Grant Opportunities

Student Senate

Organizations may apply for grant funding from Student Senate to achieve their goals.  There is approximately $4000 available with applications are typically due in early October.  For more information go tohttps://www.luther.edu/studentsenate/proposal/.

Sustainability Grant Fund

The mission of the Luther Sustainability Grant Fund (LSGF) is to foster and promote sustainable practices by awarding competitive grants for the implementation of environmentally responsible, economically beneficial, and socially sensible projects.  For more information about this grant, funded projects, or to apply visit http://www.luther.edu/sustainability/lsgf/.

Nena Amundson Wellness Grant Application

The purpose of this grant is to provide students, faculty and staff with the opportunity to spread wellness across our campus. Grant money will be awarded based on the wellness opportunities that the experience offers.  For more information and to apply go to http://www.luther.edu/studentlife/wellness/grant/.

Lecture and Fine Arts (LFA) Grant

This grant is designed to provide funds for creative and innovative programs which encourage connections between academics and campus events. The mission of the LFA is to promote activities which support both the academic and cultural life at Luther College. For more information, and to apply,  go to https://www.luther.edu/programming/lfa/

Honors and Research Grants

The Honors Program offers grants to sophomores, juniors, and seniors who undertake independent research or creative projects that involve expenses not normally covered by a department.

Students with 3.0 GPAs in their majors may apply for grants to cover expenses for research projects and costs of travel to conferences to present research results.  (Meal costs will not be covered, unless included as part of conference registration fees.)  Recipients are expected to submit a report describing the work accomplished with the help of the grant.

To apply for student research funds, please download the Student Research Funds Application.

To apply for funds to travel to a conference, please download the Student Travel Funds Application.

Davis Projects for Peace

Davis Projects for Peace is an initiative for all students at Davis UWC Scholars Program partner schools; the goal is to encourage students to design grassroots projects that promote peace and address the root causes of conflict among parties.  Projects must be designed to be implemented during the summer.  Grants are awarded in the amount of $10,000 each for proposals judged to be the most promising and achievable.

For more information, visit http://www.davisprojectsforpeace.org/ or contact Jon Lund, Luther’s Davis United World College Scholars campus contact,lundjon@luther.edu, or Terry Sparkes, Associate Dean and Director of College Honors, sparkete@luther.edu.

Clinton Global Initiative University

Building on the successful model of the Clinton Global Initiative, which brings together world leaders to take action on global challenges, President Clinton launched the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) in 2007 to engage the next generation of leaders on college campuses around the world.

Each year, CGI U hosts a meeting where students, youth organizations, topic experts, and celebrities come together to discuss and develop innovative solutions to pressing global challenges. More than $400,000 in funding is now available for CGI U student attendees to turn their ideas into action. To be eligible for funding, students must first apply online to attend CGI U.

Fundraising

Most student organizations are responsible for raising their own funds.  Organizations may contact Student Senate for a limited amount of funding.  Co-sponsoring events is also encouraged as a way to pool resources. 

Student organizations wishing to promote a fund-raising event in either the Williams Lounge or Marty’s Lobby must complete a fund-raising table form at least one week prior to the event.  Several signatures may be needed before the request is approved.  Fundraising that competes with Dahl Centennial Union services (Book Shop, Dining Services, etc.) must be approved by the department administrator. 

Raffles are not permitted at Luther College because the college does not have the required gambling license from the State of Iowa. 

Academic Departments

Student Organizations can seek funding assistance from academic departments related to the event being hosted.  Academic departments may be willing to let organizations use their printing account, speaker funds, travel funds, etc, provided that the event is appropriate and relevant to that department.  The list of department heads to be contacted can be found here: http://www.luther.edu/academics/departments/.

On-campus accounts

Recognized student organizations are eligible for an on-campus account pending approval from the Office of Financial Services (OFS).  Student organization advisors and officers will need to complete the Request for Student Agency Account form which is available in the Office of Financial Services.  Advisors will be able to request funds from the account and will receive all budget reports for the account. 

There are two types of account numbers on the Luther Campus, the Datatel number and the CBORD number.  The Datatel number (xx-xxx-xxxxx-xxxxx) is created by the Office of Financial Services.  The CBORD (xxx-xxxxx) number is created by the Dining Services Office.  Use the CBORD number in the Document Center, Book Shop, or any dining services facility.  The Datatel number is used for items such as check requests or petty cash boxes.  Questions on which number to use can be directed to OFS or the area where the transaction is taking place.

Procedures and Guidelines

1. Annual Procedures Required
   • Each July 1 all agency accounts will be inactivated in the general ledger; payments and receipts can get posted to them.
   • By September 1, student organizations that wish to activate their agency accounts must:
   • 1. Fill out the Student Organization Yearly Update Form.
     2. Fill out the Office for Financial Services Student Agency Account Form (available in the Office of Financial Services).  Return to the Office for Financial Services.
2. Payment vouchers and invoices must be approved for payment by the advisor of the student organization.
3. The advisor is able to view financial information for the student organization online at my.luther.edu.  The advisor can request that the officers of the group also have access to this online information.
4. Student agency accounts that have not had any activity for two or more years will have their fund balance transferred to the Luther College Annual Fund.
5. If any student agency account is overspent at May 31 of each year, the balance will be processed as follows:
   • The department assuming responsibility for the student organization will have their budget charged for the excess.
   • Student officers who signed the Office for Financial Services Student Agency Account form acknowledging responsibility will have their student receivable account charged for the excess.

To review the entire policy click on the "Student Organizations" policy found here.

How to Collect Cash

1. No cash can be mailed in the SPO for student organization purposes (dues, t-shirt purchasing, etc).
   1. Checks are acceptable.
      1. If mailing a check to Office of Financial Service (OFS) for deposit, the following information must be included: Name of person making the deposit, ID#, SPO#, amount of cash, name of the account and account number, and a brief description of the deposit.  If any of this information is missing the deposit will not be processed.

2. Three options are available for collecting cash within a student organization.
   1. Directly giving cash to the appropriate person in the student organization (preferred method).
      1. Student organizations arrange the best way to do this.
   2. Directly depositing cash at OFS.
      1. Deposits must be made using the deposit form.  Deposit forms can be found at OFS or in the Student Organizational Suite (SOS).
      2. Required information includes:  name of person bringing the deposit, ID#, SPO#, amount of cash, name of the account and the account number and a brief description of the deposit.
         1. Deposits will not be accepted if any of this information is missing.
         2. Account names and numbers are given to members by the student organization leaders.  OFS will not look up any account information at the time of depositing.
   3. Drop it off at the deposit slot on the second floor of Dahl Centennial Union.
      1. Cash must be placed in a sealed envelope with required information written on the envelope.
      2. Envelopes are located in the envelope drawer of the deposit slot and provided by the Student Activities Office.
      3. Required information includes:  Name of person bringing deposit, organization name, amount of cash, brief description of the deposit.
      4. Organization leaders receive an email when they have money to pick up.
      5. Student organizations retrieve cash by arranging a time with the Coordinator of Student Organizations on Tuesdays between 9:30 and 10:30 am
      6. If cash is deposited without an envelope it will be held for 90 days for someone to claim.  If it goes unclaimed it will be deposited into the Student Activities Office account.

Petty Cash Boxes

Cash boxes are available to student organizations with a department or agency account.  Student organization advisors will need to complete the Petty Cash Box Request found on the Office of Financial Services website.  Your group must determine a safe, lockable location for box to be stored; and when/how the cash will be deposited in the Dahl Centennial Union depository or OFS.   Questions regarding petty cash may be directed to the cashiers in the Office of Financial Services.