Society Grants

Grants are available to help eligible societies defray operational costs, as well as help plan, promote and participate in endeavours that will be beneficial for the Dalhousie community. Each society is eligible to receive up to $1000 in Grant funding per year ($500/2 semesters).

The DSU provides Society Grants to help societies cover the cost of their events and initiatives.  Societies are eligible for $500 in funding in 2 semesters ($1000 yearly).

Update on our Grants Program:

We wish to inform our valued DSU members about the current status of our grants program. Due to an unprecedented number of applications received this year, we have encountered a situation where our funds allocated for society and member grants have been fully utilized earlier than anticipated. As a result, we have made the difficult decision to pause our grants program temporarily.

This pause will be in effect for the remainder of the current fiscal year, concluding on March 31st. During this time, we regret to inform you that we will not be accepting new grant applications. This decision was not made lightly, and we understand the significant impact it may have on those who rely on these funds to support their various initiatives and activities. 

We deeply appreciate the patience and understanding of our community during this challenging period. Our team is committed to resuming the grants program after the current fiscal year concludes this semester, and we encourage those interested to consider applying at that time.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your understanding. For any concerns or further inquiries, please feel free to reach out to us directly. Your continued support and understanding are invaluable as we navigate these temporary adjustments to better serve our student body in the long term.”

  • Monday May 30th 2023

    Friday July 28th 2023

    Wednesday August 30th 2023

    Friday September 29th 2023

    Thursday November 30th 2023

    Tuesday January 30th 2024

    Friday March 29th 2024

Priority will be given to societies hosting an event at the Grawood. Society Grant Applications must be submitted prior to the event date. 

Note: We strongly recommend Societies to read through Section 3 of the DSU Grant Policy prior to applying for a Society Grant!”

▼ When is my society grants application due?

Application due dates for society grants during the 2022-23 year are:

  • May 15
  • July 15
  • September 15
  • November 15
  • January 15
  • March 15

▼ When will my society grants application be processed?

The Grants Committee meets three times a semester and evaluates all the grants submitted by that month’s grant deadline. Once they make their decisions, it takes a week to prepare the cheques. Once the cheques are available, people will be notified if their grant was approved.

▼ Why do I need to provide invoices/receipts/quotes?

Grants are meant to support events, but not provide a profit. Therefore, the committee needs to be sure that the costs budgeted are the actual costs incurred. The Grants Committee cannot issue funding for any amount beyond what is supported through invoices, receipts, or quotes. For example, if you requested $100 but your receipt only shows a $60 conference registration fee, then you will only be eligible for $60.

▼ Why did I not get the full amount I applied for?

The Grants Committee only receives a limited amount of funding and the number of requests exceeds this at certain times. Approving more applications for less funding is a way to disperse funding in an equitable way. Factors that complicate decision making include the number of applications, how many people are attending the same event, how much alternate funding an applicant has tried to secure, how much of a financial deficit there is, and how integral the event is to personal and professional development.

▼ Are there things that the society grant is not applicable for?

Society Grants cannot be used to fund clothing sales (for a profit), alcohol, or drugs. Please read the Grants Policy for more information.

society finances

Requirements: 

  • You will be asked to give both a detailed event/project budget (not including DSU funds) and an overall society budget for the year.  

  • List of all other solicited sources of revenue (including pending sources & expected date of response).

  • Must be an active, ratified society.  

  • Provide reasoning for you receiving the grant via a cover letter. This should include reason why your society seeks further funding from the Union and how Dalhousie students will benefit if the grant is awarded.   

  • Please read the Grants Policy before applying.

Priority is given to applications from Black or racialized student groups working on racial justice initiatives. Grants that also meet the following criteria will be prioritized:  

  • Initiatives run by and/or for marginalized groups including but not limited to: racialized, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQiA+, disabled, and/or neurodivergent groups.  

  • Initiatives (1) focused on educating or engaging members in issues of social or environmental justice; (2) that demonstrate understanding and employment of an anti-oppressive framework; (3) accessible to members of any financial circumstance (ex. Free or low cost to attend); (4) proposed by societies without access, or limited access, to other funding streams; (5) that provide a clear and sustained benefit to the Dalhousie community at the Halifax or Truro campuses. 

CONTACT US

(902) 494-2205
SUB 3rd Floor, Room 348

Society process and financial inquiries:
dsusocieties@dal.ca

General society inquiries:
dsuvpi@dal.ca