OSA Community Grants

OSA Community Engagement Grant (CEG)

The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) enhances students' academic and community experiences. We strive to create an environment that fosters a strong sense of belonging, empowers students with agency, and encourages a collaborative approach to shaping their ideal MBA journey.

OSA offers the Community Engagement Grant (CEG) to support and partner with student clubs. This grant provides a unique opportunity for additional program funding. The primary objective of the CEG is to partner with student clubs to foster impactful community-wide events that are inclusive of all CBS students.

CEG applications are reviewed and approved by the CEG committee, including OSA staff and club advisors, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Events funded through the Community Engagement Grant must be inclusive and open to all students, without restrictions limited to club members. 

CEG Requirements

Application Requirements

  • Events must be dedicated to furthering business school students' academic, career, and community experiences. Click here (CampusGroups log- in required) to see a list of previously approved events.
  • Clubs must include a budget using the Community Engagement Grant Proposal Budget Template in their grant proposal. 
  • Events must be open to all CBS Students, not just club members. 
  • The application must state a clear purpose and measurable outcomes.
  • Proposals must be submitted at least four weeks in advance.

 

Program Requirements

  • Grant-funded events must take place as outlined in the application.
  • Events focused on food must accompany an educational and/or cultural experience. Events perceived as just networking or a gathering will not be considered.
  • Any changes to the event must be approved by the club advisor and the grant committee before it takes place.
  • OSA club advisors must be notified if you cancel or postpone your CEG-funded event.
  • Once your application is approved, you must add your event to your club’s CampusGroups portal if it is not there already.
  • The program must be widely promoted within the student community, not just among club members. 
  • Events that receive CEG funding are subject to all standard club programs and financial policies. 

Expenses Not Funded by CEG

  • Alcohol, including beer or wine
  • Individual conference registration costs and/or student club-sponsored conference expenses
  • Travel and lodging expenses
  • Honorarium and gifts for speakers
  • Executive board dinners and/or club-sponsored dinners that do not include the MBA student community or other CEG funding requirements.
  • Activities not occurring within the semester in which the award is requested.
  • Events not approved to be funded by CEG include Club mixers, socials, or parties.

Submission Process

  • The Community Engagement Grant opens officially on Wednesday, August 28, 2024*, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the semester until 5 PM on Friday, November 8, 2024 (four weeks before the last day of student group programming on Friday, December 6, 2024). We encourage students to apply sooner to ensure the availability of grant funding.
  • Event proposals should be submitted no later than four (4) weeks before the event. This allows for adequate processing time for event contracts or space reservations. Decisions will be shared via email within one week of the application being submitted.

*The grant committee will consider applications for any event occurring within the first month of the application's opening date.

Click here to apply for the Fall 2024 Community Engagement Grant 

OSA Community Response Grant (CRG)

While the Office of Student Affairs encourages students to proactively plan events and community building opportunities, we recognize that there are times in which we must create spaces to respond to real-time world happenings that deeply impact our community. The CBS Community Response Grant serves as a method of providing funding for community events that encourage students to discuss, process or celebrate events that impact society on a regional or global scale.

CRG Requirements

  • Real time events: Over the past year we’ve seen many examples of when our community has wanted to come together to discuss a current event; examples include anti-Asian violence, the war in Ukraine, floods in Pakistan, and protests in Iran. A real-time event is something that cannot be predicted, but deeply impacts our community on a local, domestic or global scale.
  • Funding: Each grant provides up to $500 in funding for a community event or program. Student organizations can also contribute funds from their budget or apply for additional funds from the Community Engagement Grant.
  • Students without an affiliation: Only student organizations (not individuals) can apply for a Community Response Grant. If you have a community response event that you would like to hold but are not connected to a club, please meet with the Office of Student Affairs so that we can pair you with a student organization!

Expenses Not Funded by CRG

  • Alcohol
  • Conferences (funding will be given separately through OSA)
  • Travel expenses
  • Honorarium and gifts
  • Activities not occurring within the semester in which the award is requested

Submission Process

  • Applications for the Community Response Grant will be accepted on a rolling basis. Clubs must submit a complete application including any supporting documentation.
  • Funded activities must be completed during the semester in which the award is made. If awards given for a semester are not utilized, funding cannot be transferred to the following semester. All Columbia Business School policies must be upheld in the planning and execution of your project. These funds must be used for the purpose approved by the panel. Grant funding will be awarded in the form of a transfer to the club’s account.

Click here to apply for the Community Response Grant 

OSA Case Competition Grant (CCG)

The Case Competition Grant program enhances our robust slate of co-curricular activities by subsidizing participation in case competitions. The goal of the grant is to positively impact students with the added bonus of easing the financial burden Case Competitions can impose on students. Grant recipients must reflect academic integrity and dedication, and community citizenship.

CCG Requirements

  • Grants will only be awarded to teams comprised of students participating in Case Competitions. Grants will not be awarded to individual students.
  • The maximum amount of funding that groups may be awarded per application is $1000.
  • Absences from regularly schedule classes and/or exams due to attendance at grand-funded case competitions will not be considered excused.
  • Groups must provide a detailed budget of the event, using the budget template found here: Budget Template

Expenses Not Funded by the CCG

  • Honorarium and gifts.
  • Food and alcohol (this includes room service, mini bar, resort fees, upgrades, etc.)
  • Airfare that is purchased with miles or points cannot be reimbursed.
  • Air B&B and other home-sharing platforms are not eligible for reimbursement when traveling on University business with the use of this grant. Teams should make note in their application if they intend to stay in a home-share.

Expenses Eligible for CCG

  • Registration fee for Competition.
  • Travel and hotel lodging (no Air B&B or home-share).

Submission Process

  • Complete project proposals must be submitted no later than two (2) weeks prior to the event. 
  • Decisions will be announced within one (1) week of the application's date of submission. 
  • Applications can be submitted starting on September 3, 2024 on a rolling basis throughout the year until April 3, 2025.
  • If you have any questions, please e-mail Haniya Rizwan, Assistant Director of Advising and Academic Success in the Office of Student Affairs.

Click here to apply for the Case Competition Grant 

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