One-Time Funding Requests

We are currently accepting applications on a rolling basis and will update this page should all funds be distributed and applications are no longer being accepted.

Purpose and Eligibility

A huge part of what we do is support students and community members in their advocacy initiatives. One of the ways we can provide support is through one-time funding requests. This funding is for your project, event, initiative, or campaign that advocates for social and environmental justice. These funds often cover things like printing costs for posters, honorarium for guest speakers, or materials needed for a workshop. All LSPIRG members (students who have not opted out and those who have purchased community memberships) are welcome to apply. We are intentional with ensuring both Kitchener-Waterloo and Brantford communities are supported.

Because community organizing is constantly evolving and needs change throughout the term and year, we will be accepting applications and providing funding on a rolling basis. There is no deadline—However, we may announce applications are closed once we have distributed all funds.

Please note that we do not fund any voluntourism or initiatives that benefit the organizer(s) more than the community it seeks to serve. Academic research projects are also generally not eligible for One-Time Funding Requests. Our Board is currently reviewing our programming and may launch funding streams and programming specifically geared to academic research in the future but this stream is meant for more traditional social justice activism, community building, campaigns, events, projects, popular education, workshops and capacity building. If you feel and can show that your academic research project can and does bridge into non-academic activism we encourage you to apply here in the meantime while we work to explore the feasibility of opening up a new funding stream for academic research projects. If you do please be aware that funding requests are meant for material support and resources and we do not currently offer services or support such as academic research advising or assistance in planning and carrying out your research project and you must be able to show how the data and results of your research project will remain open and accessible to the broader community while being carried out in a way that does not replicate the colonial and extractive power dynamics inherent in traditional academic research.

If you have any questions, please email info@lspirg.org.

Important Note re: COVID-19: In order to put our values of community care and anti-oppression into practice, we require that all projects / initiatives consider safety protocols for COVID-19 while planning their initiatives. Please reach out for support and resources around safety materials and procedures if needed.