The Student Initiative Fund (SIF) provides year-round funding opportunities for student-led activities and events that enhance the student experience and enrich the university community.
Student club/team leaders: check out The Club Hub for resources to help your club/team adapt and thrive this year!
All SIF-funded projects support an inclusive campus, intercultural awareness, community-building, personal and community development, leadership, and citizenship. A portion of funds will be targeted to initiatives that address and support issues related to student mental health and well-being.
- Eligibility for funding will be determined by a committee consisting of two representatives from Student Affairs, a representative from the Provost's Office, a representative from the Human Rights & Equity Office, a representative from the Student Experience Office, and a student representative. Decisions not to fund a project will be explained to the applicant in writing. A committee member would be pleased to meet with an applicant to discuss the proposal and provide advice to inform future proposals. The maximum amount of funding for group projects, events or activities is $1,500
- The maximum amount of funding for individual projects, events or activities is $500
Applications can be submitted at any time and applicants will be notified of a decision within approximately one month after receipt of application.
Student-led co-curricular activities and events will follow the usual event sanctioning process through the AMS and SGPS. The AMS and SGPS have worked closely with the Executive Director, Risk and Safety Services, to develop additional health and safety criteria for their event and non-academic activity approval process to align with provincial regulations. All student-led co-curricular events and activities, including student club activities, must align with Queen’s Campus Operating Guidelines and receive formal approval through the AMS and SGPS event sanctioning process. Further information about the event approval processes can be found on the AMS and SGPS websites.
- The applicant(s) must be registered Queen's student(s) - undergraduate, graduate or professional
- The club or group must be recognized by and be a member in good standing with its sanctioning body – if applicable
- Only one application per student/student group, per academic term will be accepted
- The project must be not-for-profit
- The project must support co-curricular events or activities
- The event/activity must occur within the existing or upcoming academic year
- The availability of funds and the total amount of requests received over the fiscal year
- The alignment of the project, activity or event with the stated goals and priorities of the Fund
- The contribution of the project to a positive and inclusive campus culture
- The potential impact of the proposed project, activity or program
- The degree of initiative taken to raise funds from other sources - groups that have shown greater initiative in this area will be viewed more favourably
Please see below for additional funds for student clubs and teams.
Expenses could include:
- Speaker fees
- Technology or streaming-related expenses for virtual events/activities *Please note that Queen's has institutional licenses for various online event platforms (Microsoft Teams, Zoom with capacity for up to 300 attendees, etc.) which are free for students - students are encouraged to use these platforms whenever possible
- Marketing, promotional or communications
- Participation incentives (for virtual events)
- Other operating expenses not excluded below
- Events or initiatives that have the effect of marginalizing, discriminating, harassing, and/or excluding any identifiable group of persons
- Purchase of food and beverages (for in-person events), or equipment
- Guest, volunteer or participant gifts (for in-person events), charitable donations, wages
- Expenses in support of individuals attending, or presenting at, a meeting, conference or activity
- The Fund is not intended to provide an annual source of income for recurring projects. First priority will be given to requests for new initiatives and seed money required to start a project
- Sponsorship of a project, activity or event through this Fund does not make it a Queen’s-sanctioned event. As such, the University assumes no liability out of or in consequence of any attendance or participation in an activity or event
- Certain proposals may require additional information, letters of support or approval, depending on the nature of the initiative
- Successful applications (including project title) may be identified on the Student Affairs website
- Applications submitted by staff or faculty members will not be considered; however, staff, faculty and/or community members may be members of the event/project/activity planning/organizing group
- Applications will not be accepted for projects, activities or events, retroactively
How to Apply:
- Complete the Student Affairs Funding Budget form, save to your computer as an Excel file.
- Fill out the online Student Affairs Funding Application form and attach the file from Step 1 (and any other applicable documents) in the applicable sections and submit.
- Only completed applications will be reviewed.
Reporting Requirements:
- Successful applicants must complete a SIF Report form and submit a final budget (please update the budget document you submitted with your application) within 30 business days of the completion of the activity
- Please email both documents to SAFunds@queensu.ca as soon as possible following your event! Failure to submit a report will disqualify future applications until report is received
- Please keep copies of all receipts that pertain to the funding provided by Student Affairs, they may be requested for audit purposes
If you have any questions, please email SAFunds@queensu.ca
Other funds for student-led events/activities: Principal's Student Initiative Fund, the AMS Clubs Grants and Bursaries, the Inclusive Community Fund.