Funding
One way to raise money is to charge a small membership fee e.g. £3, or to charge on a per event basis. For bigger costs, you’ll need to do some fundraising – how about a bake sale or a sponsored challenge?
Another way to bring in some money, or to make your funds go a bit further is to get a sponsorship.
Societies Development Fund
All affiliated societies are welcome to apply for funding from our ‘Societies Development Fund’. This is a fund specifically for societies to use and has an annual budget that we try to distribute as fairly as possible between societies. Any bid received is looked at - if it's under £300, the Activities Coordinator and VP Community discuss the application. If it's £300+ it's discussed and voted on by your fellow society leaders, most often at our monthly Societies Council meetings. Have a look at what the fund will and won't cover below. You'll also need a society bank account before you can apply for funding.
This fund is generously supported by the Heriot-Watt University Annual Fund.
The societies development fund for 2023/2024 is now open! Click here to apply
We will also ask you for an accounting sheet (unless you're a new society) so please complete this template one.
Polo society, who've previously recieved some funding to help with the cost of lessons/equiptment.
What Can I get funding for?
All funding must be in line with your society's aims and want to further your society's activities and engagement with current or prospective society members.
Money can be spent on:
- Equipment - e.g. chess boards, a projector screen, cups and plates
- Speakers/Guests - paying for someone to speak or perform at an event
- Accommodation - helping you or guests stay overnight at an event
- Transport - getting you or guests to/from an event
- Marketing/Publicity - e.g. printing, banners, website domains
- Insurance – safety first
Money cannot be spent on:
- Alcohol^
- Personal Clothing
- Socials
- Food and Drink^
- Anything else deemed inappropriate by the Union*
^Unless it is necessary for the aims of your society, e.g the Brewing Society
*We reserve the right to withhold funding for activities not in keeping with the aims and values of the Union.
If you have any questions about what you can get funding for, please contact Christy.
the annual fund
what is the annual fund?
The Annual Fund (sometimes also called the Alumni Fund) is a great resource available to students who have an ambitious project or idea that needs financial support to be feasible. This funding is taken from the generous donations made by past students of Heriot-Watt (hence: Alumni Fund) and previously was open for applications for one window per year (hence: Annual Fund!), though it now has multiple openings per year. During these windows, students can apply for funding to support projects and extracurricular events that would improve or enhance the student experience at Heriot-Watt.
How do i apply?
When the application windows are open (you can email Christy to find out the dates), fill in the application form available online. The Annual Fund also provide guidance to ensure you’re submitting the highest quality of proposal that you can.
Tips:
In the finance section, include all expenses related to the project. Where funding is being secured from other sources in addition to this fund, include the amount, the sources, and whether you have successfully secured it in the appropriate sections.
Applications should clearly demonstrate the benefit deliverable by the project: how will this project positively impact Heriot-Watt students, Heriot-Watt as an institution, and/or the wider community?