Other Funding Sources
Beyond Student Activities Fee (SAF) funding, CIOs can explore other funding opportunities, including grants, alumni connections, and additional sources of financial support. Many of these opportunities are application-based, so funding is not guaranteed. However, some sources may cover up to 100% of the amount requested.
Unlike SAF funding, alternative funding sources follow their own guidelines and eligibility requirements. Please review each opportunity carefully to determine which expenses and types of organizations are eligible for funding.
-
Through the generous support of UVA alumni and friends, the Cavalier Fund was established to ensure that all undergraduate students had access to a similar educational experience while attending UVA, regardless of their financial resources. Eligible students can apply for and receive grant funding of up to $1,000 per academic year to support their interest and participation in co-curricular activities that supplement the University’s academic program.
Contact: Cavalier Fund, cavalierfund@virginia.edu
-
Next Generation Philanthropy (NextGen) was created to help current students and recent graduates connect and give back to UVA. We collaborate with CIOs, providing tailored fundraising advice and support. Reach out to gain access to exclusive resources, expert guidance, and proven strategies to achieve your fundraising goals!
OVERVIEW | WEBSITE | REQUEST A CAMPAIGN
Contact: Olivia Hathaway, nextgen@virginia.edu
-
Proposals of $10,000 or less can be submitted anytime, with funding decisions typically coming in under a month (no deadlines, letter of inquiry, or in-person pitch). Grants are made to short-term projects or immediate use opportunities, often for student organizations.
Contact: Amy Bonner, abonner@virginia.edu
-
Major grants are typically $10,000 to over $300,0000, but there are no minimums, and maximums vary based on available funds.
The cycle consists of three stages with grants made in September and April.
Contact: Amy Bonner, abonner@virginia.edu
-
Any University student, organization, or department that offers services, programs, or projects to UVA undergraduate students may apply for a UVA Parents Program grant. This past year, applicants representing more than 100 student-led clubs and groups, departments and schools, and special events received vital support.
The Parents Program has allocated more than $1 million across Grounds annually for the last several academic years. Members of the Parents Council administer the grants and prefer to provide “seed money” to initiate new programs or to meet a one-time need—not to provide annual funding for existing programs
Note: Must attend one (1) information session before submitting grant application.
Contact: Marcy Sheldon, marcy.sheldon@virginia.edu
-
The UVA Alumni Association’s Student Engagement Fund seeks to facilitate positive student engagement by providing funding to a wide variety of student organizations. We are committed to supporting events and initiatives that reach a diverse student audience and positively impact the University. The Fund is sponsored entirely by the UVA Alumni Association and is managed by our Student Engagement department.
General Requirements:
· Applications must be submitted at least one month prior to your event, in order to be considered.
· Any University-affiliated organization is eligible to apply, so long as UVA undergraduate students are the majority target for the program/event. (Applications from graduate students will be considered if the program/event is open and marketed to undergraduate students as well).
· Funding will not be granted for the use of: honoraria/speaker fees, travel-associated costs, alcohol, or prizes and awards (e.g. gift cards, trophies, etc). We generally do not fund t-shirts, unless they are integral to the event or program.
· Funded events and activities should be open and accessible to all students (e.g. on-Grounds or nearby, no or low cost to attend, not for internal org events, etc). · Please visit our website to view our website (www.studentengagementfund.com) to learn more!
Application Info:
· The application portal will open by August 24, 2026 and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis
· The average grant size for 2025-2026 was $1,621
Contact: Student Engagement Fund, StudentEngagementFund@virginia.edu
-
The University Programs Council hopes to use our experience as a programming board to mentor and assist other organizations collaboratively to put on events for our student body and external communities. As such, we have recently divided the funding and assistance we can provide to any CIOs/organizations around Grounds. The UPC Co-Sponsorship process allows CIOs to work hand in hand with UPC committees to provide enhanced programming and high quality events, while also allowing CIOs to garner experience in event planning. We have also opened a separate funding form in which we provide any and all financial assistance as requested by the CIO. Rather than operating on a reimbursement basis, UPC will directly buy/pay for any items requested. The UPC Funding Request allows organizers to pursue their events without the direct involvement of UPC amongst the event-planning. We hope this split enables us to expand our outreach and assistance with CIOs.
Contact: Vice Chair of Outreach, det5zv@virginia.edu
-
The Honor Committee provides co-sponsorships to organizations and events aligned with our Community of Trust. Honor funds everything from student association dinners to medical school seminars. Applicants submit a description of their event and organization, a precise budget, and explain how their event ties back to the Community of Trust. Successful applicants are asked to attend an Honor Committee meeting following their event to highlight its significance and community impact. The standard maximum is $500 per request, though this may be exceeded for deserving causes and applications.
Contact: Vice Chair for Operations, zsg8zq@virginia.edu
-
The Office of the Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer seeks to promote positive, healthy avenues of engagement in University life and, specifically, on-Grounds activities aimed at developing citizen leadership through community, inclusion, and wellness. Over the years, we have expanded that mission to include a wide array of academic and cultural programs, we stay close to the on-Grounds requirement. Funds may not be used for ongoing operating expenses. You must submit the request form 30 days before your event or program. Failure to do so will result in non-approval. A report on the event/program must be submitted to VPSA 30 days after the event.
There’s no deadline for the application. The organization must have a supplier number or a UVA fund account to receive funds. They must be a registered organization with the university. We provide groups up to $2,000 for the academic year.
Note: You must submit the request form 30 days prior to your event.
Contact: Rakeem Walker, rrw9cz@virginia.edu
-