Fund Policies & Applications

Registered Student Organizations plan and program many activities on campus that may require funding. Below are funding opportunities and policies for RSO’s that are managed by the Student Activities Office and Student Government. Each fund has different funding request limits and different criteria that are outlined in their policies.  Information about the application process, funding criteria and limits, and the funding applications can be found below.

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Funding Request Guidelines for RSOs

We are not accepting any new funding applications. Funding has not yet opened for the 2025-26 school year. Application opening soon! 

All funding is contingent on registering your RSO for 2025-26 and being in good standing for the current academic year, per SAO Registration requirements. All RSOs are required to register each academic year. Failure to register your RSO will result in having to pay back any awarded funding. When applying, funding applications must be submitted by an RSO group administrator. 

General policies for all funding sources managed by SAO

Before submitting a funding application please review the below policies:

    • Applications must be submitted at least 4 weeks prior to the event date.
      • Approval process times and complexity of the event may affect when funding is approved. For more complex events, we strongly encourage submitting applications prior to 4 weeks out.
      • Applications must be submitted by a current Group Administrator for your RSO. 
    • Ensure the event is open to all UW-Seattle students. 
    • Funding must be used for on campus UW-Seattle student activities; funding may not be used to support commercial enterprises or non – UW Seattle affiliated student groups. 
    • Agree to meet and work with your assigned SAO Adviser:
      • SAO cannot guarantee staffing availability or capacity to support time-sensitive funding requests. 
    • Have sufficient time to plan and execute your event, based on advice from your SAO Adviser, and needs/requirements of the campus venue.
    • Be in accordance with all applicable SAO, University of Washington, and state and federal policies and procedures. 
    • Funding sources are only available during the current academic year on a first-come, first-served basis, for events occurring during Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters of the current academic year. 
    • Funding approvals are not guaranteed. 
    • SAO cannot expend or disburse funds until they are approved and allocated by the funding source. 
    • SAO retains the right to modify approved funding, to ensure funding is in alignment with University policies. 
    • Failure to follow any of the guidelines may result in the denial of funding or the revocation of funding after approval.

How to Apply for Funding

      1. REVIEW all funding details and policies prior to applying.
      2. COMPLETE the funding application.
      3. SUBMIT completed form. Forms must be submitted by one of the Group Administrators listed on the HuskyLink roster.
      4. SCHEDULE a meeting with your SAO Adviser to discuss details of your event. Your application will be reviewed once you have met with your SAO Adviser.
      5. NOTIFICATION will be sent via email when a decision has been made. Note: notifications may take ten business days or longer following reviews. Please factor this timing into event planning when requesting funds.

Fund Details

Please review the policy information carefully for each fund.  Funding deadlines will be updated on HuskyLink and/or the SAO website.

For all funds managed by SAO and Student Government, funding cannot be used for:

    • Partisan political activity, including candidate or ballot measure town halls/public forums. 
    • Establishing funds to open any kind of bank or investment account.
    • Donating funds to a charitable cause or non-profit organization.
    • Ongoing subscription payments or membership dues of any kind (including those that would be paid once and then canceled after, such as magazines, design software, etc.).
    • Services where the final cost is not known up-front (such as certain online advertisement services through social media).
    • Cancellation fees.
    • Off-campus advertising.
    • Transportation services and travel expenses (Conferences, UCAR, bike/scooter rentals, ridesharing, buses, etc.).
    • Events held off University of Washington- Seattle property.
    • Durable goods such as furniture, large electronics, or items for resale.
    • Food, beverages, alcohol and food delivery services.
    • Prizes, awards, thank-you gifts, and giveaways.
    • Goods and services already available through the HUB Resource Center.
    • Supporting the instructional mission of the University, ASUW, an RSO or any other UW Seattle affiliated student organization, including but not limited to the purchase of materials for program operations or staffing.
    • RSO websites.
    • Events during Summer Quarter, or academic quarter breaks.

List of RSO Funds:

HUB RSO FUND

UW ALUMNI ASSOCIATION FUND

ASUW SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS

GPSS SPECIAL ALLOCATIONS

Payment Processing for funded RSO Events and Programs

The Student Activities Office will process payments in the following manner:

  • For funding approvals for only on-campus services, SAO will send budget authorizations and worktags to the relevant University departments to pay for services.
  • For funding approvals for both on- and off-campus goods and services, RSOs may elect to do one of the following:
    • Have all funds paid out as an award via the UW HUB miscellaneous payment process.
    • Request SAO pay for on-campus services, and then wait up to 90 days for disbursement of the remainder of the funds as an award via a miscellaneous payment process.

Program Contacts

Student Activities Office

Email: sao@uw.edu
Phone: 206-543-2380

Policy references and additional information

Updated: October 30, 2025
Contact SAO regarding the content on this page.