Carlson-Affiliated Student Organization Grants

The Carlson School Undergraduate Program has grant funds available to support Carlson-Affiliated student organizations for events, programs, and conference or case travel that support the priorities of the Carlson School Undergraduate Program. Up to $1,000 is available per group this semester.

Student Organization Eligibility Requirements:

• Be a current Carlson-Affiliated student organization.

• Maintain updated registration and be in good standing with the Student Unions and Activities Office.

• Maintain all Carlson-Affiliation requirements with the Carlson School Undergraduate Program.

• Regular group representation at Carlson Student Leadership Series.

Application Review Process & Funding:

• Applicants must submit an application, itemized budget, and W-9 form by the deadline.

  1. Complete the grant application online.

  2. Submit a detailed, itemized budget via email to cqfails@umn.edu. 

  3. Submit a current W-9 form for your organization via email to cqfails@umn.edu. 

• Applicants will be notified of their approval within one week of the application deadline.

• Funds may take 6-8 weeks after being awarded for checks to process - please plan accordingly.

• The amount requested for each grant is not guaranteed - all funding decisions are at the discretion of the Carlson Undergraduate Program.

Application Content Requirements:

Grant funding will be awarded to programs or events that are open to all Carlson students, provide clear benefits for Carlson School undergraduate students, and meet at least one of the following criteria:

1. Adds to the knowledge base, professional development, and/or personal development of Carlson students.

2. Serves the University of Minnesota and/or greater Twin Cities communities through humanitarian or community service activities.

3. Engages Carlson students in topics of social impact, diversity, equity, and/or inclusion education.

4. Encourages collaboration or community-building among Carlson students of various majors, interests, and backgrounds, and/or faculty, staff, and alumni.

In addition to meeting one of the criteria above, the program cannot duplicate other established events offered by Carlson or other Carlson student organizations. 

*Outside of the regular criterion, Student Organization Grants can also be used to fund case competition or conference travel. This will be a request outside of the regular grants process: please reach out to Caroline Fails (cqfails@umn.edu) if you are interested in using a grant for this.*

Examples of past successful grant applications include:

• ALPFA Professional Development & Networking: Hosted by Association of Latino Professionals for America and open to all Carlson students and staff, the event featured a panel with Carlson alumni and Q&A to discuss Latino success in business.

• NABA Pitch Workshop: The National Association of Black Accountants organization hosted a pitch event workshop for all Carlson students to work on pitch proposal and project management professional skills at the McNamara Alumni Center.

• Student Marketing Association x WIB Bowling Social: SMA and Women in Business collaborated to build community among student leaders and promote connections between upper and underclassmen at Goldy's Game Room bowling alley.

Funds will not be available to support:

• Food for weekly meetings.

• Regular operations costs such as regular supplies, SUA registration, or websites.

• Operations costs such as annual dues, SUA registration, or web hosting.

• Events or programs that are exclusive to members only.

• The University is itself a charitable, tax-exempt organization, and should not make contributions to other charitable organizations. 

  • Campus Life and Registered Student organizations which occasionally raise or collect funds for charitable purposes may continue to do so.

  • Organizations may buy items to give to a charitable organization.

  • Example: A student group may buy 12 IKEA dresser kits for an event where the dressers are built to support community amongst members, etc. The dressers can be given the Jeremiah Program. (We are not giving funds but we are giving goods.)

Grant Application Overview

All details on the grant requirements can be found in the document below. 

Grant Application Budget Template

Please download and use the budget below. Email to Caroline Fails (cqfails@umn.edu) after submitting your Grants Application along with your student organization's current W-9 form.

Budget proposals should be itemized and as detailed as possible.

Applications without a completed budget template and W-9 form will NOT be accepted.