Many campus groups and affiliates are actively working to support and enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion among graduate students and across the campus community. This work is often done on a volunteer basis by individuals and organizations that lack access to consistent, sustainable financial support for these efforts. While Graduate Recognized Student Organizations have access to GA Grants funding that support campus diversity, other organizations, such as campus departments and graduate groups, do not have access to these funds.
In order to further support this work, the Graduate Assembly has established Independent Organizer Funding, providing grants for campus groups and affiliates starting or continuing efforts to further diversity, equity, and inclusion in the campus community.
Applications are now open for 2024-2025 Independent Organizer Funding, and can be found on the GA Funding CalLink page under Forms (bottom of the page, you must be logged into CalLink to view the forms). Applications are being accepted on the same schedule as GRSO funding. Applicants will need to briefly describe their project, its benefits and timeline, and provide a tentative proposed budget.
Individual projects funded in full by this award will not exceed $1,000 per project. Groups may request funding in excess of this amount if they plan to secure matching dollars from other sources (such as the Dean’s Graduate Diversity Innovation Fund) for all funds allocated beyond the full funding cap. Applicants needn’t have already secured matching funds to receive an award in excess of $1000, but should provide information about the funds they are pursuing. For more information, see the Funding Guide.
We encourage all campus groups and organizations to apply, though awards will be prioritized for groups that are not eligible for other GA funding streams. If you have any questions about the grant, please contact the GA Funding Officer at funding-ga@berkeley.edu.