Student Activities Fund at ACS

Grant Application Round 02 Fall 2014

Contents• SAF Overview• Benefits to students• Criteria• Application process• Proposal defense• Other

SAF Overview• The Student Activities Fund (SAF) is founded by members of the Alumni

Fund Advisory Committee (AFAC) and the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) at ACS to support student projects, activities, and events

• Every year, SAF will set a budget of up to 2000 BGN to disburse on competitive basis. The maximum grant per project, activity, or event would be 500 BGN

• The competition is open to all student clubs, athletic teams, and individual students who seek funding for implementing a service-oriented SIHP proposal

• Students who want to start a new club or team can also apply for funding• The SAF grant cannot be the sole source of funding – students must

organize additional fundraising to cover at least a part of the budget• Students can additionally request to get an alum or a parent as a mentor

to help them alongside the faculty supervisor• Projects must be completed by June 2015

Benefits to students• Students can have a positive impact on campus life and the community

beyond• Clubs and teams can scale up their activities• Students can practice presentation / pitching / budget management /

fundraising skills• Students can experience the full cycle that leads from idea and general

strategy to winning funding to running a project to reporting results• Clubs and teams can forge stronger relationships with alumni and parents

and attract wider support for their activities from the ACS community

Criteria – part 1Winning projects will have as a direct objective one or more of the following:

• Help students master critical skill / competency that’s not covered in the current academic curriculum

• Promote student participation and engagement with campus life• Improve school spirit• Promote public service• Promote parent, teacher, alumni, and staff engagement with student events and campus

life• Help students build their future professional network

• Have positive impact on a community outside of ACS• Improves team-work and promote collaboration among students• Gives students opportunities to practice leadership skills• Gives students opportunities to engage in community service• Promotes ACS and its values to the wider public

Criteria – part 2In pursuit of these objectives, winning projects will do one or more of the following:

• Advertise information about activity, project, or event on campus (e.g. via daily bulletin, newspaper, and at campus events)

• Execute in collaboration with other student clubs or teams• Execute in sync with other student projects and initiatives to amplify

impact• Generate publicity for ACS• Build on existing campus structures, networks, practices • Repeat or expand in the future rather than treat the project as a single

occurrence

Criteria – part 3It is essential that clubs or teams submitting a proposal meet the following administrative requirements:

• Are in good standing with the Dean’s office (documents, reports, registration of members, etc.)

• Have an official faculty supervisor• Maximum application length – 10 pages

Application process1. Submit application – Nov 2, 2014 (email to ACSstudentfund@gmail.com)2. Shortlisted candidates notified by Nov 7, 20143. Shortlisted candidates defend their proposals in front of SAF selection

committee – week of Nov 10 (date TBD)

Proposal defense• If your application is successful, you will be invite to defend your proposal

in front of a committee• Shortlisted candidates get 15 minutes per proposal – 5 minutes

presentation and 10 minutes Q&A• Students get to choose the format of their presentation• Students will receive feedback on the quality of their application and

presentation but this is not one of the criteria for awarding a grant• Committee will include representatives of Student Council, Alumni Fund

Advisory Committee, Parent Teacher Association, and Dean’s Office at ACS

Questions?Please send all questions and inquiries to:

ACSstudentfund@gmail.com