The Division of Student Life introduces the Student Group Funding Council
The SGFC replaces the UA Finance Board for funding MIT undergraduate student organizations
Colin Clark–The Tech
Starting in the 2025–2026 academic year, student organizations will apply for funding through the Student Group Funding Council (SGFC). This change replaces previous funding sources that include the Undergraduate Association (UA) Finance Board, Graduate Student Council (GSC) Funding Board, and the Association of Student Activities (ASA) Large Event Fund (LEF) and Assisting Recurring Cultural And Diversity Events (ARCADE) funds. The council is composed of nine voting members that include representatives from the UA, ASA, GSC, as well as three elected members.
The SGFC was formed in 2025 based on the recommendations from the Student Organization Working Group’s (SOWG) final report, which proposed a single funding board for all recognized student organizations for greater efficiency and a more streamlined funding process.
Led by the Division of Student Life, the SOWG met in Spring 2023 to discuss and propose changes to student organization policies and structures at MIT, including financial management and recognition processes. According to the report, the new funding board’s money comes from the New Fund, which is primarily composed of the Student Life Fee, as well as the LEF and ARCADE funds.
Previously, student groups applied for funding individually through various sources, each one with different deadlines and rules. These differences resulted in challenges for organizations with both undergraduate and graduate students, since groups were either labeled as undergraduate or graduate. “This binary designation became impractical and inconsistent,” Student Organizations, Leadership and Engagement Office (SOLE) Director Paul Murphy wrote.
According to Murphy, the purpose of the SGFC is to improve the funding process by removing the undergraduate and graduate funding distinction and combining these separate funding groups into one. “The unified structure aims to reduce confusion and create a more equitable and accessible funding process for all student groups,” Murphy wrote.
The SGFC has three application cycles (spring, summer, and fall). Each cycle will have a multi-week application window along with an appeal process after preliminary allocations are released. Each funding application will be reviewed by two council members and will be voted on by the entire council. The application requires student groups to provide a detailed budget request and a justification for the requested funds. Funding applications will be evaluated based on educational outcomes and budget review.
The deadline for the SGFC fall funding cycle closed on Aug. 15. Allocations will be released on Aug. 29, and appeals will be released on Sept. 2.
Questions and concerns about SGFC can be sent to sole@mit.edu or sgfc-exec@mit.edu.