Funding Options

Organizational (Umbrella) Funds

These funds are available to Recognized Student Organizations (RSO) and can be used for closed events. These funds make up a large part of the funds available to Marshall from GSG (from the Graduate Programming Fee) and will have shorter lead time as compared to other funds. These funds can be used only if the funding cannot be procured from any of the other non-organizational funds mentioned below available to us. Refer to the next section for timeline and guidelines.

Organizational funds should only be requested for events which are accessible to the broader Marshall community and benefit in attaining jobs or building diverse and inclusive relationships.

Some examples of appropriate use of Organizational funding:

  • Industry Round Tables
  • Career Nights
  • Guest Speaker Series

Funding Committee

Approvals for requests for these funds will be decided on an objective process through a funding committee comprised of members of the MGSA and the Full-Time MBA Program Office.

Non-Organizational Funds

These funds are at the discretion of the GSG Finance committee but are a great source for events which do not fall under the organizational funding criteria. They have longer lead times (~6 Weeks) to process.

Discretionary Fund: $9,000 available to Marshall

This Fund is open to all recognized clubs for events with the caveat that it is officially open to all USC Graduate Students.

Joint Fund: $4,500 available for Marshall

This Fund is open to all events organized by two or more organizations from two or more distinct schools/departments. Events must be advertised through GSG as open to all interested USC graduate students and include the GSG logo on promotional material.

Volunteer Fund: $4,500 available for Marshall

This Fund is open to all organizations for volunteer or community service events. Events must be advertised through GSG as open to all interested USC graduate students, and include the GSG logo on promotional material.

Social Justice Fund: $4,500 available for Marshall

This Fund is open to all organizations for social justice related events, and is available on a first-come-first-served basis. This Fund is meant for advocacy on behalf of underrepresented/marginalized groups. Events funded by the Social Justice Fund must be advertised through GSG as open to all interested USC graduate students, and include the GSG logo on promotional material.

Sustainability Fund: $4,500 available for Marshall

This Fund is primarily used for a Green Fund at USC in conjunction with Undergraduate Student Government and University Administration (who contribute funds). Each group has representation on a committee that approves sustainability-related proposals.

Process and Timelines

Organizational (Umbrella) Funds

All funding applications must be submitted as per the Funding Deadlines:

  • Budget Proposals AT LEAST 3 weeks in advance of the event for requests smaller than $500 and 4 weeks for requests more than $1500
  • Expense Requests AT LEAST 2 weeks in advance of the event;
  • Post-Event Form within 5 business days after the event.

Funding Process

  • Budget Proposal: Excel Form to be submitted 3 WEEKS in advance for lesser than $1500 and 4 WEEKS for greater than $1500 to : mgsa.ft.vpfinance@marshall.usc.edu. It must include amount requested, event description, line items with costs, in addition to other details. One Budget Proposal must be submitted for EACH proposed event.
  • Only USC approved vendors can be used, you cannot use outside vendors and expect to get reimbursed for your expenses. https://sait.usc.edu/stuorgs/forms/CommonlyUsedVendors.pdf
  • Expense Request: an excel form to be submitted after approval of the Budget Application and 2 WEEKS in advance of the event. One Expense Request per each vendor is required. A formal statement from a vendor to supply goods or services at a specified price within a given period must be submitted with an Expense Request for any vendor, summarizing the items and expected costs in advance of purchase. Sometimes a quote will be issued as an initial Invoice, which should be submitted with the Expense Request as a quote and afterwards submitted as a final Invoice if nothing changed.
  • Final Invoices must be submitted within 5 Days after the event has ended.

Timeline

Non-Organizational Funds

All funding applications must be submitted as per the Funding Deadlines:

  • Budget Proposals AT LEAST 6 weeks in advance of the event
  • Expense Requests AT LEAST 3 weeks in advance of the event;
  • Post-Event Form within 5 business days after the event.

Funding Process

  • Budget Application: Excel Form to be submitted 6 WEEKS in advance : mgsa.ft.vpfinance@marshall.usc.edu. It must include amount requested, event description, line items with costs, in addition to other details. One Budget Proposal must be submitted for EACH proposed event.
  • Expense Request: an excel form to be submitted after approval of the Budget Application and 3 WEEKS in advance of the event. One Expense Request per each vendor is required. A formal statement from a vendor to supply goods or services at a specified price within a given period must be submitted with an Expense Request for any vendor, summarizing the items and expected costs in advance of purchase. Sometimes a quote will be issued as an initial Invoice, which should be submitted with the Expense Request as a quote and afterwards submitted as a final Invoice if nothing changed.
  • Final Invoices must be submitted within 5 Days after the event has ended.

Payment Process

Payments will be only be directly made to the USC Authorized Vendor or Internal USC Department directly either through a Purchase Order or an Internal Requisition. Clubs will not be reimbursed or payed directly.

  • Internal Requisition (IR): form of payment for all USC departments and vendors (including Express Catering, Lab, Radisson, Rosso Oro, USC Hospitality, Traddies, Eateries at the Tutor Campus Center or HSC campus, Transportation, Facilities Management, Bovard Auditorium, Tutor Campus Center, etc.).
  • Purchase Order (PO): approved vendors with a contractual agreement with USC are paid with a PO.