DGSC Grants support cultural events, conferences, performances, professional development activities, publications, seminars, and other projects organized by students. Events and other resources funded by DGSC grants must be free and open—though not restricted to—all Graduate Center students. Priority is given to proposals that are interdisciplinary in nature and to programs, disciplines, and areas of interest that have not received grant funds during the current fiscal year. Examples of grants include:

  • Annual Graduate Student conferences
  • Workshops and student services related to aspects of professional development such as public speaking, teaching, job searches, and grant writing
  • Social events such as trivia nights, lunchtime socials, and health and wellness activities
  • Student-run journals and publications of conference proceedings, student research activities, or research findings

The DGSC does not provide grant monies to cover: (1) hotel and travel (for a traveling speaker, please make sure the honorarium sufficiently covers travel), (2) individual conference travel, and (3) independent research activities. 

Deadlines

  • Regular grant applications are due at 11:59 p.m. typically on the 3rd Fridays:
    • Fall Deadlines: September 26, 2023; remaining months of the academic year deadlines coming shortly (note dated 14 Sept. 2023)
    • Spring Deadlines: TBD
  • Start-up Grants are reviewed on a rolling basis and undergo expedited review
  • The Grants Committee reviews grant applications within 10-14 days of the deadline
  • Grant-funded activities may not take place before the first committee meeting at which the application is discussed, with the exception of the September deadline
  • The Grants Committee typically meets during the first week or two of each month to review grant applications from the prior month
    • (Remaining) Fall Grants Committee Meetings: October 2, 2023; October 31, 2023; November 29, 2023
    • Spring Grants Committee Meetings: March 4, 2024 (proposal deadline: Friday, February 23); TBD (proposal deadline: Monday, March 25); TBD (proposal deadline: Monday, April 22) /li>

Maximum Award Amounts

The Committee awards up to $1,000 for regular grants. Start-up grants are awarded for less than or equal to one-third of $1,000 (approximately $333). To receive an award above the maximum, provide justification of extraordinary circumstances in the proposal.

Submit a Grant Proposal: Instructions & Requirements

  • Submit a grant application through DGSC Works. Login or register to create, edit, and track your proposal. Before submitting your application, you need to create a line-item budget and mock publicity material that clearly states DGSC sponsorship and/or includes the DGSC logo.
  • Examples of exemplary grant proposals as well as sample budgets can be found at the bottom of this page.
  • All events must be free and open to all GC students; budgets may not include money for alcohol.
  • Organizers are encouraged to look for sponsoring from additional sources.
  • Honorarium for speakers or presenters may take 3-6 months to process if the person is not affiliated with the Graduate Center. We require individuals to have a U.S. Tax Identification Number to receive monies.
  • All grant-funded activities must be publicized at least 10 business days in advance and state DGSC sponsorship and/or include the DGSC logo.

Note for Start-up Grants: These are available for projects and events that have no other funding. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and undergo expedited review. Students from the same Chartered Organization, or ad-hoc group shall not receive more than one start-up grant each fiscal year, and start-up grant funds may not be used for printing, with the exception of print journals. Start-up grant activities must be publicized three business days in advance. 

Grants Committee Review Process

The Grants Committee reviews grant applications within 10-14 days of the deadline. Proposals are assessed based on these review factors and questions. There is no guarantee that funding allocated to a specific initiative will be allocated at all or in the same amount the following year nor is there any guarantee of full or partial funding for any proposal.

Claiming Grant Funds

Your award can be claimed via reimbursement for either goods (e.g., food, space or technology purchases) or services (e.g., honoraria for speakers). Check requests for goods must be accompanied by original receipts (scans or digital copies are acceptable). Honoraria must include a special honorarium form attached to the check request. To begin a check request, click here. Then, on the “Organization type” line, indicate Grant; on the “Purpose” line, indicate the name of event/project. Fill out each part of the check request form carefully. For questions on this process, visit: http://cunydsc.org/check-requests.

Appeal

Applicants may appeal decisions of the Grants Committee regarding their own applications. An appeal must be submitted in writing to a member of the DGSC Steering Committee within 20 business days of the decision. A decision may be overturned and funds awarded by a two-thirds majority vote of the Steering Committee.

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