
Yes! However, ASB needs written confirmation that these items will become university property and will be stored on university grounds and will remain under the jurisdiction of the RSO’s faculty advisor.
Do we need a roster of attendees?
Yes. As a good rule-of-thumb, all events should submit a roster. A list of names (first and last) and student email addresses should be included on the “Roster” document, and should be submitted through the ForUM under the “Roster” section of the budget tab. For open and closed events, an organization roster that includes names and student email addresses should be submitted. For conferences/professional development, a roster with a list of the names and student email addresses of ONLY ATTENDEES should be submitted. For promotional materials requesting clothing items, a roster with the names and student email addresses of ONLY THOSE ORDERING ITEMS should be submitted.
How do I know what budget request to choose?
There is a summary of each type of request as you select your request on the ForUM.
How far in advance should we request funding for an event?
No less than 10 business days in advance of the event. It is best to submit your request early; we recommend 2 weeks prior to when you need funding by.
What are some acceptable forms of documentation?
Unpaid invoiced; contracts that state specific amounts, dates, times, people, etc.; screenshots of online shopping carts with exact quantity and prices with cart totals that match; flyers with SAF logo; list of attendees; list of students who will benefit from the items requested; documentation that the event has been registered; etc.
How many times can we request funding?
An RSO has an unlimited number of times that they can request funding, but it is important to note that the Treasury Department has the right to cease funding an organization, if the department feels the RSO is not using funds responsibly. In addition to this, there is an internal cap of $6,000 for Student Organization Allocations per semester that serves as a benchmark for when an organization runs the risk of being exempt from further funding.
Do we need a flyer for our event?
Yes, a flyer/proof of advertisement is required, especially for open events. Your flyer must include the SAF logo; it does not have to be large, but it does have to be present. If you are advertising on Instagram, tag @olemissasbtreasury in your post.
When can I expect my request to be reviewed and when will I hear back about my request?
The Treasury Department reviews requests on Mondays at 4:00PM. Your organization can expect a decision on your request no later than the following Tuesday at 5:00PM. The decision will either be approval, denial, or a request for additional actions/information. In order for your request to be reviewed in a timely manner, please submit your request through the ForUM by 12:00PM noon on the Sunday prior to the Monday you’d like your request reviewed.
What happens after we receive our approval email?
Email the ASB Treasurer to set up your purchasing plan. Keep in mind the purchasing process can take up to 2 (two) weeks contingent upon the item(s) being purchased and the current purchasing schedule.
What happens if we are denied funding?
If an RSO is denied funding, they have the right to appeal a decision to the ASB Judicial Council.
How much funding can we receive for t-shirts, sweatshirts, polos, etc?
An organization may receive up to $25 per item per student. (Ex. If the item costs 18 dollars, we can pay the full price; if the item costs $27 dollars, the SAF can pay $25 of that amount, and the remaining balance must be paid by the organization.) The additional proper documentation must also be submitted in order to obtain funding.
Why can we not include the words “holiday,” “party,” “celebration,” or names of specific holidays in our event title?
It is important to think about the objective of your event when requesting funding. If you are merely celebrating a holiday or throwing a party, ASB is prohibited from funding such events. However, if you are planning a “cultural night” that highlights and informs individuals on the aspects of a holiday and you can prove such notion, then these events enable to student body to learn and thus can be funded by ASB.
Can we request money for items we plan to sell or donate?
No. ASB will not fund items that are intended to be sold, resold, or donated. All items funded by ASB are required to be used and/or reused by the organization that requested funding for such items.
What are University 25-accounts?
Under new guidance from the University Accounting Office, transfers will only take place AFTER a purchase has been made. That purchase must be made with a university card that charges directly to the 25-account that your organization wisheS to be paid through. After you have received approval (which you can gain BEFORE making the purchase; you need to inform us of this) and have sent us documentation of both your receipt and proof of which account it was charged to, we will then transfer you the money. This is not a personal reimbursement; you must pay with a university account.
Any further questions can be directed to the treasurer, Eva Reynolds, at asbtreasury@go.olemiss.edu.
RSO Funding
Registered Student Organizations (RSO) can request funding from the student activity fee to assist in fulfilling their purpose and impacts on campus.
Important dates
RSO Funding orientation is every monday at 7 pm in Union 321. Every Sunday at NOON is the cut-off for THE PREVIous week’s requests to be reviewed.
Documentation
An invoice with an itemized description of item(s) to be purchased and non-tax subtotal, a roster of students' names and student emails, event registration on the ForUM and a flyer with the SAF logo (if it's an event request).
Helpful Documents
How to Submit a Funding Request
1. Go to The Forum homepage and sign in with your MyOleMiss username and password.
2. Scroll down on the homepage to find your list of organization memberships and select the organization you wish to request funding for. (my membership in ASB is being used for an example here!)
3. On your organization homepage, select the manage organization tab.
4. Select the three lines in the left hand corner of the screen. Scroll down the drop down menu and select the Finance tab. Only those labeled as either the President or Treasurer of the organization will have access to the Finance tab.
5. In the right hand corner of the screen, select the button that states Create a New Request and select Create New Budget Request.
6. Select which Funding Request you would like to apply for.
7. Answer all questions on the Funding Request thoroughly to the best of your ability.
8. Pay close attention to the documentation step. All documentation must be uploaded on the form linked in the last question of the request (shown below). This could include but is not limited to: promotional materials for events, lists of students attending events, list of students receiving items, proofs of prices, or event registration details. All organizational open event promotional materials must include the logo below.
BELOW are the instruction within the Funding Request. Below is the linked form to upload all necessary documentation. Documentation must be submitted for your request to be reviewed!
9. Submit your request!