Finances

Club Accounts

All clubs have an internal account at the CSU which is used to manage their funds. The budget given to your club at the start of the year is put into this internal account, and you will also deposit any revenue you generate from events, projects, and sponsorships into this account. Unused budget funds do not carry over to the next academic year, but other deposited funds generated from external sponsors and events will remain.

Requesting a Budget

Every year, clubs are required to submit a budget proposal so the Clubs Committee can review it and allocate funding for the year. Clubs must use the Budget Proposal Template provided by the CSU, as budget proposals other formats will not be accepted. Once the Committee has reviewed a Club’s budget proposal, the Club will be emailed their approved budget amount.

Using Club Funds

The main way to use the money in your club account is to pay for an expense out-of-pocket and then get reimbursed by submitting a requisition form. To be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses, you should fill out a Reimbursement Form on a computer. Then print it, have it signed by your Club’s two signing officers, attach the original receipts for all purchases (we will not accept debit or credit receipts)*, attach printed bank statements for all purchases made with debit or credit (you may blank out any personal or other information from these statements), and submit it at CSU Reception in H-711. You can also indicate on the form whether you would like to pick up the completed cheque at the CSU, or if you would like it mailed to you. After submitting a requisition form, you can expect a delay of approximately 2-3 weeks for it to be processed.

If a given expense is too large to pay out of pocket, you may have the organization or venue send an invoice directly to the CSU. For invoices, you should first speak to the Internal Affairs Coordinator (clubs@csu.qc.ca) to ensure that you have enough money in your Club budget, and that it is alright for us to accept the invoice. Once you obtain approval, the business or venue that you are dealing with can send an invoice for the expense directly to the CSU as long as it is clearly indicated that the expense is for your Club.

*If you have misplaced the original receipts, you may ask to use printed debit or credit bank statements to verify the expenses. For this reason, we recommend that all your Club’s transactions be conducted using debit and credit cards instead of cash.

Additional Funding Sources

CSU Special Clubs Funding
Any CSU Club may apply for Special Clubs Funding for a specific project or event. This funding can be used in addition to a Club’s annual budget. Remember, the more detailed and well-researched your budget and funding request are, the more likely you are to receive funding from the Clubs Committee. If you have any questions regarding the application process for Special Clubs Funding, send an email to clubsdirector@csu.qc.ca.

Dean of Students Office
The Dean of Students Office administers a Special Projects Fund through the Concordia Council on Student Life. From their website:

“CCSL makes funds available to support projects that enhance or contribute to the quality of student life at Concordia. Events, projects, or initiatives that enhance student life are ones that seek to positively raise awareness or engage the student body in a social, political, educational, or cultural context. The fund is designed to support innovative and unique activities rather than ongoing expenses of student groups and initiatives.”

Guidelines, application forms, and information about deadlines for the CCSL SPF can be found here.

External Sponsors
If you are hosting an event around the University, there are always stores, hotels, cafes, and restaurants that are looking for ways to advertise to students. Offering them a sponsorship package and free advertisement during your event will encourage these companies to give you money and invest in your club. Please talk to the Internal Affairs Coordinator if you need any help making a sponsorship package.

If you receive a sponsorship, have the sponsor make the cheque out to CSU with the name of your Club in the Memo section, then schedule a meeting with the Internal Affairs Coordinator to deposit the cheque in your Club’s internal account. The funds will then be available to access by submitting a reimbursement form with receipts attached.

Faculty Associations
Some Faculty associations, like ASFA, have a Special Projects Fund. For further information, check out the faculty association’s website or contact one of their representatives.

Colleges, Schools, and Departments
For a speaker or event of an academic nature, it is possible to obtain funding through a University department related to the topic of the event. For example, if you are hosting a speaker on an environmental issue, you may consider approaching the Department of Geography for funding. Apply by handing in a plan of your project, including a detailed budget, to the department. Remember, if your project touches on more than one issue, you may be able to apply to more than one department.

Sustainability Action Fund (SAF)
The Sustainability Action Fund “goes to support projects to develop sustainable infrastructure, urban agriculture, community-building, and education surrounding environmental and community issues, with the goal of inspiring and developing a culture of sustainability at Concordia University.” Click here to find out how to apply.