Student Assembly Finance Commission

Initial Budget

The major deadlines for this semester are:

• 4pm on Friday, 3 February 2012:Complete the online application before this deadline.
• 4pm on Monday, 6 February 2012:Turn in supporting documents checklist with supporting documents (if applicable) on or before this deadline.

Here are the steps you must take to request an initial budget for your organization or, if you are applying in the spring and already have an initial budget from the fall, to get additional funds added to your organization’s budget:

1. Start planning your budget before the semester starts. If you plan to seek SAFC funding, start planning your budget before the semester starts. Certain deadlines occur as early as the the first week of classes. Especially if you are new to the process, see Helpful Resources below for detailed information on what you can apply for and how the process works. In particular, look at the Supported Expenses section of the SAFC Funding Guidelines to find out what sort of activities are eligible for SAFC funding and what materials you will need to collect for each.
2. Register your organization before the semester starts. Your organization must register with the Student Activities Office in order to be eligible to apply for or spend SAFC funds. Complete registration takes several business days and involves submitting signed forms so you should at least start the process before classes start. Allow an hour for changes in your organization to appear in the SAFC online budget system.
3. Start your online application as early as you can. Your organization must apply online. You cannot start the online application unless you meet eligibility requirements to apply for funding. Verify your organization has fulfilled these requirements by starting your online application in the first week of classes regardless of when you intend to finish it.
4. Complete the online application. Deadlines apply, so please review the SAFC calendar for information on this semester’s deadline. The online application includes the following:
   • Approval of each president, treasurer, and advisor listed in the registration by digital signature of the SAFC Statement on Ethical Conduct
   • Creating the budget request itself and adding appropriate items to the budget
   • Approval of each president, treasurer, and advisor listed in the registration by digital signature of the budget request
5. Turn in supporting document checklist and supporting documents you did not submit online. Your organization must print the supporting document checklist, which you should receive by email when you complete online submission, attach hard copies of any supporting documents not included in the online submission, and turn it in to the SAFC Coordinator at 520 Willard Straight Hall by the supporting documents deadline listed in the SAFC calendar. Required documentation may include the following:
   • Letter of Intent Form
   • Inventory Report Form

Special Projects and Category Transfers

If your organization submitted an online application in the current academic year, it is eligible to request additional funding for special projects, new opportunities that arise after the start of the semester. You are also eligible to request category transfers, which move your organization’s remaining allocation between expense categories.

You must download, print, and complete a Special Project and Category Transfer Request Form for each such request. Submit the completed request to the SAFC coordinator at 520 Willard Straight Hall.

Helpful Resources

The most important information resources provided by the SAFC are the following:

• SAFC Calendar with important deadlines and event information
• SAFC Funding Guidelines comprehensive rules about applying for funding and what can be funded
• Chronological Listing of SAFC Policy Changes a semester-by-semester record of changes in SAFC policy
• Other sources of funding available to student organizations at Cornell
• Budget Workshop Presentation a helpful presentation showing with screen shots how to fill out your budget online.

The following forms may be required for your organization’s application: