Funding Rules for Sustainability Microgrants

1. Sustainability Microgrants. These are small grants available to those Illinois student organizations that are in full compliance with Department of Student Engagement policies. These grants fund sustainable alternatives to items purchased by student organizations. Maximum grant amount is $750.00 and approved funds are deposited into the student organization’s account. All items requested must meet SSC's sustainability requirements as detailed in the Funding Catalogue for Microgrants to be considered for funding.
2. Student Organization Compliance. Student organizations must be registered and in compliance with the Department of Student Engagement to be eligible to apply for and receive microgrant funding. Student organizations that are not in full compliance with the Department of Student Engagement policies at the time of SSC’s evaluation of applications are not eligible for microgrant funding.  
3. SSC Orientation Requirement. In OneIllinois, student organization Treasurers must complete SSC's sustainability microgrant orientation, pass content quizzes with a 100% score, and acknowledge all terms and conditions of microgrant funding prior to gaining access to the SSC microgrant application.
4. Submission of Applications. Only student organization Treasurers may submit funding applications on behalf of their organization. Applications must be complete for consideration. The application will be denied if not submitted by the student organization Treasurer as listed in OneIllinois.
5. Maximum Request per Application. Student organizations may not request more than $750.00 per application.
6. Maximum Allocations per Fiscal Year. Illinois student organizations are limited to one application per each fall and spring semester.
7. Eligible Purchases. Illinois student organizations must choose from the catalogue of eligible sustainable items and abide by category-specific restrictions. All purchase requests must be accompanied by a vendor link (for items being purchased on-line) and supporting documentation. Note that photos of thrifted items and their costs will be acceptable documentation for proposed thrifted items. REMINDER: no items may be purchased in advance of funding requests being approved.
8. Quantities. Quantities must be listed for all items requested. Quantities may be listed in the application or in the supporting documentation. Failure to include a quantity for a line item in the application or supporting documentation will result in that line item being denied.
9. Line Item Grouping. All unique items even within a category must be delineated in separate lines in the application. Only multiples of the same item may be requested in one line.
10. Supporting Documentation. Supporting Documentation must confirm the price(s) of the requested line item(s) and include any additional documentation required by the Standards and Catalogue.
11. Partial Funding Requests. Student organizations may not submit applications for partial funding for any item.  
12. Changes to an Application. No changes may be made to an application once submitted in OneIllinois.
13. Unapproved Purchases. Student organizations may only purchase the items approved in their application. No modifications may be made to the items or to the budget to accommodate changes. Organizations making unapproved purchases will be ineligible for microgrant funding for one academic year.  
14. Revenue Creation. No items purchased with SSC funding may be used for organizational revenue creation or sold for any other purposes.
15. Right to Deny. SSC and the Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs reserve the right to not fund or to partially fund requested items that do not meet the sustainability intent of the microgrant program and/or that do not uphold university policy.
16. SSC Representation & Acknowledgment. The SSC logo should be visibly included on any marketing/advertising for projects and programs in which SSC’s funded items are utilized by the student organization. The SSC logo should be visibly included on all brand new t-shirts.
17. Expense Reports and Forfeitures. Expense reports and receipts are required to be submitted for all items purchased with SSC microgrant funding no later than May 15th of the fiscal year in which the microgrant was issued.
    1. Regardless of the purchase date for items purchased with microgrant funding, student organizations receiving microgrants must submit a completed Expense Report and itemized receipts for all purchases to the SSC no later than May 15th of the fiscal year during which the microgrant was issued.
    2. Any funds remaining after May 15th will be considered unused and will be automatically forfeited and returned to SSC.
    3. Unused funds may not be used for other items requested or not requested.
18. Rescission of Funds. SSC rescinds all unused funds for all SSC microgrants after May 15th of the fiscal year they were awarded.
19. Failure to Submit Reports. A student organization’s failure to submit a complete Expense Report and/or receipts by the deadline will result in the student organization being ineligible to apply for SSC funding for a one year period.  
20. Individual Benefit. No SSC-funded purchase is permitted to benefit a single Student Organization member(s) outside of the spirit or mission of the Student Organization. The SSC reserves the right to determine whether any expenses/programs/projects are outside of the spirit or mission of the Student Organization.
21. Illegal Activities. Purchases intended to be or reasonably presumed to be for activities that are in violation of local, state or Federal law and/or university rules, regulations, policies and procedures or activities are not permitted.
22. SSC & Student Organization Treasurer Communications. Student organization Treasurers are expected to maintain diligent and timely communication with the SSC regarding their application. Failure to respond to SSC communications within forty-eight (48) hours may result in a denied funding request.
23. Good Faith and Appeals. The SSC reserves the authority to decline any student organization’s funding application if it is believed the student organization is attempting to violate SSC Funding Rules and Restrictions. Any student organization denied funding based on this policy may appeal to the board under some circumstances. Such an appeal will, at the minimum, require the student organization to explain organizational operations, finances, and relative structures. No more than one appeal form may be submitted per application.
24. Updates to Funding Standards, Catalogue, and Restrictions. Standards, restrictions, and catalogue of eligible items are subject to change between funding periods/academic semesters/years. Standards, restrictions, and catalogue of eligible items for the current period will be communicated on SSC’s website.