Frequently Asked Questions: Microgrants
How do I access the application for SSC's microgrant funding opportunity?
The application is housed within OneIllinois. To have access to it, you must be a Treasurer for a student organization that is in full compliance with SSC and university policies AND the microgrant funding period must be active. To learn more, see our Microgrant Funding Process page.
My Student Organization received an SSC microgrant. How do I access the funds?
Approved microgrant funds are transferred to the Student Organization's account which is managed by the Student Org Finance Center (SOFC). To access the funds, the organization's Treasurer must submit a payment request. To find out more information about payment requests, visit the the Student Org Finance Center's webpage: Payment Requests or email StudentOrgFinanceCenter@illinois.edu.
I am a student that is not involved in an Illinois Student Organization but I am interested in being more sustainable. Can I apply for sustainability microgrant funding?
Microgrant funding is only available to Student Organizations that are in compliance with SSC and university policies. We encourage you to sign in to OneIllinois and research the many sustainability-oriented Student Organizations active on campus and join one or more that sound interesting to you! From there, you can encourage the Organization's Treasurer to apply for a sustainability microgrant.
Can I purchase new t-shirts with microgrant funding and sell them for a profit at a fundraiser to benefit my philanthropic student organization?
No. University policy does not allow items purchased with SSC funding to be resold by a student organization.
My organization would like to hold a recruitment event where we offer pizza to students interested in becoming a member? Is this possible?
Although SSC has sustainably-sourced food as an option in our Microgrant Funding Catalogue, Student Organizations are only eligible to request food under very specific circumstances. Please review our Microgrant Funding Catalogue to see if your Student Organization and event is eligible. Feel free to reach out to SSC-Microgrants@illinois.edu with any questions.
My Organization was awarded an SSC Sustainability Microgrant, but we were not able to spend it all before the deadline of May 15. Can we hold on to the remaining funds and use them next semester?
No. All unused funds as of May 16th of the academic year in which the microgrant was approved are automatically returned to the SSC. Please apply again next semester!
The needs of my organization changed and we will not purchase one of items we requested in our approved Sustainability Microgrant application. Can we use those funds to purchase an item in a different category in the Funding Catalogue?
No. Substitutions between categories are not permitted.
The price for one of the items in my approved application increased since the application was approved. Can I receive more funding to cover the difference or can I decrease the total amount approved of another category to increase the amount I can spend on this now more expensive item?
No, SSC does not permit changes to the total amount of funding approved for any category and does not permit an increase in funding for a given application. We recommend purchasing fewer items at the more expensive cost, so you do not exceed the allowed allocation for that category.
The item I originally requested and was approved is no longer available? Can I make a substitution for another similar item that still meets all funding requirements?
Yes, SSC allows substitutions of similar items that still meet all SSC funding requirements. However, the total cost of the substituted item including tax and shipping may not exceed the total amount originally budgeted for the now unavailable item.